Lighbox panel for table inspecting and cutting of negatives

Radost · Jan 18, 2023

I apologies if this is the right forum to ask.
I have been using my tablet for inspecting and cutting negatives.
I want to find a nice "and not expansive bright solution led light box.
Preferably with AA AAA batteries.But reachable should be fine.

"added bonus if I can let my kid trace on it".

MattKing · Jan 18, 2023

The one I use is marketed as a tracing panel.
It is USB powered.
It works well, and is similar to this:

DWThomas · Jan 18, 2023

Wow, Matt's is so bright I can't seem to see it!

I bought one of these in 2021. Alas, at that time it cost $160! It runs on AC and an internal USB rechargeable battery.
I've not done a lot with it, but did use it to "digitize" some 8x10 negatives in 2022. It seems pretty decent and is a heck of a lot less trouble to store than the boxes full of fluorescent tubes.

MattKing · Jan 18, 2023

For some reason, not everyone can see some Amazon.ca listings.
Here is a screenshot:

MattKing · Jan 18, 2023

Try this Amazon.com version: Light Panel

Philippe-Georges · Jan 19, 2023

MattKing said:
The one I use is marketed as a tracing panel.
It is USB powered.
It works well, and is similar to this:

The same here, and I stick a dark red foil filter over it so to use it in the darkroom to inspect/clean the negative without needing to turn on the white light and sometimes forgetting to firmly close the paper box in the heath of the fight...
And when I have to cut, with a box cutter, the edge of a piece of film, then I lay a sheet of glass over it.

koraks · Jan 19, 2023

I also have the same thing, but I lay a milky white sheet of perspex on top of it to even out the light. Without it, it's a kind of a grid of very bright dots, which makes small details difficult to evaluate.

Radost · Jan 19, 2023

I got Cinestill‘s new light. $34 and CRI 95+. My negative cutter will fit on top.

Kino · Jan 19, 2023

If you want to go the DIY route and have an old laptop or LED monitor you can cannibalize, try this:

gone · Jan 19, 2023

I've always used a piece of tracing paper taped to a window. This is basically just to make sure the right negative is selected before going into the darkroom to put it in the enlarger! Before this, there had been a few "surprise" prints.

A friend who was a commercial artist made his from some frosted plexi and a few bulbs, along w/ a dimmer switch to make the brightness adjustable. That one was huge, almost as big as a drafting table, but he liked it that way.

Frosted Acrylic Light Lens-.118 gauge-2'x2' (23.75in. x23.75in.)

Frosted Acrylic Lens 2'x2' (23.75"x23.75") Frosted Acrylic Lenses @.118 gauge thick, 23.75" x 23.75" fits perfectly in a 2'x2' ceiling grid system.

www.1800ceiling.com

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 19, 2023

I have one of the clear translucent ones for cutting.

Dahle - 10660-12584 Vantage 10680 Self-Healing Cutting Mat, 9"x12", 1/2" Grid, 5 Layers for Max Healing, Perfect for Crafts & Sewing, Clear

koraks · Jan 19, 2023

That's a cutting mat, @Alan Edward Klein. It has nothing to do with light boxes or light tables.

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 19, 2023

koraks said:
That's a cutting mat, @Alan Edward Klein. It has nothing to do with light boxes or light tables.

Post #6 posted how he cuts film on glass on top of a light table I was recommending a cutting mat that should be better.

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 19, 2023

Also, the title of this thread includes "....cutting of negatives."

Sirius Glass · Jan 19, 2023

I use a scissors. With the light coming from the table, it is much easier to cut accurately.

koraks · Jan 19, 2023

Alan Edward Klein said:
Also, the title of this thread includes "....cutting of negatives."

Well, I'd like to take the opportunity to pitch the Opinel pocket knife. I'm really fond of these. They won't cut negatives very well, and will be as useful as a "catflap in an elephant house" to quote the English comedian when inspecting negatives. But hey, the thread title includes 'cutting'!

Radost · Jan 19, 2023

Alan Edward Klein said:
I have one of the clear translucent ones for cutting.

