The Best Lightboxes with Even Lighting for Your Next Project
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Artograph Light Box -
Gagne Porta-Trace LED Light Box -
Huion Super Thin LED Light Box -
Artograph LightTracer Light Box -
Gagne Light Box -
Buyer's Guide
In the past, lightboxes had thick walls made to contain a standard fluorescent light bulb. With their translucent covers, these primitive units allowed artists to trace drawings or study slides. Most of them required working at an awkward angle with the individual propped up over the box’s tall sides. Modern lightboxes are now the standard with thinner, portable designs featuring cool, long-lasting LED light sources that burn for thousands of hours without needing replacement bulbs.
All of the best lightboxes in 2022 that we’ve selected provide strong and even lighting, sturdy, wobble-free work surfaces, special features like add-on battery packs and voltage adaptors, and are available in a range of sizes suited to your needs.
Here are the Best Light Boxes of 2022
Artograph Light Box - Best Light Box Overall
With an ultra-thin 5/8-inch profile and bright LED lighting, the Artograph LightPad offers the best in quality and convenience. This series comes in a variety of sizes with the largest being the 17 by 24 inches while the smallest is 6 by 9-inches. Artograph’s PadPucks provides adjustable height and angle of the drawing surface while the add-on battery pack enhances the LightPads portability. This model also comes with an adaptor which handles 100-240 volts making it a versatile travel device. You’ll probably need to buy the add-ons separately but the Artograph LightPad costs slightly less than similar light boxes.
Gagne Porta-Trace LED Light Box - Runner Up
The Porta-Trace LED Light Panel is a favorite among artists for its sturdy feel and being one of the lightest models (a mere 4 pounds) thanks to the aluminum frame and Plexiglas surface. It uses LED lighting for an extra-bright, evenly-lit work surface. The Light Panel comes in two sizes with the larger size measuring 11 by 18-inches. The frame comes in five standard colors including black, blue, yellow, pink or orange frames. The Light Panel can be used with an appropriate plug or adapter for artists working outside the US.
Huion Super Thin LED Light Box - Honorable Mention
Huion LED Tracing Board has become popular for its ultra-thin build and bright lighting. This company produces three sizes of LED Tracing Boards but their A2 version is the largest with a lighted drawing surface of approximately 12 by 20-inches. Some artists find this light box’s on/off touch system overly sensitive but this is compensated by the Tracing Boards unique feature allowing artists to adjust the pad’s lighting. While light boxes have only one setting for brightness, artists can adjust the Huion LED Tracing Boards’ brightness by pressing the touch switch for several seconds.
Artograph LightTracer Light Box - Consider
As a basic model, the Light Tracer II offers a bright work surface utilizing a high-quality fluorescent lamp (brighter than a standard LED light) providing daylight-quality illumination. The Light Tracer II is slightly heavier than the slim LED pads, but still reasonably portable for use in a studio. It also features a slanted surface and a recessed tool tray for holding pencils, chalk, or other tools. This light box uses 15-watt bulb instead of an 8-watt bulb and has a large 12 by 18-inch work surface. It’s a great choice for anyone who doesn’t need an extra-large surface and wants quality light box for half the price of the other models.
Gagne Light Box - Best Light Box
With a light box inset into the surface, the Gagne-Porta Trace Light Table works as either a drafting table or an artist’s work surface. The table’s solid oak upper frame supports a thick, shatter-resistant Plexiglas surface with the entire unit mounted on steel legs protected by a white enamel coating. Under this Plexiglas, four lamps provide strong, evenly diffused light. While this model comes in several sizes, Model 3468 is the largest, boasting a lighted surface measuring 36 by 48-inches. Since the whole table acts as a light box, artists won’t need to worry about storing a separate box or working on a different surface. The Gagne-Porta Trace Light Table is expensive, running several times the cost of a standard light box, but a great option for artists who need a large surface and make extensive use light boxes.
Buyer's Guide
Do you want to acquire the greatest lightbox? Then don't miss out on our shopping tips, which will help you find the most suitable when purchasing the best lightbox on the market.
A must-have for a range of creatives, including painters, illustrators, designers, and architects, is the finest lightbox for tracing and sketching. Scrapbooking, calligraphy, tattoo design, and quilting are just a few of the activities that may benefit from a quality lightbox. There are several variables to consider while selecting the best lightboxes in 2022 to purchase, and we're going to dive into all the details below.
What Are Factors to Consider When Choosing a Lightbox?
Power
Generally speaking, powered lightboxes with their own power supply are better than USB-powered lightboxes. To work, the latter must be linked to a computer, but USB chargers are frequently available. Many lightboxes vary when it comes to power strength, so if you plan on working for hours on end be sure to purchase a lightbox that can accommodate.
