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Cygnus_x1
Sketcher Extraordinaire
Reged: 11/17/04
Posts: 2400
Loc: 50N - too far north!
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Has anyone tried a clip on lamp for sketching, instead of a red torch? Last week, while I was in a local art shop I came across a handy-looking clip-on LED light. It looks just the job for observing, because 'juggling' torch, sketchbook, pencils, blending stump, etc AND keeping the object centered in the field of view becomes old very quickly!
Making the white LED red might be a bit of a challenge but I bought some red acetate and some red tissue paper and this should make a handy sketching aid, particularly as there's no annoying 'bullseye' effect which you do get with some lights. It's also incredibly lightweight which is a big plus because you don't want a heavy object hanging from your sketchbook! However, as it is rather too lightweight, I hope it lasts, especially as it cost a rather extortionate £9.99 ($16.65).
I am looking forward to giving this thing a go, in the next clear night once the Moon is out of the way again.
Here's a pic of it clamped to my sketchbook:
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Visual Deep Sky Observing - NEW website
Observing blog
My astronomy event photos on Flickr
12 inch Dob
8 inch Celestron C8 Newtonian
4 inch Meade SCT
8x42 Leica binoculars
Various TeleVue eyepieces
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perfessor
sage
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 499
Loc: Northern Illinois
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That's pretty much what I do.
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Tom
"Don't always know what I'm talkin about"
8" f/7
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Shannon s
super member
Reged: 06/21/09
Posts: 140
Loc: Bartow FL.
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Me too.
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4.5" & 12" Reflectors
5" Maksutov
Astroview mount
Orion SSDSI
7x50 Binos
A box of Eps
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 4095
Loc: Illinois
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I use one too with dark red cellophane. Works well for deep sky sketching.
Frank 
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my gallery
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bicparker
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/07/05
Posts: 1706
Loc: Plano, TX
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Faith,
My wife came up with a marvelous idea (you know her well enough to know that she has all the creativity in our family) that ended up working quite well with the type of extendable light you are using (I use two, btw.. one clipped to each end of my scratch board that I use to sketch on).
I found that if you take 2 (not 1) small red party balloons and stretch them over the lamp (secure with a rubber band or tie them off), it makes a perfect red filter that also, and this is hugely important, diffuses the light into an even glow with no shadow artifacts.
This is an easy and cheap way to do it and has the side benefit of being water resistant to dew.
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Bic Parker
17.5" f/5 dob
10" f/10 SCT
5" f/8 refractor
80mm f/6 refractor
66mm f/6 refractor
Plus a few others out of the rotation
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ladip63
member
Reged: 10/17/07
Posts: 56
Loc: the dark skies of Texas
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I'm about to order that same clip light, but I would have never thought to use red balloons. Good idea!
Lynn
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Celestron 9.25 CPC Telescope
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ladip63/
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Cygnus_x1
Sketcher Extraordinaire
Reged: 11/17/04
Posts: 2400
Loc: 50N - too far north!
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Quote:
Faith,
My wife came up with a marvelous idea (you know her well enough to know that she has all the creativity in our family) that ended up working quite well with the type of extendable light you are using (I use two, btw.. one clipped to each end of my scratch board that I use to sketch on).
I found that if you take 2 (not 1) small red party balloons and stretch them over the lamp (secure with a rubber band or tie them off), it makes a perfect red filter that also, and this is hugely important, diffuses the light into an even glow with no shadow artifacts.
This is an easy and cheap way to do it and has the side benefit of being water resistant to dew.
Thanks Bic. I'd never thought of party balloons. My elder nephew's birthday is in three weeks and he is having a party, so if I can convince my sister to part with a couple of red balloons then that'd save me buying them.
Please tell your wife hello from me, btw.
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Visual Deep Sky Observing - NEW website
Observing blog
My astronomy event photos on Flickr
12 inch Dob
8 inch Celestron C8 Newtonian
4 inch Meade SCT
8x42 Leica binoculars
Various TeleVue eyepieces
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