Dahle - 10660-12584 Vantage 10680 Self-Healing Cutting Mat, 9"x12", 1/2" Grid, 5 Layers for Max Healing, Perfect for Crafts & Sewing, Clear

Thank You.
This is cool. Especially if I go larger than 120.
I use this for cutting and it is very good.

Sirius Glass · Jan 19, 2023

Radost said:
Thank You.
This is cool. Especially if I go larger than 120.
I use this for cutting and it is very good.
View attachment 327108

How does one see where the blade will cut. If I cannot see the space between photographs how would I be able to prevent a negative from being sliced?

Radost · Jan 19, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
How does one see where the blade will cut. If I cannot see the space between photographs how would I be able to prevent a negative from being sliced?

The light from underneath helps also just like focus i roll past a bit and than correct.

madNbad · Jan 19, 2023

I have an older version that was probably made in the 70s. If you line up the edge of the negative with the marking for size, it gets you close. A little adjustment and the blade cuts between the negatives.

MattKing · Jan 19, 2023

Radost said:
The light from underneath helps also just like focus i roll past a bit and than correct.

+1 - it works great on top of the light pad. The light parts are translucent.
If your slides aren't too dark, it works great with them as well.

koraks · Jan 20, 2023

Alan Edward Klein said:
Post #6 posted how he cuts film on glass on top of a light table I was recommending a cutting mat that should be better.

Alan, I apologize for not recognizing the relevance of your suggestion earlier. I didn't see that the mat you suggested is translucent! I'm sorry for not giving your words the credit they deserved.

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 20, 2023

koraks said:
Alan, I apologize for not recognizing the relevance of your suggestion earlier. I didn't see that the mat you suggested is translucent! I'm sorry for not giving your words the credit they deserved.

No problem. No offense taken. I should have made it clear that it was translucent although they do come in other "colors". So care should be taken when ordering.

MattKing · Jan 20, 2023

In koraks' defense, I did wonder if Alan was intending to recommend the cutting mat in conjunction with a light panel, which would certainly make the most sense.

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 20, 2023

MattKing said:
In koraks' defense, I did wonder if Alan was intending to recommend the cutting mat in conjunction with a light panel, which would certainly make the most sense.

Yes in conjunction with a light panel. But I'm not recommending any.

Lighbox panel for table inspecting and cutting of negatives

Radost

MattKing

Moderator

DWThomas

MattKing

Moderator

MattKing

Moderator

Philippe-Georges

koraks

Moderator

Radost

Kino

gone

Frosted Acrylic Light Lens-.118 gauge-2'x2' (23.75in. x23.75in.)

Alan Edward Klein

Dahle - 10660-12584 Vantage 10680 Self-Healing Cutting Mat, 9"x12", 1/2" Grid, 5 Layers for Max Healing, Perfect for Crafts & Sewing, Clear

koraks

Moderator

Alan Edward Klein

Alan Edward Klein

Sirius Glass

koraks

Moderator

Radost

Dahle - 10660-12584 Vantage 10680 Self-Healing Cutting Mat, 9"x12", 1/2" Grid, 5 Layers for Max Healing, Perfect for Crafts & Sewing, Clear

Sirius Glass

Radost

madNbad

MattKing

Moderator

koraks

Moderator

Alan Edward Klein

MattKing

Moderator

Alan Edward Klein

Lighbox panel for table inspecting and cutting of negatives

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Dahle - 10660-12584 Vantage 10680 Self-Healing Cutting Mat, 9"x12", 1/2" Grid, 5 Layers for Max Healing, Perfect for Crafts & Sewing, Clear​

Moderator

Moderator

Dahle - 10660-12584 Vantage 10680 Self-Healing Cutting Mat, 9"x12", 1/2" Grid, 5 Layers for Max Healing, Perfect for Crafts & Sewing, Clear​

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency

Dahle - 10660-12584 Vantage 10680 Self-Healing Cutting Mat, 9"x12", 1/2" Grid, 5 Layers for Max Healing, Perfect for Crafts & Sewing, Clear

Dahle - 10660-12584 Vantage 10680 Self-Healing Cutting Mat, 9"x12", 1/2" Grid, 5 Layers for Max Healing, Perfect for Crafts & Sewing, Clear