Amazing Art Tools: The Light Table

One of the many amazing art tools that are used in multiple art fields is the light table. 

Now before I go on, I just want to pull back the stigma that most people have about tracing. Saying things like “Tracing art is cheating” and “Real artist don’t trace” I want to say that most of the non-mechanical methods of art reproductions are done using light tables and tracing.

For example, Traditional animation is used with a specially made light table that rotates to alleviate the animator’s hand. As well it would be almost impossible to animate with out straining your eyes to see the page behind it this makes it a vital to have this as an animator.

Personally, I have used a light table myself, I was part of a vocational school that offered Commercial Graphics Arts and the light table was one tool that was very vital for the work we did. One project we did with the light table, was taking a black and white photo and applying it to an ad we were to design but without damaging the photo or the original photo for the ad. This takes tremendous amounts of time and effort to put detail into re-drawing the photo but the table makes it easier than having to look at it to draw it from memory or trace it from a solid surface.

Now for some of us we look at these tables like “I have no room for that” or "It's to expensive"where I say that is no problem for there is a solution for anyone.

 That is where I want to introduce you to the light tablet and light box. These light table alternatives are a more portable method of tracing, animating and drawing in general as well as being cheaper and more portable. One friend of mine bought a TRACER light tablet for there animating class on Amazon for only $18. 

Overall the light table is a useful tool for anyone professional, students  or hobbyist. 

Now I hope I enlightened you on this Amazing Art Tool and maybe even made you interested in purchasing one for yourself.