Using a Light Box to Transfer Drawings

Series Summary

Have you ever wanted to make multiple copies of one of your favorite works of art? Maybe you want to see how one of your drawings would look as a watercolor? A light box will allow you to try out different color schemes on various copies of a single design. A lightbox is an artist's tool which is used to transfer drawings, designs and patterns. The light box is topped with a translucent flat surface on which you can trace the lines and shapes of one drawing onto another. The lamp inside the box provides illumination which makes the lines of the original work of art more vivid and visible for making copies. Light boxes can also be used for viewing slides or artwork, tracing, stenciling and calligraphy, as well as designing stained glass, embossing and other scrapbooking crafts.

In this series of free instructional videos you'll learn how to use a lightbox. Artist Sue Gill Rose shows you how to transfer your drawings and designs, how to use a lightbox to sketch out painting designs, and how to use a light box for photo art projects.

Video Transcript

"Today I am going to give you a few tips on how to use a light box. Today we have the light box that I use particularly for my paintings. This is a light box that I had made for myself so I could use large sheets of water color paper on it. I also have with me a smaller light box which you can buy; mine was made. But you can buy this at about $60 at any art store or on Amazon and it is good for smaller pieces of work. It is portable so you can carry it with you and it works very well. I can just plug it in and there it goes. This is great for working with smaller things. You use your light box to eliminate your work from behind to transfer it to your water color paper. This is the main reason for my use of light box but I will show you several others. Stay tuned for the next segment."