Lightboxes: Homemade and Bought?

[MM Howard]

Hello, complete newbie here, but been trying to improve my drawing for the past couple of years. I found ConceptArt a while back and was too scared to post and have my art brutally critiqued, but now I'm ready for it and will post a sketchbook soon.

But I want to improve the quality in my line drawings for digital rendering. It isn't as bad as it used to be, but it could be better. So I thought about buying a lightbox and then found a couple of tutorials to make one.

So my question is, what is recommended? Do I save up money and just buy one, can I make one, or should I just use good old fashion tracing paper?

[Mirana]

The smallest, cheapest one you can buy is a bout 9x12 and $40ish. You can make your own, but unless you make it bigger than the 9x12 the time and money will make it about the same price. I just use a desk lamp under a glass table. Definately prefer a "lightbox" of any kind to tracing paper (unless I'm on the go).

[MM Howard]

Thank you. Actually, a lamp under a glass table doesn't sound like a bad idea.

[VulgarDragon]

I posted a thread on building one not too long ago. Here.

[Mirana]

Thank you. Actually, a lamp under a glass table doesn't sound like a bad idea.

Only "downside" is that glass can get heated and it will cause paper to slightly "warp" after a long time working. It'll return to it's original shape if you let the surface cool...by the time it warps I'm usually ready for a break anyway.

[Tony0930]

When I need one, I just bought it.
Above MCross have provided information about how to create one, thus I think you can totally choose to DIY.

[Justice Von Brandt]

I use my computer monitor as one ;0

[MM Howard]

I posted a thread on building one not too long ago. Here.

Thank you! I was looking for a thread like that in this forum, I guess I must've passed it.

[tomwaits4noman]

a few things I have found in personal experience.

A good drawing board should be one that you can stand at a slight angle so it does not strain your back

Fluorescent bulbs are horrible to work with, I remember getting nasty migraines after a few hours animating over one of those,

imo semi transparent paper is better, something that can take the burden of the pencil lines but you can still see through,

colerase pencils are also good, use them and practice building up your lines softly the lighter lines will not be picked up by scanners,

You can place grease proof paper over the finished product to de saturate the lines for a scanner

if you want to trace a rouggh sketch learn to roll the paper like trace over or in between artists do in animation, use the line only when needed to avoid it straining your eyes