Light boxes for movie posters

I've built a couple.

I got your basic cut to size quick change frame off eBay. I'm don't recall who the seller was, but he was a retired military sniper that happened to live within an hour from me.

Then I built out the frames with 1/2" MDF 1" wide that I turned on it's side (for 1" space away from the wall", and simply longer mounting screws going through the frame, through the MDF, and into the drywall.

For backlight, I tried cold cathodes from a computer store. I thought it would work, but they were not diffused well enough and left hot (Bright) spots. I upgraded to a pair of thin 24" flourescent tubes top and bottom which was better, but really expensive.

It's been suggested to me to try rope light next time. I think a good LED rope light would rock if I don't need a large (And ugly) power transformer hanging on the wall.

Sorry I don't have photos of all of this...I've moved recently and the frames and everything are all packed up.

I've built two using a front loading 27"x40" poster frame from www.spotlightdisplays.com. When I purchased the frames in 2005 they were $65 each...now they go for about $100. I attached the frame to an mdf box. I put white contact paper on the back of the box, then attached clear rope lighting. Under the poster I placed a sheet of plastic that I spray painted white. (I used special spray paint designed for plastic) The plastic sheets came with the poster frame. I hooked the poster frame up to my dimmer so I can control the poster box with my remote control.

Those look like the same frames I got. I wonder if it's the same guy.

Wow, $100 a frame...ouch!

We manufacture poster backlit or top lit displays to custom sizes at letterbank.com
If inquiring, let me know if the sign will be for outdoor or indoor use. Proces range from the mid $150 to well over $750 for brass.
I hope this helps!

I've built two now. One just to figure out how to build the one in my home theater. I used 1" poplar to make a box the exact size as a 27 x 40 frame. The box has a 1/8 inch plywood back. The inside I sprayed with silver metallic paint to reflect the light out of the front of the frame. Rope lights work great inside. BUT, don't use the plastic rope light holders inside the box. All of mine broke off within a year and the rope lights fell to the bottom. The most important thing is to find a diffuser. I ordered a milky white piece of plexiglass which diffuses the light evenly. The other things I tried looked okay, but you could see the rope lights behind the poster. The milky white plexiglass solved this issue. Also, I notched out 6 areas around the frame and put in the strong cabinet magnets inside the box and attached the metal plates to the back of the frame. IT holds it perfectly and allows you to move it slightly so it aligns perfectly when its hanging. These things hold! You actually have to pull it pretty hard to remove the frame from the box. I'm in the middle of moving now, but will be going to remove the light box from the HT room in my old house this weekend. I'll post some pics if you want.