Let there be affordable Light Box's!

netwolf · #1 11-11-2008, 08:41 PM

Hi All,

I came accross this website when looking for Qhy8 shots and found this chap is using a nice and cheap Light Box solutions that seems to work well for him.

http://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/sea...bel/equipments
Be Warned his Images may make you buy expensive toys. No seriously this guy has taken some fantastic images with the Qhy8 and Canon and Tokina Lens's.

Lightbox from.
http://www.posterpoweruk.co.uk/page5.htm

Anyone know a source for this in Australia?

Regards
Fahim

[1ponders] (Paul) · #2 11-11-2008, 08:46 PM

Interesting. I'd like to see the spectrum, could be a bit light on in the red, but looks like a great idea.

RB (Andrew) · #3 12-11-2008, 12:38 AM

I agree with Paul, looks very interesting indeed.
Nice find, Fahim.

Will check out if available in Oz.

Tandum (Robin) · #4 12-11-2008, 02:22 AM

http://www.elaust.com.au/ looks like them.

Ian Robinson · #5 12-11-2008, 02:46 AM

We all have LCD flat panel screens .... some monsters 24" and bigger.

Why not clean up the computer screen , no dust of muck on it , and the open up something like MS Paint and create a full screen sized object that is as pure white as you can get and use that as the "light box" to get the custom white balance (in a darkened room) ? (would the screen luminance be sufficient ?)

Or alternatively get hold of nice cheap whiteboard and take that outside on a sunny day and use that to get the custom white balance ?

Tandum (Robin) · #6 12-11-2008, 03:18 AM

Because you really need to take the flats at the time you are taking the images. I have already been caught out using flats from a previous shoot which have not resolved issues from the current shoot. That won't happen again, I'm not wasting another night imaging. I always run a set of flats before I packup, it takes no time at all with a light box.

A Flat removes imperfections in the imaging train. It is not for CWB.

RB (Andrew) · #7 12-11-2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Robinson

We all have LCD flat panel screens .... some monsters 24" and bigger.

Why not clean up the computer screen , no dust of muck on it , and the open up something like MS Paint and create a full screen sized object that is as pure white as you can get and use that as the "light box" to get the custom white balance (in a darkened room) ? (would the screen luminance be sufficient ?)

Or alternatively get hold of nice cheap whiteboard and take that outside on a sunny day and use that to get the custom white balance ?

Ian you don't use a light box for Custom White Balance.
Flats are used to remove imperfections in the optical train that you're imaging through, like dust spots and vignetting.

AlexN · #8 13-11-2008, 09:30 PM

Also, here... http://www.elec2go.com.au/category7_1.htm

A3 electroluminescent sheets are $150AUD If your scope requires more area than A3, then move to A2... however, the prices get silly above A3..

For those who image with smaller scopes, the A4 sheet at $75 would be perfect. frame it somehow to keep it flat, sit it on the aperture of the scope and run of 20~30 flats... I would assume you could modify them to run of 12v power too...

I'll be ordering an A3 sheet in the next few days..

[1ponders] (Paul) · #9 13-11-2008, 09:32 PM

How would the brightness be controlled? Fully illuminated looks wayyyyy tooo bight.

AlexN · #10 13-11-2008, 09:49 PM

take a shorter exposure? cover it with a white sheet?

Ian Robinson · #11 13-11-2008, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

Also, here... http://www.elec2go.com.au/category7_1.htm

A3 electroluminescent sheets are $150AUD If your scope requires more area than A3, then move to A2... however, the prices get silly above A3..

For those who image with smaller scopes, the A4 sheet at $75 would be perfect. frame it somehow to keep it flat, sit it on the aperture of the scope and run of 20~30 flats... I would assume you could modify them to run of 12v power too...

I'll be ordering an A3 sheet in the next few days..

Ah .... I see , you use them to a means to compensate for vignetting .

If you are using the same scope all the time , you need a set per imaging session .... not started using my DSLR for astroimaging yet .... got a bit to learn I see.

Ian Robinson · #12 13-11-2008, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RB

Ian you don't use a light box for Custom White Balance.
Flats are used to remove imperfections in the optical train that you're imaging through, like dust spots and vignetting.

If you don't ask (dumb questions) you never learn ... I think I see now.

Those electroluminescent sheets look pretty spiffy , would be nice if someone did a spectral response on one .... to find out how white they actually are.

AlexN · #13 13-11-2008, 10:02 PM

For anyone interested, the guy Fahim referred to and linked to got an APOD a few days ago with that lens + QHY8 and using that thing for flats.. So it must work... I just need that el sheet, and I have everything he used to get an APOD... so I'll have no excuses (Damn..)

[1ponders] (Paul) · #14 13-11-2008, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

take a shorter exposure? cover it with a white sheet?

Exposures shouldn't be too short Alex. 2-10 sec is what is usually recommended, though lots of people use shorter. I suppose the old T shirt trick could be used with it.

h0ughy (David) · #15 13-11-2008, 10:24 PM

lol ordered the A3 and the customiseable one for 33 dollars - all work off 12v -- should have them monday

AlexN · #16 13-11-2008, 10:28 PM

sweet houghy, make sure to let us all know how it goes..

h0ughy (David) · #17 13-11-2008, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

sweet houghy, make sure to let us all know how it goes..

i am not the only one, i know of another who ordered and will receive exactly the same as me------> it shall remain nameless unless he fesses up here

Tandum (Robin) · #18 13-11-2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Robinson

Those electroluminescent sheets look pretty spiffy , would be nice if someone did a spectral response on one .... to find out how white they actually are.

Same here, at $33 that's a real plus for us, so long as they are balanced white.

Octane (Humayun) · #19 13-11-2008, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

i am not the only one, i know of another who ordered and will receive exactly the same as me------> it shall remain nameless unless he fesses up here

I have a sneaky suspicion I know who it is as I was conversing with them back and forth at work today.

This, just after I went out and bought a whole heap of goodies to make my own light box!

Regards,
Humayun

RB (Andrew) · #20 14-11-2008, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

i am not the only one, i know of another who ordered and will receive exactly the same as me------> it shall remain nameless unless he fesses up here

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

I have a sneaky suspicion I know who it is as I was conversing with them back and forth at work today.

This, just after I went out and bought a whole heap of goodies to make my own light box!

Regards,
Humayun

LOL, poor Mandy from elect2go told me yesterday she didn't know what hit her.
I had already ordered mine and she asked what I was going to use it for so I told her.

She said afterwards when I called her back to confirm the order that she was inundated by orders, most were for astro use.

I told her their details were posted on the forum so Mandy said she'll be stocking up on this product. Hope it works.

Mine should arrive soon. If it doesn't work, I can use it for something else I have in mind so all is good.