Dimensions
Do you have to transport your lightbox a lot? If that is your situation, you might want to choose an A4-sized model. This is a wonderful alternative if you are looking for a small, compact gadget that will fit easily into your bag. If you want to work with A3 or A2 paper sheets, you will need a bigger device. A3 is a popular size for most uses, whereas A2 is ideal for bigger portraits, such as full-body sketches.
If you use a lightbox for drawing, you should always consider the size of the paper you will be tracing on, which typically runs from A4 to A2. In some ways, greater drawing space is preferable, but consider if you have an adequate workspace for a large lightbox. Drawing lightboxes, in short, are a game-changer for artists and designers, but you need to keep your space and projects in mind.
Color Temperature
The hue (color) of a light source is determined by its color temperature. Its temperature is measured in Kelvin degrees (K) and varies from 1000 to 10000 K. Warm colors (yellowish) are defined as temperatures below 3000 K, whereas cool colors (9000–10000 K) are defined as temperatures over 9000 K (bluish). Daylight has a color temperature of around 6500 K. A blue skylight (>9000 k) is used to encourage relaxation and realistic color rendering, whereas a red skylight (>9000 K) is utilized to boost concentration.
What is the Purpose of a Lightbox?
A lightbox is a very basic gadget. You turn on the lightbox, lay the picture you wish to duplicate on the glass, then set your paper on top, and the light should allow you to trace the image clearly. You may need to decrease the lighting in your studio depending on the thickness of the paper; the darker the space, the easier it will be to view the picture on the lightbox. Also, despite these devices are referred to as "lightboxes," they are not large, bulky, or box-like. Since they are so sleek and thin, they're also known as "light tables" or – more correctly – "light pads," because they're the size and form of a notepad or even an iPad.
What are the Features to Look for While Buying a Lightbox?
Luminosity
A superb drawing lightbox should have good lighting, as the name suggests. If you use it for tracing, make sure it's bright enough to light through two sheets of thick paper. If you are looking for something more technological, look for anything that can generate at least 3000 lux. If all you want to do is sketch or work on other creative crafts like quilting or photography, 1500-3000 lux would be enough. The great majority of gadgets on the market have adjustable brightness, allowing you to dim or intensify the light to suit your needs. They usually have 3-5 brightness levels, but the top-line models enable you to continuously change the brightness.
Easy assembly and disassembly
The ease of usage is a major factor in assessing the value of a lightbox. When it comes to simplicity of use, you will want to know how simple it is to put the box together and take it apart. Most consumers choose a model that can be compressed into a small, thin package and put back into box shape in a matter of seconds. Go for something that can be put together and taken apart without the need for any tools.
Overall Quality
You should be aware that many general stores sell Chinese generic products. Poor LED technology, frail and unreliable connections, and a lack of after-sale service are just a few examples of typical issues with Chinese gadgets. Of course, we should not make broad generalizations because some Chinese producers produce high-quality goods. So, before you buy an LED lightbox from an unknown manufacturer, be sure to check user reviews. To prevent misunderstandings, though, you should choose a product from a renowned brand.
How Do You Keep and Maintain Your Light Box?
You've arrived at the correct place. Why? Because light boxes are simple to care for and maintain. However, only if you understand how to use your lightbox. Cleaning is the most crucial aspect of care and upkeep. It goes without saying that the box should be dust-free and spot-free to get clean pictures. To clean any dust or stains, dab the surface with a soft cloth occasionally. If the surface is composed of plastic, you can dampen the towel. If the surface is plastic and extremely unclean, clean it with lemon oil and a light detergent.
Here are some pointers to get you started:
Read the user's manual
Each lightbox has its setup and disassembly procedure. When installing the equipment, do not force it apart or press components together. Alternatively, strictly adhere to the manufacturer's instructions. You won't have any damaged or distorted components this way.
UV exposure should be avoided
The fabric of your tent will be damaged if it is exposed to direct sunlight. At all costs, keep your led light box away from it.
Operate in a dust-free, clean atmosphere
Cleaning isn't always a pleasurable experience. To keep dust from collecting on your picture lightbox, operate in a clean, dust-free environment.
Store it appropriately
Some boxes come with a bag that may be used to store them once they have been used. When you are finished, fold your box correctly and place it in the bag.
Don't let it get too hot
It is not good to leave the lights on for long periods, especially if the box starts to heat up. As soon as you've completed filming, unplug or switch off the power cable.
FAQs
Q: Who can benefit from a lightbox?
A. Product photographers and online marketers frequently utilize lightboxes.
Q: What is the brightness of an LED lightbox?
A. Lightboxes are generally quite bright, although the brightness varies depending on the number of LEDs and luminance. The brightness increases as the lumens increase. Professional lightboxes with a brightness of over 20000 are extremely bright and ideal for shooting vivid photographs.
Q: Is it true that a lightbox becomes hot?
A. The sort of illumination employed determines this. If the light source is incandescent bulbs, you will definitely feel some sort of heating. However, if it comes from LEDs, heating will be negligible or non-existent.
