Equipment?

[zackw123]

Does anyone know where to get light boxes, paper, etc? I've checked out Chromacolour's website and Cartoonsupplies.com, but I wasn't sure if there was anywhere else I could be looking. Any advice would
be appreciated!

[Dave]

Zack, Posting in the animation forums is a good place to start looking for equipment and supplies. Unfortunately, this forum is too young for the search engine to find any matches but I remember (not too long ago) seeing Light boxes and desks advertised on animationnation.com (http://www.animationnation.com) website. That site has been around for years and has many informed users. Another good forum that may help and is also aimed towards 2D animators is animationforum.net. (http://www.animationforum.net/forum/)
As this forum matures, hopefully we can add to the list of informed users that have access to this information you seek.
If it's any help, Don Bluth purchases his paper from cartoonsupplies.com. (http://www.cartoonsupplies.com/)
Here's another few links for light box paper and equipment:
http://www.artograph.com/products/light_animation.htm
http://www.paperpeople.co.uk/
http://www.characteranimationin3d.com/links.htm#anisupplies

[DNethery]

A good source for a reasonably priced portable light box and animation disc is Colin Johnson Animation Desks.

http://www.animationdesks.com/

[zackw123]

Thanks for the help, guys!:)

[lavallelee]

where can I get dope sheets/xsheet like the one Don uses??

[DNethery]

Not sure about the exact form that Don Bluth uses for his X-sheets , but a classic Exposure Sheet form is the one available from Cartoon Colour Co. (http://www.cartooncolour.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=7&products_id=270)

You can also get a free downloadable, printable X-sheet template from Animation Meat:

http://www.animationmeat.com/templates/templates.html

[lavallelee]

thanks that is the one don uses

[CanAur]

Disney animation tables from Florida studio
They cost $1125
But it was in 2005 :) and I forgot who was the seller.

http://www.prodisney.ru/pic_for_forum/my/fc_12_b.jpg
http://www.prodisney.ru/pic_for_forum/my/f2_12_b.jpg
http://www.prodisney.ru/pic_for_forum/my/02_12_b.jpg

[DNethery]

Those Disney desks from the Orlando, FL studio occasionally still show up (there was one on eBay last year) , but most of the original stock have been sold. There was one seller in particular (I think the one that CanAur is referring to) had bought several dozen of those desks cheap at auction and she was selling them on a fairly regular basis in 2005 - 2006 , but last I heard she had finally cleared out her warehouse . I think they took her longer to sell than she expected and the storage costs were adding up over time. The things are massive and are very heavy.

But those Disney desks are great desks. If someone bought one for $1,125 they got a real bargain. The original price was around $5,000 each.

I expect that they will continue to turn up for sale from time to time , especially as many former traditional animators make the full transition to digital paperless animation and lose their sentimental attachment to the old traditional animation desks. Check on eBay.

----------

Anyone who is interested in getting an animation desk should check out eBay right now. Someone is selling partial Bluth/Fox desks (no shelving) on eBay at this time (April 22) :

Bluth/Fox Animation Desk For Sale (http://cgi.ebay.com/PROFESSIONAL-Animation-Drawing-Art-Table-36-x53_W0QQitemZ200329380385QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_Off ice_Furniture?hash=item200329380385&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)

Another Bluth/Fox Animation Desk for sale (http://cgi.ebay.com/PROFESSIONAL-Animation-Drawing-Art-Table-30-x-48_W0QQitemZ200329380381QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_Offi ce_Furniture?hash=item200329380381&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)

http://www.bigonlinebargains.com/batch/item39photo01.jpg

Auction ends on May 7, 2009. The Buy-It-Now price they are asking is cheap. But be aware that it will probably cost a lot to ship. Seller is asking for local pickup in Phoenix, AZ only , but says that he might be persuaded to ship it .

Another thing to be aware of is that these Bluth/Fox desks do not have the standard 16 3/8's inch hole for a standard disc. They have a 22" inch hole to fit the animation discs made by Mechanical Concepts (http://www.mechconcepts.com/Animation_Disk.html) . Usually these desks came with an adapter "donut" so that a standard disc could be used and it is certainly possible to make a donut if you are handy with a jigsaw . The other thing would be to have an oversize white plexiglass disc cut by a plastics company to use with the 22" inch hole in the Bluth/Fox desk. I personally prefer using the oversize white plexiglass discs anyway.

