Whether you’re an architect, engineer or simply a drawing enthusiast, a light table for drawing or drafting will make your drafting experience less stressful. Drafting tables became popular during the Industrial Revolution when draftsmanship became a specialized trade. Today, many professionals and hobbyists use these tables because it enables them to trace and/or compare drawings and to obtain a more accurate assessment of drawings.
Although these tables assist you with tracing, comparing and assessing drawings, this is not the only advantageous factor. Tables for drawing or drafting will sometimes come equipped with a light that will illuminate your work and reduce eye strain, which will help increase productivity.
Now that you know why a drawing or drafting table is essential in creating your masterpieces, you’ll need to know what to look for when you’re looking to purchase a light table for drawing or drafting.
Why You Need a Good Surface
No matter what activity you’ll be using your drawing or drafting table for, it is important to make sure it has a proper surface to work on. The surface of a table for drafting or drawing is typically covered with a thin vinyl sheet or board cover. This type of cover provides a great surface to draft or draw on. You’ll also be able to use your compasses and dividers without damaging the surface of the light table.
Remember to always ensure that your light table for drafting or drawing is free of graphite or ink buildup because this could ruin any new drafts or drawings you’re creating.
Consider the Incline That’s Best for You
Since you’re already considering purchasing a light table for drafting or drawing, you may already know the angle of the table that works best for you. While some tables are adjustable, others are not. If you’ve found a light table that you love that has a fixed angle, or are unsure of which angle you’ll work the best with, try these suggestions to decide which table to purchase:
- Go to the store with some materials and do a quick draft or sketch.
- If you’re purchasing online, then you won’t be able to go to the store. However, you can make a make-shift board set at the same angle as the table you’re considering and practice on that.
- If anyone you know has an adjustable board, ask if you can use theirs to see what angle works best for you.
- Research suggested table angles relevant to what you’d like to use your light table for.
Why Lighting is Important to Your Creations
One of the worst things that can happen while you’re drawing or drafting is losing your light source. Light is essential to drawing and drafting (because we need it to see), so making sure that your table has a quality light source is important. Look for these things when you’re researching light tables for drawing or drafting:
- Does the table come with quality light bulbs?
- How long are the light bulbs supposed to last?
- How expensive are the replacement bulbs?
- Are the bulbs easy to replace?
- What type of light is best for the type of drawings or drafts you’re creating?
- Do you need a bulb that will be more or less bright?
Know How Much Room You’ll Need
It’s obvious that the bigger your projects are the larger your table should be. If you’re an architect creating massive blueprints, then you’ll need a larger table. However, if you’re an art student creating a small artistic masterpiece, then you’ll require a much smaller table.
Also, the space that your table will be going into is important to consider. It may actually make your drawing and drafting ventures more difficult if your table is too big for the space. Luckily there may be a solution to this problem. Many companies offer foldable light tables for drafting or drawing, but take note that they may cost more money.
By considering all of these things when purchasing a table for drawing or drafting, you’ll end up with a table that you’re happy with and you can produce your best work on. It’s always important to take your time consider multiple key components when making a large purchase so that you end up with something you’ll be happy with and be able to use for a long time.