wainism said:
hi,
i didnt know there was so much knowledge involved. sorry i didnt make my project more clear.
i wanna make a CUBE that measures 15cmx15cmx15cm(which means i need 5 x (15cm x15cm squares). as it would be a personal sourvenir, i dun think it will be on all the time and it will be kept in a bed room. the bulb and stuff, i planned to DIY(if possible) and the light box using acrylic.
the problem now is how do i get the pictures on the light box.
its a gift more of a sourvenir actually. the pictures will be like collages. any idea how am i gonna "glue" or "stick" the transparency or duratans on to the box?
Hi....
Okay I think I got your details more clearly now. I have drafted a visual to better explain things to you. Good thing it is a Sunday and I am resting up and just surfing the net after spending quite a numbers of hours walking at the Car Show yesterday
Anyway...have a look at this drawing I made and then I will try to tell you what you need to consider apart from just the film problem I am doing this becos I sense you have a good idea but am new to building something like that.
http://gallery.clubsnap.com/showphoto.php/photo/4958/sort/1/cat/500/page/1
Layer a) is as I mentioned earlier is maybe your acrylic clear layer (1-2mm thick) that is part of a twin layer you will need to sandwich and hold your picture in place. the other layer is a white oblique PVC plastic sheet.(2mm thick) Now you must remember this bit. Alway have some 2 layers to sandwich your pciture to it. Never use spray glue or some other adhesive stuff to stick your picture to a frame..etc Glue or spray glue will ruin your picture as well as those glue imperfect layer will shine through your picture when you switch the light on. And you sandwich the picture for another reason..to remove any uneven-ness that is the picture..to smooth it out for a nice look without the crinkles.
The dotted line drawing is to represent how your cube will looked when fixed up along with the TOP and BOTTOM panel. (Your bottom panel as I see it, you want to place another picture as well)
Now, you have to find a way to not just mount all the layers up to form each SIDE of the cube but how to hold all of them together including the light source inside, light mounting....and all this within one of the smalled lightbox I have ever hear anyone doing it!! heheh....15cm X 15cm x 15cm.
Your biggest problem is HEAT especially if you are using tungsten light bulb...as in those warm cheap light bulb. Given the small cube size, using plastic and your precious duratrans picture...I can't say how it will last even a few days without something melting off or warping the cube shape. Ventilation is a problem you have to keep in mind when doing lightbox. And in your case, given the size, try to look into any kind of light source that puts out the least amount of heat.
The only ones I think would suit your need are those fluorescent electric saving round or short tube-like lamp source. With these types, you have to rethink your wiring as you have to have space to install the electric choke and starter module as well. Without them, you can't startup the light system. If you don;t know what I am talking about regarding this lighting..better you get someone who does thus you dont get eletrocuted.
You could also look into halogen lamps but they too can be pretty hot. And trying to find a light source that fit your 15cm height and 15cm width will be a challenge.
Even with less heat inducing light source, you still need to make enough openings to allow for ventilation as some degree of heat will still be present and might pose some safety issue.
You have to also allow for the illumination to be as uniform as possible for the light to shine out of the cube to light up your picture. If that is not done well enough you will find your picture not well illuminated, or have dark corners or worst...the light is too bright. You could install a dimmer to control the intensity to solve that problem I guess...and it does look nice with a dimmer to let you tone it down for that romantic mood for the room
You might have to visit some of those DIY store that sells framing ideas to help you combine all the sides together and form this cube. Look for those multi joint fixtures to help hold all the sides together but still easy to open to service the cube lamp. You can try Bras Basah Complex which host a number of shops that specialises in printing to framing to all those hobbist arts and craft stuff. That place can also give you more ideas as to how best to go about it. Or in the worst case scenario...rethink your cube idea and maybe change it into another shape. How about considering a long rectangular box instead and then work that with a top lamp shade to form a table top lamp shape with a "pictorial vase" box.
Well I am not able to give you a one fit "solution" but hopefully I have point you in some direction you can take to bring it all together depending on your personal ability, styling and budget.