Here's a photo of Richard Williams at his animation desk in his studio in London in the mid 80's using an oversize white plexiglass disc:

http://inklingstudio.typepad.com/photos/animators_at_work/dick_williams_at_desk_2.jpg

[lavallelee]

i'm moving to orlando in 6 days!! OMG 6 DAYS ALREADY!! I might search for one of those disney desks.

[CanAur]

DNethery

Do you know where can i find "standard" sizes and angles and other information if i want to make an animation desk by myself?

PS
pictures dont work

[DNethery]

DNethery

Do you know where can i find "standard" sizes and angles and other information if i want to make an animation desk by myself?

PS
pictures dont work


Hi CanAur,

The pictures work for me . ( Is anyone else not able to see the photos I posted in my previous post ?)

Standard size of the hole to fit most animation discs is 16 1/2" inches or 16 3/8's inches (either size will work for a standard animation disc ,
16 3/8's may be a little bit of a tighter fit , but you should always thoroughly sand down the interior rim of the hole with sand paper and then apply a light coating of wax or graphite powder so the disc will turn smoothly)

Here are some plans for a do-it-yourself portable animation desk:

Animation Table Plans (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/n-HQHa6TpjVLY_MZOly7Zw?feat=directlink)

Here are photos of Sheridan student Brock Gallagher making as table similar to the one shown in the above plans:

Brock's Do It Yourself Animation Desk (http://brockorama.blogspot.com/2006/05/do-it-yourself-animation-desk.html)

also see this:

Traditional Animation Desk (http://www.onanimation.com/2008/05/ever-ellusive-traditional-animation.html)

I have a gallery up of various kinds of animation desks . You can probably look at the simpler desks sold by Chromacolour (http://www.chromacolour.com/store/desktop_boards_usa.htm), Colin Johnson (http://www.animationdesks.com/), Cartoon Colour Co (http://www.cartooncolour.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=36&products_id=170). and backwards engineer how to make one yourself if you have the proper tools

Animation Desks Gallery (http://inklingstudio.typepad.com/photos/animation_desks/)

[Moneyguns]

Ya, I'm still useing copy paper and a buzilion led pen's I bought from Office Max, but whatever works I guess.

[DNethery]

Ya, I'm still useing copy paper and a buzilion led pen's I bought from Office Max, but whatever works I guess.

Moneyguns, I see you are located in Mesa , AZ.

Did you see my previous posting (http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1331&postcount=9) about the guy in Phoenix who has some Bluth/Fox Animation desks for sale on eBay ? He prefers pick up in Phoenix .

He just dropped the price . The smaller of the two desks is only $99.00 and the larger animation desk is $129.00. A good deal on these desks.

You'd have to get an animation disc (oversized 23" white plexiglass disc) made to fit over the hole in these tables , but that should only set you back about $45 dollars at a local plastics company. Or you can make a "donut" insert to go into the larger 22" hole , with an inner hole diameter of 16 1/2" to fit a standard animation disc.

But if you need an animation desk this is about the cheapest you'll find.

Check out the ebay sale here:

36" x 53" large desk:
http://tinyurl.com/d23bmw

30" x 48" smaller desk:
http://tinyurl.com/dbpg6c

eBay sale ends on May 7, 2009 . He seems to have 5 of each, but several have been sold already.

[Moneyguns]

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to check that out.

[IzzyS]

our family doesn't exactly use very much money, and I don't exactly have enough room to put a whole new desk in my room. Do you suppose this could suffice? acme pegs and 500 sheets to come with it for a small extra fee. http://www.cartoonsupplies.com/product_info.php/cPath/25_45/products_id/121?osCsid=408850c4184f0a5b13de924b5ebf5fcc

[DNethery]

our family doesn't exactly use very much money, and I don't exactly have enough room to put a whole new desk in my room. Do you suppose this could suffice? acme pegs and 500 sheets to come with it for a small extra fee. http://www.cartoonsupplies.com/product_info.php/cPath/25_45/products_id/121?osCsid=408850c4184f0a5b13de924b5ebf5fcc

That should work ok, but also check out the D.I.Y. Forum at AnimationForums.net for examples of lightboxes you can make yourself:

http://www.animationforum.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4287

http://www.animationforum.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4229

http://www.animationforum.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6382

http://www.animationforum.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4357

[Regan]

That should work ok, but also check out the D.I.Y. Forum at AnimationForums.net for examples of lightboxes you can make yourself:

http://www.animationforum.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4287

The very thin lightbox in that thread looks really good. You could just lay it on a slanted drafting desk or draw with it in your lap....or any way you are comfortable working.

