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What type of light to use when doing Art (A level) that doesn't cast shadows?

11 replies

SocksRocks · 28/09/2024 18:52

My daughter is doing A level art and works at a table in our bay window which has good natural light during the day.
However after dark she doesn't want the room light on because it throws shadows and ends up working in the dark (almost).
Is there a particular type of light that would solve this problem?
Thanks

OP posts:
Singleandproud · 28/09/2024 18:54

A desk light is her best bet surely, the nature of light is it will throw shadows when obstacles get in its way so a desk light will have less obstacles as it's direct on her paper.

Otherwise maybe a light box that you put the paper on top of to trace would work.

woodpecker2 · 28/09/2024 18:55

I guess it’s where she is in relation to the room light, can she sit more underneath it or get a spot light or anglepoise type desk lamp illuminating the work she is doing?

NeverDropYourMooncup · 28/09/2024 18:59

It's kind of like sound engineering, where you have two identical mics in an X/Y position to create a sound directly in the middle.

Put two lamps with daylight bulbs at 45 degrees to her pointing at the desk - so if the desk is 12 o'clock down to the centre, she's at 6 and the lamps are the hour hand at 4.30 and 7.30

SocksRocks · 28/09/2024 19:02

Singleandproud · 28/09/2024 18:54

A desk light is her best bet surely, the nature of light is it will throw shadows when obstacles get in its way so a desk light will have less obstacles as it's direct on her paper.

Otherwise maybe a light box that you put the paper on top of to trace would work.

Edited

A light box is an interesting suggestion, I'll suggest it to her.

OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/09/2024 19:02

You need a daylight ring light.

SocksRocks · 28/09/2024 19:05

woodpecker2 · 28/09/2024 18:55

I guess it’s where she is in relation to the room light, can she sit more underneath it or get a spot light or anglepoise type desk lamp illuminating the work she is doing?

We can't really move the table under the light or the room will be unusable for anything else.
We do have an Anglepoise lamp so will try that first. Thanks

OP posts:
SocksRocks · 28/09/2024 19:06

NeverDropYourMooncup · 28/09/2024 18:59

It's kind of like sound engineering, where you have two identical mics in an X/Y position to create a sound directly in the middle.

Put two lamps with daylight bulbs at 45 degrees to her pointing at the desk - so if the desk is 12 o'clock down to the centre, she's at 6 and the lamps are the hour hand at 4.30 and 7.30

hmmm, interesting idea.

OP posts:
SocksRocks · 28/09/2024 19:09

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/09/2024 19:02

You need a daylight ring light.

Had never heard of that.
I assume you mean something like this
https://www.cassart.co.uk/daylight-aura-on-arm-ring-light/

Daylight Aura On Arm Ring Light

View the Daylight Aura On Arm Ring Light here. Shop the lowest prices at Cass Art

https://www.cassart.co.uk/daylight-aura-on-arm-ring-light

OP posts:
urbanbuddha · 29/09/2024 04:38

I’d go with two lights as suggested.

sashh · 29/09/2024 07:26

I'd say she need two lights, one on each side. She can then play around with lighting her work and she might also try some white surfaces, this can be paper, plastic chopping board or the actual ones photographers use, you position them to reflect the light.

www.amazon.co.uk/Etekcity-Multi-disc-Collapsible-Photography-Reflector/dp/B00DIHSZCC

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 29/09/2024 08:17

@SocksRocks yes, something like that. I am not an artist, but dsis and MiL are, and they both use them.

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