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Ask Drawn: Lighting Question

Ken writes to ask:

My sad old drafting light’s arm broke, and I am interested what lights your readers use for working with traditional media. I have researched Dazor lights with full scpectrum bulbs, Ott-Lights and LiteSource combo lights (incandescent with fluorescent bulbs. Each one claims to provide more accurate viewing of colors.

I’m actually looking for a table light right now and was wondering the same thing. So, if any of you love your lamps, and want to scream about it, here’s your chance. (Also, a good excuse to get registered with our new comments system).

  • Bjorn

    I use a big TL unit fitted with two daylight bulbs. Works great and the light up the entire studio.

  • Bjorn

    I use a big TL unit fitted with two daylight bulbs. Works great and the light up the entire studio.

  • http://diversionmary.com/ diversionmary

    I use several goosenecks, a row of gallery style bulbs and a standard lamp with a flourescent bulb at the studio. I’m not overly concerned with the color space provided by them. @ work I do use a Verilux natural light gooseneck for press work.

  • http://diversionmary.com diversionmary

    I use several goosenecks, a row of gallery style bulbs and a standard lamp with a flourescent bulb at the studio. I’m not overly concerned with the color space provided by them. @ work I do use a Verilux natural light gooseneck for press work.

  • http://joshnichols.com/ MrBlank

    Anything with a daylight bulb is what I like. I also love working on a light table. My first sketches are always the best and I can never reproduce them, so I enlarge them and trace (my own work!) on the light table. If I could find a nice drafting table with a light in it and a daylight lamp on top, when I’m not using the light table, I’d be in heaven. :)

  • http://joshnichols.com MrBlank

    Anything with a daylight bulb is what I like. I also love working on a light table. My first sketches are always the best and I can never reproduce them, so I enlarge them and trace (my own work!) on the light table. If I could find a nice drafting table with a light in it and a daylight lamp on top, when I’m not using the light table, I’d be in heaven. :)

  • Bryan Stone

    Yeah, anything as long as it’s a natural light light bulb. If it’s not it can seriously decrease productivity especially if you live in an area where it get’s really cold or rains for an extended period of time. I’ve looked into the bulbs that NASA has developed for astronauts on extended stays on the ISS or longer shuttle flights, they’re called Metal Halide bulbs. They’re still a little expensive but they accurately replicate sunlight.

  • Bryan Stone

    Yeah, anything as long as it’s a natural light light bulb. If it’s not it can seriously decrease productivity especially if you live in an area where it get’s really cold or rains for an extended period of time. I’ve looked into the bulbs that NASA has developed for astronauts on extended stays on the ISS or longer shuttle flights, they’re called Metal Halide bulbs. They’re still a little expensive but they accurately replicate sunlight.

  • fabulousrice

    As far as tables go, I saw in the french edition of the IKEA catalog this table that a designer built which is this large drawing table “vika blecket”
    you can see the table on their website.
    It has a window and you just rig a lamp under it and put the table on sawhorses.
    Hope this helped!
    FAb

  • fabulousrice

    As far as tables go, I saw in the french edition of the IKEA catalog this table that a designer built which is this large drawing table “vika blecket”
    you can see the table on their website.
    It has a window and you just rig a lamp under it and put the table on sawhorses.
    Hope this helped!
    FAb

  • http://www.upso.org/ upso

    ive tried those natural light bulbs, and they always seem kind of weak as far as over all output. i really need to get something higher output. anyone have any suggestions? are all brands the same when it comes to natural light bulbs?

  • http://www.upso.org upso

    ive tried those natural light bulbs, and they always seem kind of weak as far as over all output. i really need to get something higher output. anyone have any suggestions? are all brands the same when it comes to natural light bulbs?

  • Big Tall Ken

    Thanks for all the responses. I ended up purchasing a Lite Source Combination Clamp-On Lamp (LSC-160) from my local Utrecht store. I replaced the 100 W incandecent bulb with a A21 75W Frosted full spectrum bulb from Chromalux. It puts out a nice warm light with good color. But I think the light works best with the 22 W cirular fluorescent bulb on as well. It spreads out a broader cooler light. I wish the armature clamps were a little beefer.

    I tried the Ott-Light clamp on lamp from Michael’s. I didn’t like the armature as well. It tended to droop under its own weight. The light was nice and bright but on the cool side.

    I like the looks of the floating arm lamps at Dazor.com. Their combo fluorescent lamp was shown in an old drafting book from the late 60′s. However their combo lamps are quite expensive.

    Hope this helps someone.

  • Big Tall Ken

    Thanks for all the responses. I ended up purchasing a Lite Source Combination Clamp-On Lamp (LSC-160) from my local Utrecht store. I replaced the 100 W incandecent bulb with a A21 75W Frosted full spectrum bulb from Chromalux. It puts out a nice warm light with good color. But I think the light works best with the 22 W cirular fluorescent bulb on as well. It spreads out a broader cooler light. I wish the armature clamps were a little beefer.

    I tried the Ott-Light clamp on lamp from Michael’s. I didn’t like the armature as well. It tended to droop under its own weight. The light was nice and bright but on the cool side.

    I like the looks of the floating arm lamps at Dazor.com. Their combo fluorescent lamp was shown in an old drafting book from the late 60′s. However their combo lamps are quite expensive.

    Hope this helps someone.