The disadvantage of some little lightboxes is that you have to hunch over to animate on them.

[Snapai]

Back when I was in school, I always wanted to get one of those bright white electroluminescent vinyl sheets, and stick it to the back of my animation disc, so I could just have a disc I could plug in anywhere. Unfortunately those sheets cost almost as much as a full animation desk. ;P


Now, of course, I just want a Cintiq. :D

[IzzyS]

That should work ok, but also check out the D.I.Y. Forum at AnimationForums.net for examples of lightboxes you can make yourself:

http://www.animationforum.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4287

http://www.animationforum.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4229

http://www.animationforum.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6382

http://www.animationforum.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4357
ohh! thanks!

[lavallelee]

Disney animation tables from Florida studio
They cost $1125
But it was in 2005 :) and I forgot who was the seller.

http://www.prodisney.ru/pic_for_forum/my/fc_12_b.jpg
http://www.prodisney.ru/pic_for_forum/my/f2_12_b.jpg
http://www.prodisney.ru/pic_for_forum/my/02_12_b.jpg

i just moved to Orlando Florida (today, YAY!) and i don't know where i can find this.... I REALLY REALLY want to find it

i put an ad in craigslist seeing if anyone has one in there basement collecting dust, and i could buy it

[TimothyB]

I'm not an animation student, but I have a chance to get a light table at work
that can double just as a nice drawing table.

I may be able to get it for free, or pay as little as $50. It's a Mayline drafting
light table. The top can rotate like 90 degrees, has an electronic lift, built in
light box with dimmer, weighs a ton.

It's going to take up a lot of space, but it's such I good deal I don't think I can
pass it up. You may find these on ebay or sold locally. I saw one on ebay for $300,
but then another for $2,000, just depends how much the person wants to get rid of the beast.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/TimothyB//table.jpg

[Regan]

How will you ever get that home???!!! It must way a ton.

[lavallelee]

everywhere has people you can hire for delivery, might cost a little extra, but worth it

[DNethery]

I'm not an animation student, but I have a chance to get a light table at work
that can double just as a nice drawing table.

I may be able to get it for free, or pay as little as $50. It's a Mayline drafting light table.

WOW ! If you can get that for $50.00 take it !

If you ever did decide to take up animation you could easily adapt it to an animation table by taping down a thin metal peg bar to it (about $25.00 from Cartoon Colour Co. or Lightfoot Animation)

Or you could get one of these port-a-Discs from Lightfoot to put on top of the Mayline desktop so you'll have a full rotation animation disc:

http://www.lightfootltd.com/product_info.php/cPath/23/products_id/65

http://www.lightfootltd.com/images/port_a_disc_large.gif


Or better yet an overlay adapter board with a hole cut out for a disc:

http://www.lightfootltd.com/product_info.php/cPath/24/products_id/390

http://www.lightfootltd.com/images/OverLay%20NO%20disc1.jpg

http://www.lightfootltd.com/images/Full%20Table%20Pro%20XX%20LightTable.w%20Moverlay. jpg

Of course if you have the tools (jigsaw) you could get a piece of smooth birch plywood the same size as the top of the Mayline light table and cut out your own hole for a disc. Use "C" clamps to hold it on to the Mayline table and voila ! -- instant animation desk.

[DNethery]

By the way, anyone who is trying to build their own animation table should take a look at that board offered by Lightfoot , which has the pre-cut hole for a disc:

http://www.lightfootltd.com/product_info.php/cPath/24/products_id/390

http://www.lightfootltd.com/images/OverLay%20NO%20disc1.jpg


The hardest part of making an animation table is cutting out a perfectly smooth, round 16 3/8's inch hole for the disc. The rest of it is fairly easy to put together using these plans that I posted:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jL0PYTVd-Zs/Se9q2kZKv5I/AAAAAAAAAws/MHXNOTU67QM/s288/Animation_Table_Plan.JPG
Do-It-Yourself Animation Table Plans -- CLICK HERE -- (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/n-HQHa6TpjVLY_MZOly7Zw?feat=directlink)

and see these photos of Sheridan student Brock Gallagher making a table similar to the one shown in the above plans:

Brock's Do It Yourself Animation Desk (http://brockorama.blogspot.com/2006/05/do-it-yourself-animation-desk.html)

So the pre-cut board that Lightfoot sells would make it pretty easy to make a really nice animation table.

