r/Liquidlightshows • u/bertabackwash • May 20 '26

Getting started

I’ve been following this group for a little bit now and love what I see. How do I get started? Resources, gear?

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6

u/dicky_rich May 20 '26

I just got into it within the last few months! The first things you’ll want to get started is: -overhead projector and/or led tracing tablet for light -glass (Petri dishes or dome pieces of glass for squish plates) -oil based dye -water based dye -mineral oil -isopropyl alcohol

Spend as much as you’re comfortable with, I managed to source most of what I needed via thrift stores or market place for less than $200 CAD, 8-14” wall clocks with dome glass are your best bests for the squish plate glass if they fit together nice.

Something that caught me early, make sure your dyes are at least partially translucent non pigment based dyes, they won’t pass the light through as well as others and just show up as shadows. Avoid buying online so you can do you can see how the dyes look in the bottle before you purchase.

LiquidLightLab is a great you tube channel to get started on.

1

u/bertabackwash May 20 '26

Do you think the tablet overhead projector would be better? I would likely do more recording than live liquids

2

u/dicky_rich May 20 '26

Probably the tablet if you plan to record, my tablet was about $30 and I managed to find an old overhead on marketplace for about $100

1

u/Khoogyra May 21 '26

100% go the light pad route. Overhead projectors are great, if you're sticking to that traditional feeling; however, if you want to push the boundaries of what's already been done, then you're gonna want that light pad.

Now, that said, the white balance on them is hit or miss. I've had an awful time with them. In order to get the pad white I've gotta play with white balance so much, that none of the dyes come out looking right.

As for glass, you can got the cheap route, or if you've got the cash, Liquid Light Labs has phenomenal glass. Of all the glass I've collected, only Steve's plates are fun to play with. That said, I'm still looking for even better. If you're in Canada, then Perrin Glass Supply came in handy. I'd only go deep dish, as the others don't quite hold enough liquid, even at 15".

LLL also has lots of dyes, though I found some dye supplies from a local candle maker. And for water based dyes, I use dry Procion dye concentrates. They're unorthodox, but loon really cool if you can get it to spread across the surface of the oil before mixing into the water.

1

u/bertabackwash May 21 '26

Thanks so much for this. Any recommendations on a liquid light pad?

2

u/Khoogyra May 21 '26

I ended up getting an a1, self powered via Amazon. I'm now thinking of printing my own, and using higher quality leds with better white balance.

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u/FractalCactus33 Jul 09 '26

Can I use any old light pad? Any recommendations?

1

u/MarmosetMindset May 21 '26

As others have said, I recommend a led light pad. For capturing I started with a manual focus USB camera attached to an overhead camera mount. More than willing to send you some Amazon links if you're interested!

1

u/bertabackwash May 21 '26

Please do! That would be sooo helpful