Building a double sided poster light box for there Theater\Media\Game Room

[fallacy]

They are expensive going from $400 to $800 a pop.

I was looking into building my own but even then it sounds like it would be $250 in parts and a lot of skill being able to mount fluorescent lamps.
http://www.weilandworks.com/summerland/lightbox_thelighting.html


Then I thought Wait! This is nothing but a giant marguee I could use NovaMatrix. Easer to mount and cost less. If anyone has done this links or advice would be appreciated.
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=83&products_id=307

[bkenobi]

Just a thought, but what about rope lighting with a diffuser?  I'm thinking you lay the rope lighting in the base of your box with one of those plastic diffuser sheets (like are used in some fluorescent fixtures) and then the poster.  You might not even need the diffuser.  Rope lights cost ~$25 for a very long length, so I would guess you could build something for $50-100 pretty easily.

Diffuser example:
http://www.malcolite.com/index.php?id=9,4,0,0,1,0

[fallacy]

Just a thought, but what about rope lighting with a diffuser?  I'm thinking you lay the rope lighting in the base of your box with one of those plastic diffuser sheets (like are used in some fluorescent fixtures) and then the poster.  You might not even need the diffuser.  Rope lights cost ~$25 for a very long length, so I would guess you could build something for $50-100 pretty easily.

Diffuser example:
http://www.malcolite.com/index.php?id=9,4,0,0,1,0

thanks for the diffuser link. But ya robe light would not be strong enough light to work as a marquee.

[BobA]

Good site with detailed instructions.  Florescent looks like the lighting of choice. 

Lightbox

[Vigo]

I personally would scrounce for second hand flourescent lighting ballasts. I bet you could find some on the cheap if you look at those building material recycle stores. Contractors frequently will dump their spare commercial lighting materials at these places, and it shouldn't be hard to find some florescents with ballasts.

Sandwich the poster between two sheets of glass or plexi, build a box around it, and put florescents inside, you should have a poster light box. Oh, there was a good point made from BobA's link. Since florescents put out UV light, it is best to get glass or plexi with UV filtering to best preserve the poster, or put a UV blocking window tint on it. I didn't think about that one before.

[fallacy]

Thanks, ya after doing some more research I think I will end up building the box in the example. Sandwiching 2 pieces of plexi and using 4 pieces of aluminum L angle to screw it tight to the wood box.  Then you take a routed frame and glue that on top of the aluminum. Prime and spay paint the whole thing black.

What I am going to do different though is instead of 3 fluorescent bulbs I will have 3 sets of Nova LED’S  


This way I can make the box a bit smaller\less wide from the wall.

I just bought some of the stuff I will need a Loves today I will post some updates.

I also just bought my double sided 27 x 40 poster today. $70 but it is worth it



I think it will look pretty slick! especially since the picture is of him behind a blurry glass door and to have all that diffused light shine through it will look almost 3D

[Woodshop Flunky]

I think it will look pretty slick! especially since the picture is of him behind a blurry glass door and to have all that diffused light shine through it will look almost 3D

Awsome poster!  It got me to thinking... this would make a great nightlight for my little boy's room.  You know... so he doesn't get scared at night. 

[Gatt]

I've actually toyed with the idea of writing a program that would just rotate images to a TV screen,  then hanging it veritcally.  Using it as a digital movie poster that rotates through a directory of images.

Problem being,  ideally would need a TV with a wireless ethernet connection on it,  and it'd probably eat a fair amount of electricity.

But it'd still make for a killer movie poster setup though...

[Vigo]

I've actually toyed with the idea of writing a program that would just rotate images to a TV screen,  then hanging it veritcally.  Using it as a digital movie poster that rotates through a directory of images.

Problem being,  ideally would need a TV with a wireless ethernet connection on it,  and it'd probably eat a fair amount of electricity.

But it'd still make for a killer movie poster setup though...

You can find tv's with card readers to view photos. You could rotate move poster images sideways, put them on a memory card, and put the tv in "slideshow mode".

[fallacy]

Update!