[DNethery]

I just found another example of a Do-It-Yourself animation desk project:

How To Make an Animation Desk - Part 1 - Part 4 (http://animuppetry.blogspot.com/search?q=How+To+Make+an+Animation+Desk)

He even shows how to make a disc although I would tend to say that unless you're a purist who wants to build the whole thing yourself then save yourself some time by simply purchasing a white plexiglass disc from Cartoon Colour Co. or Lightfoot.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QyWrIGKS-Ug/SMMKTx0G2jI/AAAAAAAAAEc/K30RPPq8DxI/s400/September+6,+2008+001.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QyWrIGKS-Ug/SMtC_t8ry3I/AAAAAAAAALY/nbWu6ziaC_g/s320/September+6,+2008+008.JPG

[Regan]

Oooh, I like that one.

I noticed DickBlick has the same table that you posted earlier....the base anyway: http://www.dickblick.com/products/alvin-minimaster-table/

[simba]

I just happen to buy that don bluth animation desk from ebay for a $100.00 dollars. I had to drive to pheonix just pick it up. My trip started on 5/14 left los angeles around 1:30 pm and did not get back to l.a. until the next morning around 4:30 am. I already have a small portable animation table. So you guys might be thinking, "was it worth it if you already had a table". Mr. bluth himself might of used it. I will post some pictures of my new set up:cool:

[Hana]

Wow these are awesome! I've been searching around for any sort of animation table but there are none in Australia. It's hard to even find lightboxes or even a simple pegbar ): So I might by a simple lightbox here and order an animation disk online because it's too much to ship a whole table over.

[johncbeggs]

Wow these are awesome! I've been searching around for any sort of animation table but there are none in Australia. It's hard to even find lightboxes or even a simple pegbar ): So I might by a simple lightbox here and order an animation disk online because it's too much to ship a whole table over.

Just build one its easy :D and its more personal aswell

[Hana]

I can't even begin to tell you how bad I am with a hammer and nail :laughing:

I've been looking around a bit now and thanks to Australia being a wasteland when it comes to traditional animation I can't find any stores that even offer the fundamental items. I'm now looking to just get a pegbar and some acme 12 field paper online but I can't seem to find a store that shops internationally and accepts paypal since I don't have a credit card. :( Does anyone know a store that does?

[DNethery]

I'm now looking to just get a pegbar and some acme 12 field paper online but I can't seem to find a store that shops internationally and accepts paypal since I don't have a credit card. :( Does anyone know a store that does?


Some stores that don't necessarily have a PayPal button on their checkout may still be able to accept a payment via PayPal. Email the store to find out if they can arrange to receive a payment via PayPal.

Chromacolour International may live up to their name. See if they will ship to Australia .
Their web site does say in the "About Us" section:

"We are proud to serve all members of the worldwide animation community, including amateurs, students, and professionals."

They have one office in the UK and another in Canada:

The link on the Canadian store says "for Canadian and International Customers" ---

http://www.chromacolour.com/

http://www.chromacolour.com/store/welcome_ca.htm

Chromacolour UK -
http://www.chromacolour.co.uk/about-chromacolour.html


The Canadian Chromacolour store sells this compact Light Box with Peg Bar:

http://www.chromacolour.com/images/litebox_front.jpg

They also sell the ArtoGraph LightTracer II light box with a peg bar installed for about $20.00 less than the lightbox shown above.

See this page :

http://www.chromacolour.com/store/desktop_boards_ca.htm

Either of those light boxes would be fairly compact and lightweight to ship.
You can see the ArtoGraph LightTracer II in action in this YouTube video by Happy Trails Animation (you'll see it at the very beginning of the video) ---

n0LgexKDI4g

Contact Chromacolour International to see what it would cost to ship:

info@chromacolour.com or by calling toll free at 1-800-665-5829

[DNethery]

Anyone looking for ready-made Scene Stackers (for 12 field animation paper) take a look at these cube stackers available from Target:

Cube Shelf Stackers (http://www.target.com/5-Shelve-Cube-White/dp/B000O1CO4A/sr=1-1/qid=1242775183/ref=sr_1_1/192-7787584-5855639?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=0&pricerange=&index=target&field-browse=1038576&rh=k%3Acube&page=3)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41bBxh0MIRL._AA400_.jpg

There are other similar stacking shelf units available from different office supply and home decor stores.

