For other uses, see Lightbox (disambiguation).

Small lightbox opened to reveal workings

A lightbox is a translucent surface illuminated from behind, used for situations where a shape laid
upon the surface needs to be seen with high contrast.[1]
Contents
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1Types

2See also

3References

4External links

Types[edit]
Several varieties exist, depending on their purpose:
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

Various backlit viewing devices:

A container with several lightbulbs and a pane of frosted glass on the top. It is used
by photography professionals viewing transparent films, such as slides. This device was
originally used to sort photographic plates with ease. When laid flat, it may be called a light
table. Generally, a lightbox uses light similar to daylight (5,0006,000 kelvins (K)) and has
uniform light strength on the glass pane.

In the form of vertical panels, they can also be found mounted on the walls of
hospitals and medical offices to review X-ray images.

In the science field, lightboxes are often used for looking at bacterial growth and
allow better visualization for PCR plates.

A lighted display panel used for advertising purposes. The panel can be illuminated
by fluorescent light bulbs or LED lighting strips. 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.

The fabric reflectors that attach to studio lighting via a connector to create soft lighting by
diffusing the strobe flash are called "light boxes". 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.

A folder used on 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.[2]

The card-reader near the door in a hotel room, used as the main electric switch