The light box today is one of the most popular ways to create signage or outdoor advertising in general. Such designs can be used to achieve marketing goals, as well as for branding the facades of shops or shopping and office centers. LED lightboxes are one of the brightest and most memorable, and therefore many companies use them to attract potential customers.
How to do?
This type of advertising is considered a high-tech product, which is assembled using a certain technology. But today, more and more often the light box is created independently. The essence of a lightbox is that it is a box, the front part of which is translucent and made of acrylic glass. The back panel is needed for creating structures, since it is on it that lamps, LED lighting and electrical wiring are attached.
To make a lightbox with your own hands, you can use an aluminum or metal profile, which is then powder-coated or laminatedfilm. To apply the image, you can apply the application again from a vinyl film. The illumination on the light box is carried out using fluorescent lamps, LEDs and neon tubes.
Make a lightbox with your own hands: what you need
So, in order to create an advertising box, we need to prepare certain materials and tools. Of the latter, we need to stock up:
- squeegee (rubber and felt);
- garden sprayer;
- stationery knife;
- screwdriver;
- miter saw and circular saw;
- jigsaw;
- metal ruler.
From the materials we need to prepare:
- film cut on a plotter;
- mounting tape;
- aluminum profiles - 4 pieces;
- connecting corners - 4 pcs.;
- fluorescent lamps - 5 pieces;
- wire PV1 and ball screws;
- self-tapping screws;
- glue;
- PVC sheet;
- plexiglass;
- water and Fairy.
Create a simple variant
We will create a lightbox with our own hands of a simple design measuring 1250 mm by 740 mm. The process will consist of several stages. First, we create a 1:1 scale model of the product in the Corel Draw computer program. The file for cutting on a special device - a plotter - is made with thin contours, after which it is cut on Oracal film. The next step is to remove around the letters, graphics, everything that we don't need. Then we apply it tomounting film - this is done from the center to the edge. Trim all unnecessary.
The preparation of the aluminum profile plays a big role - it must be calculated taking into account the shape and length of the lamps that will be inserted into the light box. The next step is to assemble three of the four parts of the box. For this, profiles and corners are used. Holes for self-tapping screws are drilled in them, with the help of which metal elements are fixed.
The next stage of work is to complete the back of our light box. To do this, we take a PVC sheet, cut the corners with a knife or saw. Insert the back into the box. To create LED lightboxes, you need to purchase the appropriate lamps, as well as sockets for them and holders.
How the lamps are attached
So, after all the components in the form of lamps, chokes, mounting wire, starters, cartridges and holders are prepared, we begin to assemble our box. Cartridges are put on lamps, starters are inserted. We need to check if our system works. After testing it, you need to decide where the lamp holders and chokes will be located. We mark these places. From the PVC sheet, you need to cut the chopsticks, which will subsequently be glued to the back of the light box. Holders and throttles are fixed with self-tapping screws.
How to make a lightbox to work? To do this, we cut the wiring for the lamps, then we clean the ends. Lamps must be installed in holders. Inside the box, connect the wiring, which will be output throughback hole out. The wire must be insulated. After these works are completed, we need to check whether we have correctly reproduced the technology for creating the box.
The last stage of creating a neon box
After checking the LED backlight system, you can proceed to further work. First, you need to cut out the face. For this, it is advisable to use organic glass. The corners must be rounded. Remove the protective film from the front face, rinse it with a spray and a rubber squeegee. Then an image or text is inserted. The film must be carefully smoothed, and excess mounting foam is removed. To complete the lightbox with your own hands, you need to drill several holes in the product with a diameter of up to 1 cm. They will serve as ventilation outlets and to remove moisture from the product.
What are the mistakes?
As you can see, making lightboxes is not such a difficult task, especially if you know the execution technology and the sequence of work. However, when creating a box for the first time, mistakes are almost inevitable. First, the most common problem is the lack of glow lamps. This indicates that the network is either incorrectly connected or not closed. So, we check carefully whether the connection is made correctly, how securely the cartridges and starters are attached, and also, if necessary, we change the lamps.
The second problem is that the film is uneven, resulting in bubbles or dots. This indicates that air or dust has remained under it. Needremove the air from the bubbles, and replace the low-quality sections of the film.
How to make a lightbox with your own hands so that the whole structure is solid and complete? To do this, you need to carefully consider the correspondence of the angles to each other. In addition, the box should close well without any effort.
Outdoor advertising: how to get attention?
As you know, it is outdoor advertising that attracts the attention of passers-by. To make it of high quality, you need to approach its design correctly. For example, LED lightboxes are a good solution. As a rule, this is a sign of a rectangular or figured design, which additionally has an internal glow. A variety of materials can be used as the front of the box. For example, many choose a translucent banner, but its arrangement will require a special rigid structure. And milk acrylic remains the most popular material:
- first, it scatters light;
- secondly, the backlight is even.
If the front of the light box is more than three meters, it is advisable to use cellular polycarbonate. It is light and economical, but it can be deformed under the influence of temperature, and the honeycomb structure is easily clogged. An economical alternative to acrylic is polystyrene. True, it is more fragile and susceptible to environmental factors.
How to print on light boxes?
Lightboxes, the production of which is quiteit is possible to carry out independently, they can have different designs. In this case, the image on them, as a rule, is applied in the same way. For the design on the front, a printed translucent film or vinyl-based application is used. The first option is more susceptible to influences, and also does not differ in great brightness, while the color fades quickly. Vinyl application is a higher quality material that shows good brightness when exposed to light. But such a film is more expensive, and there may be problems with its installation.
For the manufacture of the back of the box, galvanized steel sheets are most often used, which are characterized by high strength and resistance to corrosion. In addition, this is the best option in terms of pricing. Sometimes lightboxes are made using plastic, composite panels and other sheet-shaped opaque materials.
Backlight options
For illumination in light boxes can be used, firstly, fluorescent lamps. They are inexpensive, while the light will be scattering. The second possible option is LED strips, which are energy efficient and durable. The third is neon lighting, which is most often used in the arrangement of curly light boxes, that is, non-standard-shaped structures.
The light box in photography
Many amateur photographers and photographers dream of making DIY accessories for their hobby and save on costs. For example,A lightbox for product shooting is simply a necessary thing, because with its help you can improve the quality of the image and place accents on it. In addition, the task of the light box is to mix and diffuse directional light so that the pattern is shadow-free. To create such a lightbox, we need:
- simple cardboard box;
- drawing paper sheet;
- food parchment;
- lighting fixtures;
- power buttons.
We take a box and cut off everything superfluous in it. We fasten a sheet of drawing paper inside it with the help of buttons. The windows cut on the sides and top are carefully covered with tracing paper and fixed again with power buttons. We assemble the lighting devices and install them on the sides - where the slots are closed with tracing paper. The design is ready to use! Note that it will take at least half an hour to create it, but on the condition that all materials and tools are prepared in advance.
However, such a cardboard light box must be operated carefully. First, heating appliances are best placed on stands to avoid heating. Secondly, before shooting, measure the white balance on whatman paper, and do not forget to turn on the spotlights. This is necessary in order to avoid blurring of shades.
