Al's Virtual Light Box

[sheeny (Al)]

I read in another thread the other day about using your laptop screen as a light box for taking flats. I thought it might be an interesting little programming exercise, so here it is. It was simpler to do than I expected.

All it is is a window with a numeric up/down control in one corner. Resize the window so it's larger than the diameter of your scope, and point your scope at the screen or hold the screen in front of the scope. Don't try to focus on the screen. If necessary, you can use the numerical up/down control to adjust the brightness to help get your exposure right.

Like all the other programs I've written in Visual Basic it requires that you have the .NET framework installed on your PC. Run the Setup application to install. Uninstall in Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel.

Even if you have a light box, it could be handy as a back up should you light box be flat, broken, left at home, etc.

If you have any suggestions to improve it let me know...

Al.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

You're a champion Al. This will save me trying to balance a light box built for an 8" SCT on top of the ED 80. Cheers

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

SWEET!!!! Now to wait for a clear night so I can actually use it.

[iceman (Mike)]

Well done Al, great contribution.

[Phil]

I have my own light box but i will give it a go thanks allot.
Phil

[IanL]

Al thats fantastic. I'll give it a go and let you know the results.

Ian

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Thanks Al.
It's just what the doctor ordered.

[multiweb (Marc)]

you legend!

[sheeny (Al)]

Thanks guys.

I'd appreciate feedback from anyone using it. I have since found out that some laptops are not so uniformly illuminated as you might expect, so I'd be interested to hear if you have success or otherwise with this.



Al.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I'm giving my screen a good clean before using it too.