No Subject

[Alan Lewis <3-d@xxxxxxxx>]

Tom Martin wrote;
> Does anybody have a convenient source of viewer diffuser material? This
> would be a sheet of thin but stiff colorless plastic that is smooth on
> one side and abraded on the other, much like the material used in
> View-Master and other grab-light viewers. 

I can tell you what I have learned.  I use diffusers on my production
stereo viewers.

I started with drafting mylar in the beginning.  It is very light
efficient and can work well only if you mount it sufficiently far away
from the the slide.  I found this distance too much for my viewer
designs.  I would imagine that you could find this or a similar material
at an art/drafting supply store.  You would have to go to a "real" art
supply store, not a chain store.

That material is thin and flexible.  The following material is not
flexible and not thin:

What I use now is an "official" acrylic plastic diffuser material, the
kind used on most light boxes sold commercially.  I quickly learned that
you shouldn't use standard white acrylic (Plexiglas,etc.) that is
available.  The material does not transmit light efficiently.

The kind of acrylic that is used in lightboxes is the equivalent of
#2447 acrylic.  It has a much better efficiency for light boxes. I use
it in either .10" or .125" thicknesses.  This material you can have
right up against the slide and not see any grain.

You probably won't find this material in retail stores, it is used by
the sign making industry.

You can buy it at a plastic distributer, but you will most likely have
to buy a 4' x 8' sheet. Look in the Yellow Pages under "plastics" and
start calling to find out the info.

If you need a small amount I may be able to sell you some pieces.
-- 
Alan Lewis  
mailto:3-d@xxxxxxxx
http://members.home.net/3-d
Home of Weekend Stereo Projects 
New stereo viewers & Stereo Wedding Photography


------------------------------