$30 Light Box/Comp Table

A must have and super easy project for your everyday artist... Turn any old glass table into a light box/comp table.

Light boxes are usually used for sketching and drawing. Also used for viewing transparencies or photo negatives (do those still even exist?).

Composition tables provide a work area to cut and assemble art projects.

Here is the secret - use a "lens refill" from any standard kitchen fluorescent box. These are available at any big home improvement store. These come in different sizes and textures.

I am working with a 5ft x 3 ft glass table, so I got a 4ft x 2ft piece in "WHITE cracked ice" texture.

White lens come out opaque and work best for this project. Clear lens are obviously transparent.

Here are all the supplies you will need for this project:

1 glass table
2 clamp light
1 pack of square double sided mounting tape
1 Tape measurer
1 Lens refill for a fluorescent light box

Place the lens refill in the middle of the glass table and measure out the distance from the edges for a perfectly centered placement.

Once measured and placed, pop a square double sided mounting tape onto each corner. If you have a rectangular piece, then place a couple on the middle edges of the lens for extra support.

Once the lens is secured with the double sided tape, flip the glass over and place it back on the stand.

This will allow you to have a clean and even working surface.

Clamp on your lights where you see fit. Adjust as necessary, so it casts the light where you need it to be.

Turn on the lights and you are ready to work!