The one linked to above is 15" x 15" , which is big enough for 12 field paper (12.5" x 10.5") , not quite big enough for 16 field paper (16.5" x 13.5" ) . Most people use 12 field so that's no big deal. But if you expect to use 16 field you'll need to find slightly wider shelves.

These (also from Target) are wider and you could add multiple shelves to it:

Another "Scene Stacker" available from Target (http://www.target.com/Cedar-Etagere-Vertical-Shelf-Cherry/dp/B001KNPJ02/sr=1-10/qid=1242775564/ref=sr_1_10/192-7787584-5855639?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k%3Acedar&page=1)

Scene stackers might not be the most glamourous item on your equipment list , but you'll be surprised how handy these are for storing and keeping track of your animation drawings.

[Hana]

Oh thank you very much DNethery! I'll definitely contact them when I get a bit more money :D I had a look in my local art store today and found a LightTracer for $200AU and they had this HUGE A2 gorgeous light box for I think $450AU and I almost died. Maybe I can get my dad to make me a lightbox and then all I'd need is the paper and pegbar so shipping shouldn't be too much for that.

[GdeSouza]

A wee more detail about my desk to those who did not see it on another forum, just to show you more on-the-cheap:

http://www3.telus.net/drard/mydesk01.jpg



The disc is very old. handmade in '81 by a Sheridan student named J.A. Dyer (inscribed on back). It came with oxberry pegs that I still have somewhere. AT the time the pegs alone were about $60.00. For the past several years (not that I've been working constantly) I have used an acme pegs on stiff cardboard in the groove were the pegs slide at the bottom and at the top of the disk in picture I made my self another peg out of 3/16" dowels good for animating with Xerox's prepunched 8.5 x 11 loose leaf paper. You can see the glued crack on the right where I dropped it in a parking lot in 85. The plexiglass was originally clear so several years ago I bought that vinyl stuff you roll on windows to frost it up.

http://www3.telus.net/drard/mydesk02.jpg

Just yer typical portable fluorescent light with a toggle that I have set to "ON" always for my purpose. I used shelving from an old entertainment centre to mount it in the back. I stripped the plug off the light to run it through a new toggle:

http://www3.telus.net/drard/mydesk03.jpg

and I bought a household extension cord and stripped its outlet to run its end into the toggle. So I just have to reach to behind the desk edge to turn on instead of lifting the disk and using the portable light's toggle.

http://www3.telus.net/drard/mydesk04.jpg


The hole fron the front. That top bar is not the fluorescent tube but the drafting table's bar. The light is on the lower hole.

to be cont'd....

[GdeSouza]

http://www3.telus.net/drard/mydesk05.jpg

Ever since I saw one in duck amuck I wanted that springy pencil holder. I have only worked at one place that had them but heck knows nobody knew what I was talking about so I made one out of those springy doorstops by stretching it and screwing it down.

http://www3.telus.net/drard/mydesk06.jpg

The dope sheet clip I bought as a part of a clipboard at a thrift shop and then trashed the board.

http://www3.telus.net/drard/mydesk07.jpg

A shout-out and thanks to Muurtikar at awn wherever he or she may be.

[lavallelee]

A wee more detail about my desk to those who did not see it on another forum, just to show you more on-the-cheap:

http://www3.telus.net/drard/mydesk01.jpg



The disc is very old. handmade in '81 by a Sheridan student named J.A. Dyer (inscribed on back). It came with oxberry pegs that I still have somewhere. AT the time the pegs alone were about $60.00.

WOW! that thing is ancient, but very cool

[Regan]

WOW! that thing is ancient, but very cool

It sort of looks like an old captain's wheel from a pirate ship. The wood looks dank. But that's awesome!

[DNethery]

WOW! that thing is ancient, but very cool

Oh, now, I wouldn't say "ancient" , so much as well-seasoned and broken in. :laughing: (sort of like GdeSouza and me who were starting off in the Sheridan College classical animation program around that same era , c. 1981)

We've got a few cracks and nicks here and there (I expect I'm more "cracked" than GdS) but still work well, wouldn't you agree GdS ? :D

[DNethery]

Oh thank you very much DNethery! I'll definitely contact them when I get a bit more money :D I had a look in my local art store today and found a LightTracer for $200AU and they had this HUGE A2 gorgeous light box for I think $450AU and I almost died. Maybe I can get my dad to make me a lightbox and then all I'd need is the paper and pegbar so shipping shouldn't be too much for that.

