If you are an artist, designer, or hobbyist who loves to draw, sketch, or trace, you might have heard of light tables. For those who are unaware, light tables are gadgets that give your drawing paper a backlit surface, which makes it simpler to view the contours and details of your work. They work particularly well for making animations, cartoons, tattoos, and more. They can also be used for tracing, transferring, or honing your designs.
However, what are light tables for drawing exactly, and how are they used? We'll address these concerns in this post, along with offering some advice on how to pick and operate the ideal light table for your requirements.
Light tables: what are they?
Light tables are rectangular, flat objects with a light source underneath and a translucent top. Most of them come with a power cord that can be plugged into a USB port or an outlet, and other types can be made more portable by using batteries. The light source may have varying color temperatures and brightness levels, and it may be LED, fluorescent, or incandescent.
Using a light table to illuminate your drawing paper from underneath will help you see through layers of paper or other materials more easily. This allows you to modify your drawing by adding details or making errors, trace an existing image, and transfer a sketch to a new piece of paper.
Depending on your needs and preferences, light tables are available in a variety of sizes, forms, and features. A4, A3, and A2, which match the dimensions of normal paper, are some frequent sizes. Certain light tables are incredibly light and thin, which makes storing or moving them around simple. You can regulate the brightness of the light by using the brightness settings on certain light tables.
For convenience, some light tables come with a remote control, a touch sensor, or a dimmer switch. A grid or a ruler may be present on the surface of certain light tables to assist with alignment and measurement.
How do I use light tables?
Using a light table is fairly simple and straightforward. Here are the basic steps to follow:
- Turn on and plug in your light table. If necessary, adjust the brightness level.
- Layout the desired paper or material on the light table for tracing or transfer. To keep it in place, you can use magnets, tape, or clips.
- Ensure that the two papers or materials are aligned before placing the second one on top of the first. To hold it in place, you can also use magnets, tape, or clips.
- Trace or transfer the image from the bottom layer to the top layer using a pencil, pen, marker, or any other drawing instrument. To make changes or revisions, you can also use a compass, a ruler, or an eraser.
- Take out the items or papers from the light table and review your findings. You can go through the steps again and again until you are happy with the drawing you have made.
For enthusiasts, designers, and artists looking to enhance their drawing abilities and produce stunning works of art, light tables are an excellent resource. They may assist you in making animations, comics, tattoos, and more, in addition to tracing, transferring, and perfecting your designs. Depending on your demands and budget, they are simple to use and come in a variety of sizes, forms, and features.
