Theatre Poster Backlight / Marquee

by slimguy379

9.1K2314

Intro: Theatre Poster Backlight / Marquee

I love movies and had this star trek poster that my mother bought for me. So I look on this website to see how to make a back light for it, and with some tweaks to Timmyd_2's tutorial i created this little gem!! so go ahead and read on!!

STEP 1: Start to Build

now go buy or check your poster you have to measure it's width and length min was 36 x 24" (i believe) now go get one 2x4 measure both 24" and 36" ( the 36" will now become 33 due to the 2x4 being 3" in width see picture) you will end up cutting the 2x4 in half to make a total of 4 pieces. now screw all 4 sides to make a rectangle. next fill in and knots of crack with puddy and let dry..... an hour later sand the puddy smooth and make the sides fit flesh with one another. next get black gloss paint and paint it up!

STEP 2: Lighting

lighting in the next step from the 1st picture is the lights I used Christmas lights you can pick them up at Walmart, I had these laying around collecting dust the 2nd picture is me laying the poster over the wooden border to do a size to size comparison. now that you have a rope of lights you need to glue them as a border on the inside of the wood. Once all glue is dry or hardened plug in the light and check it out, later on fittle with the light and put it into the position desired.

STEP 3: Final Product

add some tin foil to the back to get a brighter picture. besides that your done pretty easy right!? after this none of my posters will be safe again!!! *Evil / villainis laugh* Now all that is needed is a L bracket to hand it up!!

STEP 4: Update

I just got home from walmart and realized they don't always carry christmas light in stock so for $8 (tax included) I picked up a florescent "under the counter" light and I also pick up a Indiana Jones curse of the crystal skull poster (I love Indiana Jones) and use that poster. the pictures speak for them selves

14 Comments

CptStabs 12 years ago

Slimguy379, you take love of movies and low cost DIY to an awesome level!

scott! 14 years ago

does the florecent bulb not set the poster on fire?

slimguy379 14 years ago

florescents are very comparatively cool to other lights, i have not had that issue yet

scott! 14 years ago

oh yeah, thanks, do you think I could replace the bulb with a black light to make my Joker poster look more evil?

slimguy379 14 years ago

black light bulbs can be replaced with either the black light bulbs or white florescent so give it a try, not the look your going for? change it. post a pic though :)

mg0930mg 15 years ago

I'm going to do something like this with my goonies poster. :P

slimguy379 15 years ago

i currently have a star wars attack of the clones, hanging up with a florescent bulb in looks good though I might invest in a sheet of plexi to pimp it out though. but for a total of 10 buck look good thanks for the link I'll post some pictures.

angelwill26 15 years ago

great poster backlight Instructable, can't wait to try it!

Mr. Rig It 15 years ago

Very nicely done! I may do something very similar. Two questions 1. Where and how did you run your power wire? 2. Did you use TIN foil or ALUMINUM foil or does it matter if you use either?

angelwill26 15 years ago

looks like the power wire went out the bottom, (you can see it in the picture) and tin foil is just another word for aluminum foil, kinda the same product right? From what I gather anyway. Oh, btw, Great idea, Im making two of these for my theater room this weekend! thanks.

Mr. Rig It 15 years ago

Oh wait I mean I give you 5 stars, for my style of material usage and a great idea.