Yes, if someone had the right tools and some patience they could make one.
(see the plans I posted earlier in this thread and here: Do-it-yourself Animation Desk (http://animation-studio-stuff.blogspot.com/2009/05/do-it-yourself-animation-desk.html) )


And always check out eBay. Look what I found by searching for Lightbox on eBay Australia:

Lightbox with Animation Disc (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/LightBox-Light-Box-Tracing-Solid-Timber-LOOK_W0QQitemZ110389952175QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Qu ilting?hash=item110389952175&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C 301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)

http://home.iprimus.com.au/jannetserhan/stuff/LightBox_large.jpg

AU $85.00 . The seller has 3 to sell. Sale ends on May 24.

[GdeSouza]

WOW! that thing is ancient, but very cool

:)

It sort of looks like an old captain's wheel from a pirate ship. The wood looks dank. But that's awesome!

Arrrrr. That's me the ancient mariner! ;)

We've got a few cracks and nicks here and there (I expect I'm more "cracked" than GdS)

Ohhhhh, I wouldn't know about that. :rolleyes:

......but still work well, wouldn't you agree GdS ?

Agree. Remember when animation seemed to skip a generation? Not many guys, let's say, my dad's age (late 70s). There seemed to be MOSTLy guys from the golden age (Probably heading towards 100 now if still around) to Boomers trickling in from the early 1970s and younger from then on until today. When I read of those guys still working on The Rescuers, probably well into their sixties, or Grim Natwick animating in his eighties...well....proof that age is not a factor.

[Hana]

Wow thank you again so much DNethery! Today I actually went to pick up my lightbox from that ebay sale. It's HUGE! And was still bran new in that the perspex was still covered in a protective cover. I suspect it may have been an over order or that the company closed down the traditional side of their animation as it has got an office tag for 2007 when it was tested to be electrically sound and then it just sat in a storeroom for 2 years.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb249/picormdwe/dbforums/lightbox.jpg

I was even happier when I found out that the perspex had acme pegbars built into it. Now all I need is the paper and I'm set.

[DNethery]

Wow thank you again so much DNethery! Today I actually went to pick up my lightbox from that ebay sale. It's HUGE! And was still bran new in that the perspex was still covered in a protective cover. I suspect it may have been an over order or that the company closed down the traditional side of their animation as it has got an office tag for 2007 when it was tested to be electrically sound and then it just sat in a storeroom for 2 years.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb249/picormdwe/dbforums/lightbox.jpg

I was even happier when I found out that the perspex had acme pegbars built into it. Now all I need is the paper and I'm set.

Hana , that's so cool ! Congrats on your first animation desk. Even better that the disc already had the peg bar embedded. I'm glad that worked out for you.

[TimothyB]

As a beginner, I'm going to order my first equipment. The port-a-disc seems like a great pick, not too pricey, and has extra use as drawing board and easy storage, compared to a say lightbox. I can borrow a large light box from my dad, or slide a light under it while I wait for that large light table.

What I have in my cart from Lightfoot:
http://premium1.uploadit.org/TimothyB//equipment.jpg

The light I have to use is the bias light from Ideal-Lume that was used for behind my tv when watching movies:
http://www.cinemaquestinc.com/ideal_lumesb.htm

All I need is to find something to prop the disc up at an angle and slide that under it.

[DNethery]

As a beginner, I'm going to order my first equipment. The port-a-disc seems like a great pick ...

All I need is to find something to prop the disc up at an angle and slide that under it.


Hey, Timothy, did you check out the discussion of just such a thing on the "Animation Desk" thread (http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3978&postcount=115) ?

That should work.

[gdane]

Mmm, you awake my dream :) to make an animation table. Several monthes i found one guy from aniworld.ru forum who said how to use TVP animation soft at easeast way. So now i have electronic emulation of light table. My dream decided to sleep. Now i wanna make a table again. :)

thanks a bunch for lots of usefull info about table.

[DNethery]

Mmm, you awake my dream :) to make an animation table. Several monthes i found one guy from aniworld.ru forum who said how to use TVP animation soft at easeast way. So now i have electronic emulation of light table. My dream decided to sleep. Now i wanna make a table again. :)

thanks a bunch for lots of usefull info about table.


Gdane -

I think TVP Animation software (http://paperless-animation.blogspot.com/) is wonderful for paperless animation or any kind of sketching with a wacom tablet or tablet pc (I use TVP Animation constantly in my own work.) However, it is good to have the capability to do BOTH traditional pencil-on-paper animation along with paperless tablet-based animation with TVP .