Eyeing A Light Pad

[ronpro]

I have been considering purchasing one of these light pads (

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00S84JRD6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_6&smid=AMOPEXJDNOZFL

) from Amazon to use while doing Calligraphy. It looks as if it would be useful for putting underliners under my paper while working on my lettering. Does anyone have any experience/opinions/advice/comments regarding these?

 

 

Thanks for the reply.

Ron

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[Octo]

I use a sturdy home-made version of this for all kinds of purposes, including embossing as well as the use you describe. They can be quite helpful. The one you link to seems rather expensive and fragile, but nicely thin.

[ronpro]

I use a sturdy home-made version of this for all kinds of purposes, including embossing as well as the use you describe. They can be quite helpful. The one you link to seems rather expensive and fragile, but nicely thin.

 

Yes the expense of the thing is what gives me pause. On the other hand the thinness is extremely appealing as it appears that laying it flat won't disrupt normal writing much.

[inkstainedruth]

I have a regular old lightbox (a cheap one -- cost me $20 a number of years ago). It has a single fluorescent bulb in it, but for what I needed it for (mostly for tracing work) it's okay. I got it when there was a Prizm art store in the area. That store has since closed, but there is a Prizm department in the Pat Catan's craft store that opened up a few miles from my house. Prices have certainly gone up in the past decade or so. I"ve considered getting a replacement, because mine is getting somewhat rickety at this point, and the cord is not in the best shape (the box sort of disintegrated because I've hauled the light box around so much, so it doesn't get protection when). But even at Pat Catan's (which discounts as much as 40% off list price) the things are going for around $60 US these days....

Hopefully in a couple of years the prices of these flat screen ones will come down. How are the ones in the link powered? A rechargeable battery powered one (such as with modern laptops) would be awesome.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[OCArt]

If you have an iPad there are several "light box" apps that make a white screen. Alternatively, you could photograph a white wall and adjust the resulting photo until it is our white and display that photo on your screen. A good way to see if you would use a light box.

[ac12]

I use a light PAD, but not that brand. The light pad works great, much easier than the much thicker light BOX, because I can rest my elbow on the table with the pad, vs. floating in air with a light box.

 

I recommend you get the one that uses an external 12v power pack, and not the one that uses a USB connector, primarily for durability of the power plug/socket, and providing enough power for all the LEDs. As others said, that particular light pad seems rather large, but you know what you want to use it for, so if you need a large pad, get a large pad.

 

Because they are somewhat thin, and thus flexible, I recommend using them on a solid surface to minimize flexing. Flexing the pad may damage the wiring, depending on how it is built.

Edited October 30, 2015 by ac12

[ronpro]

Such great input. Thank you all so much.

 

I have a Surface Pro 3 but I'm not willing to risk my screen by treating it as a writing surface.

 

Yes, they do have smaller sizes that are less expensive. There's also ebay, which has the one I cite above for $80. However, I'm not yet decided upon what size I would want.