The Best lightbox For Watercolor Paper
The lightbox has found favor in many industrial applications from fashion and design to photography and even therapy for specific disorders. However, if you are reading this, you are likely interested in artist’s lightbox for your craft projects.
What is a lightbox? A lightbox, also known as a light board is a special electric device that generates light. It uses the new light-emitting diodes (LED) technology to radiate the light of a standard wavelength.
The artist-grade lightbox offers a drawing pad with even backlight, which improves your view, especially in poorly lit environments. By placing your drawing paper on top, you can have a clear picture of where you are drawing or painting.
A lightbox is also integral for tracing designs and illustrations on nontransparent paper, eliminating carbon paper’s need. It illuminates even the finest of details to ensure the artist stays within the course.
The best thing about a lightbox is that it is a versatile device for various art and craft projects. But not all light boxes are created equal. If you use a lightbox with watercolor paper, you need a tool that is up to the task. Watercolor paper is typically a thick sheet and requires ample brightness compared to standard sketching paper.
Finding a lightbox for your specific needs can be a daunting task given the huge variety available in the market, but your search ends here. In this article, you will find a selection of the best lightbox for watercolor paper. We also highlight a few factors to consider before purchasing one.
What to look for in a lightbox for watercolor paper
Having a hard time choosing a lightbox for watercolor paper? Do not be in a hurry. It is essential to analyze your requirements against the features of a lightbox before purchasing it. Here are great pointers that can be a starting point for your search.
- Luminous intensity
The quantity of luminous light produced by the lightbox is essential when selecting one. A suitable lightbox should illuminate enough light through the watercolor paper, which is usually heavy ranging from 90-300lbs. It would be great too if the brightness level is adjustable to suit specific lighting needs.
- Size
The weight, thickness, and screen dimensions are an essential aspect of a lightbox. The size affects portability as well as the picture size and whether it is appropriate for other projects.
- Power input
A lightbox will either need a USB cable or an AC/DC adapter to source for power. A few models are battery-powered, but their intensity is not powerful enough for watercolor paper. AC powered lightboxes are brightest and consistent. But USB and rechargeable models are highly portable and usable even without access to an electric outlet.
- Quality assurance
For top-notch quality, try and keep off generic products produced with substandard components. Products made in the US are known for quality assurance.
Tikteck lightbox
One of the most affordable yet stellar quality lightboxes you can get your hands on is the Tikteck.
The A4 sized pad weighs just 1.45lbs and is 5mm thick; you can’t go any lighter or slimmer. But don’t let its dimensions fool you into dismissing its capabilities.
The LED light has brilliant brightness sufficient enough to illuminate watercolor paper. You can, however, dim it in the settings to your preference.
Tikteck is a USB powered device usable with a phone laptop or USB adapter plug. Couple that with its feather-weight, and you have a highly portable lightbox.
Please turn it on easily with a touch sensor switch by tapping it or grazing it to adjust brightness.
There is an on-screen ruler/scale in case you need to use one. There are also four anti-skidding rubber pads at the bottom four corners if you don’t want to scratch your beautiful surfaces.
It is a smart portable and affordable choice for artists with subtle but thoughtful nuances that make it the best lightbox for watercolor paper.
Artograph light tracer2 lightbox
The new and improved Artograph light Tracer is a tough one. It not only delivers above and beyond expectations but will also stay with you for the longest time.
It has a sturdy yet lightweight ABS plastic build that can withstand everyday wear and tear from heavy use.
The slightly wedged body positions the screen at an angle for a comfortable view without straining the neck or back.
It utilizes a six-foot power cord that ensures a consistent soft diffuse white LED light without flickering, unlike previous versions that used changeable fluorescent bulbs.
Can it handle the thickness of the watercolor paper? Absolutely. The Tracer produces up to 14000 lux of light, which is more than enough intensity even for the thickest watercolor paper.
