# Lightbox > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lightbox > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lightbox.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightbox > Source revision: 1329519779 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Translucent surface illuminated from behind For other uses, see [Lightbox (disambiguation)](/source/Lightbox_(disambiguation)). For the tool used by artists to trace over pictures, see [light table](/source/Light_table). A **lightbox** is most commonly a [translucent](/source/Translucent) surface illuminated from behind, used for situations where a shape laid upon the surface needs to be seen with high contrast.[1] A lightbox is also a blocked-off area of an overhanging roof, as over an extended eve, added to allow light to pass through. ## Types Several varieties exist, depending on their purpose: - Various backlit viewing devices: - A container with several [lightbulbs](/source/Lightbulb) and a pane of [frosted glass](/source/Frosted_glass) on the top. It is used by photography professionals viewing [transparent](/source/Transparency_and_translucency) films, such as [slides](/source/Photographic_slide).[2] This device was originally used to sort [photographic plates](/source/Photographic_plate) with ease. When laid flat, it may be called a [light table](/source/Light_table). Generally, a lightbox uses light similar to [daylight](/source/Daylight) (5,000–6,000 [kelvins](/source/Kelvin) (K)) and has uniform light strength on the glass pane.[3] - In the form of vertical panels, they can also be found mounted on the walls of hospitals and medical offices to review [X-ray](/source/X-ray) images (X-ray illuminator).[4] - In the science field, lightboxes are often used for looking at bacterial growth and allow better visualization for [PCR](/source/Polymerase_chain_reaction) plates.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] - A lighted display panel used for advertising purposes.[5] The panel can be illuminated by [fluorescent light bulbs](/source/Fluorescent_lamp) or [LED lighting strips](/source/LED_strip_light). The efficiency of light boxes improved dramatically after the introduction of LED technology. The user inserts a graphic, which can be changed easily. Some light boxes are designed especially for outdoor purposes so they are more weatherproof.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] - The fabric reflectors that attach to studio lighting via a connector to create soft lighting by diffusing the strobe flash are called "light boxes".[6] They generally come in various rectangle or octagon shapes. Interior reflectors can be white, silver or gold to alter the temperature of light. Baffling inserts are also available. - A variation of this is a box, with one open end, made of diffusing material, to allow the photographing of a sample object with no shadows. It is also called **[light tent](/source/Light_tent)** or **photo cube**.[7] - A folder used on [stock photography](/source/Stock_photography) to allow a user to organize digital photos. Photos can be assigned to a viewable lightbox folder by subject, for later convenience, or used to compile unrelated photos for a specific project layout. Lightboxes also allow graphic designers to show clients options for a project in one simple uncluttered folder.[8] - The card-reader near the door in a hotel room, used as the main electric switch[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] - A blocked-off area of an overhanging roof, as over an extended eve, which allows light to pass through. ## Gallery - Small lightbox opened to reveal workings - Wall mounted lightbox for inspecting medical X-rays - Lightbox used in outdoor advertising - Lightbox designed to produce images with diffuse lighting from all angles - Lightbox used as a Memorial Plaque ## See also - [Light table](/source/Light_table) - [Blueprint](/source/Blueprint) - [Heliographic copier](/source/Heliographic_copier) - [Thermal copier](/source/Thermal_copier) - [Verifax copier](/source/Verifax_copier) ## References Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Lightboxes (photography)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lightboxes_(photography)). Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Light boxes (signs)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Light_boxes_(signs)). Look up ***[lightbox](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/lightbox)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-White2014_1-0)** Tony White (20 June 2014). [*Animation from Pencils to Pixels: Classical Techniques for the Digital Animator*](https://books.google.com/books?id=IqPcAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA309). CRC Press. p. 309. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-136-14422-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-136-14422-6) – via [Google Books](/source/Google_Books). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Modrak, Rebekah; Anthes, Bill (2011). [*Reframing Photography: Theory and Practice*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Ck26ZIQ51QIC&pg=PT506). Taylor & Francis. p. 453. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780415779197](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780415779197) – via [Google Books](/source/Google_Books). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Saddington, Roger (2003). [*The Quick & Easy Guide to Photographing Your Artwork*](https://books.google.com/books?id=whdjDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT61). Penguin. p. 61. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781440317507](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781440317507) – via [Google Books](/source/Google_Books). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Al-Azzawi, Abdul (2017). [*Photonics: Principles and Practices*](https://books.google.com/books?id=6FbLBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA282). CRC Press. p. 282. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780849382949](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780849382949) – via [Google Books](/source/Google_Books). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Travis, Lily (July 12, 2018). ["Light Box Signs And Their Unexpected Benefits For Your Business"](https://www.frontsigns.com/blog/lightbox-signs-benefits-for-your-business/). *frontsigns.com*. Retrieved May 17, 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Andrews, Ben; Stapley, Jon (August 29, 2020). ["The best light tents for photography"](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-light-tents-for-photography). *digitalcameraworld.com*. Retrieved May 17, 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Elizabeth, Diana (December 3, 2013). ["3 Great Ways to Utilize a Light Cube"](https://photography.tutsplus.com/tutorials/3-great-ways-to-utilize-a-light-cube--photo-16886). *photography.tutsplus.com*. Retrieved May 17, 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-PorebskiPrzystalski2011_8-0)** Bartosz Porebski; Karol Przystalski; Leszek Nowak (17 February 2011). [*Building PHP Applications with Symfony, CakePHP, and Zend Framework*](https://books.google.com/books?id=gTEl2mWGNtAC&pg=PA259). John Wiley and Sons. p. 259. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-118-06792-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-118-06792-5) – via [Google Books](/source/Google_Books). --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lightbox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightbox) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightbox?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.