Quick and Dirty Movie Theater Framed Poster

This instructable will show you how to make your very own backlit movie theater poster.

Step 1 Obtain Materials

To make your frame, you will need:

Materials:'
A movie theater poster, printed on both sides- in other words, the back is printed with a mirror-image of the front of the poster to allow light to pass through.

A poster frame to fit said poster (I couldn't find a frame to fit my poster (40x28), so I had to trim it.

A flourescent lamp assembly with switch (I swiped mine from an under-shelf lamp from Wal*Mart)

Corrugated Cardboard

Duct Tape

Rubber Cement

Tools:
Tape Measure
Sharpie
Utility Knife
Scissors

Comments

[Skribblez887]

Great instructable! I just made one of these for my Roy Lichtenstein print, and it looks absolutely fantastic.

[Tysto]

Great instructable! I agree that aluminum foil would be a great reflector and would help protect the cardboard from heat. You should even put a few vent holes in the top to avoid heat buildup. And best would be using two or three small lights (as long as they're nice cool florescents or LEDs). Incidentally, your 28x40" double-sided real movie poster is called a "one-sheet" and yeah, it's not easy finding inexpensive frames that are bigger than 24x36" consumer "poster" size. And 24x36" consumer posters are never double-sided. :-(

[Timmyd_2]

Thanks for the comments, I put down a layer of aluminum foil and it worked like a gem. The light is just as bright, but is diffused much better across the whole image.

[menwhatdorockbaby]

could you upload a picture of how much better diffused the light is? This is a very interesting instructable I may consider doing. great job

[MySoulWanders]

One way you can improve the light distribution on the poster would be to use high gloss white "contact brand vinyl paper" both on the cardboard sheet underneath the light bar and add some to the back of the poster. It should reflect more of the light and give a nice even dispersion along the back surface of the poster.

[HamO]

Acutually, if proper safety precautions are observed aluminum foil would make a better reflector providing a wide diffused light. Great job on this instructable!