You get two accommodating size options; 10 by 12 inches and 12 by 18 inches. Each has an onboard slot and a secure in-built storage tray for those small art tools.
It could be much better if the light were dimmable, though. Its design also makes it somehow bulky with twice the thickness of other models.
Artograph is made in the US so you can only expect the best craftsmanship, which keeps getting better. The price is a true reflection of what you will get. Worth it for a lightbox that will serve you for many years.
Litenergy
If you are looking for something aesthetically pleasing, this lightbox from Litenergy is the deal. It has a sleek design with acrylic panels and comes in four color variants; candy pink, green, silver, and black.
Measuring just 5mm (0.2inches) thick and weighing 1.5lbs, it is slim and ultralight too; you won’t wear out your hands.
Performance-wise, the lightbox can hold up to a variety of tasks. Thanks to its 4000 lux brilliant LED light, you won’t have issues even with thick sheets like watercolor paper.
It is flicker-free with eye protection technology. you can work long hours without straining or damaging your sight. You can adjust the brightness to your taste by simply long pressing the touch start button. The device has a good memory and does not reset brightness when you turn it off.
In the box is a USB cable that you can plug in any device or USB adapter to power the device. Once it clicks in, it stays steady. You can easily find the cord in local stores and replace it if worn out or lost.
For the price, it is a solid lightbox that the casual artist and hobbyists who want the convenience of drawing and painting occasionally anywhere will love to have.
Huion A3 Thin LED Lightbox
Huion is a reasonably new player in the market, and their electric hand-held writing devices come with the latest technology. This acrylic construction lightbox, for instance, is sturdy and beautiful.
Its most terrific selling point perhaps is the large working surface measuring 16.9 by 12.2 inches. There’s plenty of room for a variety of paper sizes.
Despite the oversized screen, you won’t believe how thin and light it is. It weighs only 3.75 lbs and is 0.3 inches (7.62mm) thick. A comfortable size to use on your lap without fatigue. The screen has an onboard scale in case you need it.
The rapid response one-touch switch lights it up and switches it off. Stepless brightness adjustment is just a long press away on the same button. The highest setting goes up to a super bright 4050 lux surpassing other models from the same family (Huion) and making it an ideal lightbox for watercolor paper.
It comes with12V US power adapter that doesn’t heat the device despite long working hours. So you can work on bulky projects with the same light consistency without worrying about damaging the system.
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Comzler
Skimming through hundreds of brands for a great lightbox is burdensome, but getting a good one under 20 dollars is almost virtually impossible.
The Comzler goes against all the odds to offer the most affordable lightbox while maintaining acceptable quality standards.
What does it have to offer for the price? Well, the 9 by 13 inch screen lit evenly with three adjustable light intensity settings. You can switch between them with an easy-to-use touch-sense button that turns the device on and off.
The LED light can switch between low, medium, and high intensity. The highest setting is so bright it will illuminate even a 140lbs watercolor paper. You might struggle with finer details in a 300lbs form.
Unlike the rest of the products in this review, it allows users to attach the paper using magnets onto the surface to pin it accurately in position. This is great, particularly for kids -you know they can’t keep still and steady.
It is also ultra-thin, measuring 0.2 inches wide and light too so young hands can handle it without any problems.
A USB cord powers the device.
This is a highly giftable, low budget light box ideal for kids, beginner artists,
or anyone looking to hone their artistic skills without breaking the bank.
How do you transfer a drawing onto watercolor paper using a lightbox?
It’s simple. You will place your reference image on the lit light board and then secure the watercolor paper on top of them, either using magnets for magnetic lightboards or tape. You can now trace the image.
It’s best for watercolor paper to use a very light pencil so that the outlines don’t show once you get to coloring. Expert level artists can skip the pencil and color directly.
140lbs -which is the most popular- watercolor paper or less will work just fine with any of the above lightbox recommendations. Anything heavier, and it will be a little hard to trace except for bold illustration.