How do I i light beakers from the bottom?

[Eli Vatsaas]

I’m working on a show and i want to light beakers from underneath the table. there is a gap under the table to put lights. But nothing i do is bright enough. I was planning on using mini ellipsoidals but am having trouble. How can i get this to work without buying any new equipment?

 

[sk8rsdad]

I did it with SMD 5050 LED strips and some gaff tape to mask the ones that weren't under the beaker... but you don't want to buy anything.

 

[Eli Vatsaas]

I did it with SMD 5050 LED strips and some gaff tape to mask the ones that weren't under the beaker... but you don't want to buy anything.

We have LED strips. I tried them and they weren’t getting bright enough to be seen.

 

[JD]

See the thread about $9 LED PARs. Cheaper than a roll of gaff tape and VERY bright. https://www.controlbooth.com/threads/led-par-for-9.44300/
Although they run off of 120 volts, the little power supply inside puts out 12 volts DC, so you could modify them to run off a battery.

 

[Amiers]

You won’t get away with using what’s in stock unless you are willing to cut the table up some.

Even then that table will then give a tan to the lower half of anyone standing behind it.

You can goto the dollar store and get some led tea lights. Then stain the bottom of your beakers to hide the tea light.

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

If clear beakers with or without clear contents, hard to light. Try frosting the beaker or adding something to contents to make it a little cloudy. There has to be something other than clear to light.

 

[Eli Vatsaas]

I was planning on putting water with food coloring in the beakers. Possibly corn starch to make it cloudy. Just having trouble getting enough light from the holes i drilled.

If clear beakers with or without clear contents, hard to light. Try frosting the beaker or adding something to contents to make it a little cloudy. There has to be something other than clear to light.

 

[sk8rsdad]

Don't use water in a prop unless the actor has to pour it. Look for tinting agents for clear casting resin. Even jello would be better than having liquids moving about on stage.

 

[Amiers]

Seconded on the don’t use water unless you are using the water.

It will undoubtly Be spilled and ruin things.

Clear glue with food coloring rolled around the inside. Or very dyed water left in for a few days to stain the glass if you want it less permanent.

 

[Eli Vatsaas]

Seconded on the don’t use water unless you are using the water.

It will undoubtly Be spilled and ruin things.

Clear glue with food coloring rolled around the inside. Or very dyed water left in for a few days to stain the glass if you want it less permanent.

The only problem is that we are borrowing the glassware, so i have to do something not permanent at all

 

[Amiers]

Well then tissue paper.

 

[MNicolai]

Or take frost/diffusion gels, cut to size, and wrap them around the insides of the glassware.

A thick application of Aquanet or hairspray will also give you a nice layer of goo for light to catch on that you can rinse out with some industrial-strength gorilla shampoo before you return the glassware.

 

[kicknargel]

Can you make a sketch of your setup? Mini elipsoidals should be plenty bright, so what's gobbling up the output?

 

[taneglaus]

Did you say you drilled holes in tha table? How big are the holes? That could be the problem. You might try a bigger hole w/plexiglass over it to keep the beakers from falling through.
Also, dim the stage as much as possible. Try a special spot on the actor(s) that does not hit the beakers. Be sure the background is black or dark.
You might try an LED flashlight to see if it is brighter. But an ERS or led strip should work. Look at other aspects if the set lighting.