Backlit LED Poster Frame Light Box

Video - July 11, 2019

Nicole and I love movies and we are lucky to have our own home theater room. Just outside that room, is a recess with an outlet on the wall intended for a back-lit poster frame. The one that came with the house was made with fluorescent tubes and was falling apart. So this is my replacement. It features a dimmable LED light strip and a double sided poster (which gives the best results when backlit) and accepts 27″ x 40″ posters.

Download the plans:

Here are affiliate links to some of the tools and materials used in the build:

Discussion

Darrell July 11, 2019 9:10 am

I clicked on the link for the LED light strip. It says “Currently unavailable. We don’t know when or if it will be back in stock”. Otherwise, the implications for infinitely more back-lit projects is mind staggering. Chalk up another fantastic execution of idea to creation for The Wood Whisperer Team.

Reply
Jeffrey W. July 11, 2019 10:44 am

This might be a dumb question, but for the Plywood in the back, what is the top surface made of? I’ve gotten a bunch of waste sheets that look exactly like that. Also is what is the grain pattern called?

Thanks a bunch!

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- Marc Spagnuolo July 11, 2019 3:28 pm
  
  No idea. This was just inexpensive 1/4″ stock from Lowes. Made from responsibly-harvested materials but it doesn’t say what the species is.
  
  Reply
Stephan Tibbetts July 11, 2019 1:32 pm

Mark,
Is there specific distance the LED’s need to be from the object being lighted. I ask because my current project includes back lighting stained glass window panels. I was thinking of using white sprayed paint, but I like the aluminum tape idea better. Thanks for the tip.
Steve Tibbetts
aka Woodbutcher17@outlook.come

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo July 11, 2019 3:27 pm
  
  I don’t really have specifics. This was the first time I’ve attempted something like this. Honestly, I’d prefer the lights to be a little further away from the poster to help further reduce hot spots but I was forced to put mine where they are. I imagine the further away you can put them the more well-distributed the light, but also the dimmer the light. So I think you really have to test it out with the particular lights you purchase and find the sweet spot.
  
  Reply
Barry Tappan July 15, 2019 5:10 pm

Hey Marc,
Thanks for the plans. I scaled the size down to 18×24 and made a light box for the kids. They can put whatever on top that lets the light through. X-rays of animals look great.
Acrylic cost is crazy.

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Edward J. Gold September 3, 2019 4:38 pm

Very cool light box and the doggo is wonderful.

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Richard November 6, 2019 5:12 pm

Great build; does any movie poster of that size work?

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- richard November 6, 2019 5:14 pm
  
  Also, would love a video tour of your theatre room; I thought I caught a glimpse of some custom columns in there through the door.
  
  Reply
  - Marc Spagnuolo November 7, 2019 2:28 pm
    
    If you follow me on Instagram, I have a Story series on the home theater: https://www.instagram.com/woodwhisperer/
    
    Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo November 7, 2019 2:27 pm
  
  Yes, but double-sided posters look a lot better.
  
  Reply
Allison May 28, 2020 8:02 am

Hi! We are so excited we just found your channel. We look forward to following you. We are building these light boxes this weekend. We are having trouble Finding the plexiglass. Could you share where you purchased your sheet from? I called michales and they do carry it however it is $300 per 27×40 sheet. Wondering if I could also purchase some poster frames and use the plexiglass from there? Thanks for your help!

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo May 28, 2020 7:51 pm
  
  Hi Allison. Plexiglass is expensive at the best of times and now there’s supposedly a shortage. So it might be tough to source. No reason you can’t borrow some clear plastic sheets from other cheap poster frames.
  
  Reply
Jeff McBride June 2, 2020 9:53 pm

What thickness of plexiglass did you use? I am planning on making 2 to 3 of these for my studio and with Plexiglass being so dang expensive, I wanted to get the cheapest I could and the thicker the plexiglass, the more expensive it is. I was thinking I could get by with 1/8″ (maybe even .060) or less but wasn’t sure if the plexiglass would bow or sag in the middle even with two of them sandwiching the posters.

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo June 3, 2020 9:37 am
  
  Mine was whatever they pass off as 1/8″. In reality it’s probably a little thinner. And yes, too thin and it will sag a bit but you can get away with a little bit of sag with this design.
  
  Reply

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Backlit LED Poster Frame Light Box

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