Backlit Poster Frames...

[ClaytonMG]

Alright, so I have been collecting posters for about 5 years now. I have 12 frames that I keep changing the posters in so that I am up to date with the current movie theaters (plus it's way easier and cheaper to do it that way than to try to find older posters). Now I am trying to build a backlit poster frame since they easily cost between $500 and $5000+. So does anyone have any hints on how to do it or anything? Any help would be awesome! And I'd prefer a way so that it costs me less than $100 per frame ($1200 is way out of me league).

[buckshot]

i found some on ebay and they went for about $100 and $140 shipping. i almost got one. but space restrictions in our current house make that a little hard.

i'd check there

[buckshot]

http://cgi.ebay.com/LIGHTED-MOVIE-PO...QQcmdZViewItem

check that out

[ClaytonMG]

Yeah $250 is cheaper than the other one's I've seen. But there's gotta be a way to actually build these things. And I can't imagine it costing that much to build them.

[Brandon B]

Basically, you need to sandwich the poster between a piece of glass in the front and milk plex or other diffuser in the rear, get a small fluorescent tube transformer or two, some low profile fluorescent tubes and fixtures, and build a lightbox with a white interior and put it together and put a frame on it.

You'll probably end up speding something under $100 on the materials at most.

BB

[ClaytonMG]

See I pretty much have all that figured out, but what am I going to use to sandwich the poster in the frame? I have the clear plastic front and I can get the stuff for directly behind the poster, but I can't figure out/find what to use to pinch it up there. Is there a clamp or a clip that I don't know about?

[Brandon B]

Put another layer of thin clear plastic behind the poster, and slot the frame so that the 3 layers (plastic-poster-plastic) are captured all the way around.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by buckshot

http://cgi.ebay.com/LIGHTED-MOVIE-PO...QQcmdZViewItem

check that out

Ironically, it seems to be the one offering from them that is set for local pickup. Planning to drive to Evansville, IN?

Gary

Edit: If you're looking for something from them that is a little more upscale, they have a sale on their cherry wood version ($200 off, for $350). Movie Poster Lighted Frame Brazilian Cherry Light box

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by ClaytonMG

See I pretty much have all that figured out, but what am I going to use to sandwich the poster in the frame? I have the clear plastic front and I can get the stuff for directly behind the poster, but I can't figure out/find what to use to pinch it up there. Is there a clamp or a clip that I don't know about?

So long as there's enough friction between the frames, the poster shouldn't fall out. There is a plastic sheet that mimics the effects of frosted glass. You can use that plastic on the plastic sheet in front of the lights.

As far as clamping it, there are many ways to do it and that depends on the front design you want. I can see how the cherry box would work. If you want to design one yourself, design one where you can easily exchange the posters and replace the lights.


fuad

[LynxFX]

I've built one and I'll tell you now, they are a pain in the ass to make, especially if you want to make it easy to change out the posters. Plus, I assume you are using actual movie posters (27"x41") which is just the inside since you'll have a frame extending around it. In other words, they are huge depending on how big of a frame you go with to decorate it up.

But it is a fun project. Do a google search and you will find a couple good walk throughs and plans for building your own.

[MrBogey]

Seems like you'd be able to run to Lowe's grab 2 sheets of plexi, some white semitransparent paint for diffussion, a couple light fixtures, and some wood for a frame.

[Brandon B]

I'd try something like a sheet of tissue paper rather than paint for diffusion. Or you can get a sheet of real diffusion from a lighting supply house for a few bucks.

BB

[MrBogey]

You could probably just get some lexan like what they use for florescent lights. They come in clear and white and can be scored and cut with a knife.