TSB

screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: Mark @ Hurricane Printing on March 04, 2013, 11:24:57 AM

Title: building my own light table..I have a question about the white acrylic.
Post by: Mark @ Hurricane Printing on March 04, 2013, 11:24:57 AM

I am in the process of building my own light table..it is 30" x 36"....I am going to use a white acrylic sheet with a glass top on top of it.

How much light transmittance is good for a light table? 50%? 42%?..35?....the thickness and light transmittance are below:

1/8" thick - approximately 50% light transmittance
3/16" thick - approximately 42% light transmittance
1/4" thick - approximately 35% light transmittance

Which one should I go with? A 1/4" thick glass will be on top of the acrylic. I'm thinking I should go with the 1/8" thick. Over time i dont think the 1/8" would sag with the glass top.

Your thoughts?

Title: Re: building my own light table..I have a question about the white acrylic.
Post by: Frog on March 04, 2013, 11:42:54 AM

I would think that how much light you want transmitted would depend on how much light you have.

I also don't think that it's very critical.

My Nuarc light table has ground glass which probably transmits better than 80%.

My homemade table had frosty film taped to the inside. I also have seen vellum and tissue paper. I'm pretty sure that the thinness of those materials also transmits way more than the thicker acrylic.

Title: Re: building my own light table..I have a question about the white acrylic.
Post by: Mark @ Hurricane Printing on March 04, 2013, 01:39:04 PM

i went with the 1/8" thick.