subject: Light Boxes - Real vs. Fake, and How To Tell The Difference [print this page] Author: Brooke Sherratt Author: Brooke Sherratt
Light box technology can be puzzling for businesses just beginning to choose light boxes for new advertising displays. Light boxes are quickly becoming a major advertising solution for many establishments, so it is important to research the products to be sure you are getting what you pay for. One leading point to remember when purchasing a light box for any reason is, that a "real" high quality light box has an effective light diffusion pattern. Acceptable "real" patterns either produce an even glow throughout the panel, or a transmit more light to the center of the display. A true light diffusion pattern will not be uniform, but rather an irregular pattern calculated by algorithms that take the area of the panel into consideration, the distance between lamps, the thickness of the acrylic, as well as the wattage of the lamps. Most of these algorithms and techniques have been patented.
Light boxes are excellent promotional tools to increase revenue and enhance sales for restaurants, retail environments, casinos, shopping malls, trade shows, and more. It is important to be aware of manufacturers making false claims about their light boxes utilizing an acceptable diffusion pattern, when they in fact, do not. A manufacturer producing "fake" light boxes will try to take short cuts to avoid the existing patents, and print a pattern in the acrylic panel that does not transmit the light in an efficient manner. In these cases, it is just a straight grid pattern imprinted in the acrylic. Keep in mind, an efficient diffusion pattern is an arrangement that is farther spaced out at the edges (closest to the bulbs) and tighter at the center, where the surface area needs more access to light. A straight, unvarying grid is not a technically advanced light box.
With a true, "real" light box, there is a delicate balance when plotting out the pattern to eliminate hot or cold spots. Again, there are two acceptable methods of "light diffusion": The first will transmit the brightest light found near the perimeter to areas of the panel with the least amount of light (the center). This process ensures that all areas of the panel are evenly lit. The other method consists of alternative patterns that transmit slightly more light to the center of the panel, which is generally the central focus point for viewing graphics, and slightly less light to the outer edges of the panel. In either case, you will want to be certain that your light box is measured with a LUX (or light intensity) meter. Check with the manufacturer to send you their light boxes' LUX readings to be sure they measure up to your needs, before you buy. Regardless if you are purchasing a light box with LED, T5, T8, or CCFL bulbs, without a tested and developed light diffusion method inside the box, any bulb would be considered worthless, as it would not be used to its full potential. There is much to learn and consider when shopping around for the best light box for your business. There is a great deal of information out there, and a little light box research goes a long way.About the Author:
Brooke works with POP displays in Internet Marketing and Web Design capacities. LightBoxes.us.com is an excellent resource for light box information, as well as a wide variety of light boxes, and illuminated display systems.