Spent all Saturday creating this guys frame
 



I also stapled in some card board in the back and using electric tape for the edge so light won’t escape. I cut the metal frame that will hold the plexie glass to the frame as well. I also found some light cool looking border trim at Home Depot. I made 45 degree cuts with my miter saw and made a frame from it. I will also use it on the sides of the box. Picture is just laying everything on top to show how it will look.









the 3 sticks in the middle is where I am going to mount my 3 sets of Nova LED’S  as soon as they arrive in the mail.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

Damn, now I want one as well. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the completed box looks!

[Bender]

This is a great project!
I think you should add this to the project thread not directly arcade related but neither was Mountain's Juke and that was one of the most popular things in there

hey what about just hanging a LCD tv vertically and have a thumb drive attached with a bunch of different movie poster images on there
you could set it up so it came on then you tuned on the lights or opened the door or something
Although just as expensive as the ones they're selling, you'd have way more flexibility... just a thought

[EightBySix]

I wonder if a solution would be possible using electroluminescent sheets?
e.g. http://electroluminescence-inc.com

[Vigo]

EL doesn't get super bright so I don't know how feasible it would be as back-lighting, especially if the poster was not displayed in a very dark area. Maybe if you put the poster directly against the EL sheet, it could possibly work, but I am guessing a poster sized EL sheet would still be way too expensive of an option.

On the other hand, if the poster itself was made from EL, it would probably look absolutely amazing. 

[fallacy]

A lot of people are mentioning LCD TV. I don’t think that would have the same look at all… If it did they would set up LCD signs in movie theaters and not produce the thousands of double sided posters for each new movie.

Posters look better and the color pops out a lot stronger. A lighted poster gives off a presence that a LCD TV never would. It is also hard to tell when you see a photo of a lighted poster, the light is not captured well most of the time.

[Bender]

I agree that up close the resolution of a printed poster would be a good deal better, but from a few of feet away you'd never be able to tell the difference
the reason they haven't all moved to LCD's yet is simply expense, theaters can get what is essentially a light box for next to nothing probably under $50
and an LCD is gonna be a hellava lot more than that

Having said all that I love your project and can't wait to see it all lit up!


oh and I think you'd have to really knock down the brightness and contrast on the LCD so it was a lot more subtle

[fallacy]

Update!

I ran into some problems. The 3 sets of Nova Leds was not enough. Plus I guess I had them to closr to the fram. They were creating hot spots and not lighting much around the hotspot. I had to re-work everything. I had to mount them farther back and add 6 sets instead of 3




Picture of laying a poster on top



Picture of laying the fram I made on top of the poster.

[Sjaak]

Maybe reflectors would help?

[Bender]

I'd try a diffuser panel from a fluorescent light.  You've done a great job so far, but those hot spots really don't look that great...

+1

Also paint EVERYTHING inside white including that black tape between each light which is just exacerbating the problem

[Vigo]

I'd try a diffuser panel from a fluorescent light.  You've done a great job so far, but those hot spots really don't look that great...

+1

Also paint EVERYTHING inside white including that black tape between each light which is just exacerbating the problem

Maybe covering the tape with some reflective foil tape for sealing ductwork would be an easier route than painting tape. Or just retape with white electrical tape. I just see painting the wiring and tape as a messy disaster.

[fallacy]

Ya I guess I will have to go Fluorescent. The led's just are not giving a strong enough light  for diffusers.

[MajorHavoc]

I stumbled across this and it may prove helpful. 
http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Movie-Poster-Light-box/step1/Other-Ideas/

[fallacy]

thanks after looking at that link i found this. http://www.instructables.com/id/theatre-poster-backlight--marquee/step2/lighting/

Wonder if putting the led's on the inner side of the frame and using tin foil in the back would work?

[fallacy]

[Generic Eric]

Neat.  Any pics?

[griffindodd]

Looks great, for the marquee in my cab I simply stuck strips of LED lighting wired in serial on a 1/8" board, gives a very solid fill light without any hotspots despite being only 2" from the surface. It's cheap at less than a dollar a foot, looks like your solution came out well though too.