About the Project
The project is a backlit wall frame designed to display developed 35 mm film.
Inside, you can mount a single reel or compose an arrangement from individual frames. The lighting allows you to view negatives without extra equipment, and the removable front panel lets you quickly change the frame’s contents.
The Problem
After the photograph is developed, it is digitized, and the negatives are stored in a personal archive or discarded.
To view the negative later, a light source or a special viewing table is required. This is a complicated process, which is why developed film is rarely used anywhere.
Solution
The light frame allows negatives to be displayed on a wall and incorporated into the interior design. Because the film is placed in front of an evenly lit surface, individual frames remain distinct.
Negatives are not permanently adhered or set. They can be removed, replaced with another reel, or used to create a new composition.
The project is designed for people who shoot on film and want to use the negatives after developing, rather than just storing them in their archives.
How to use the frame?
The front panel is removed from the housing. The film strips are laid between the transparent protective sheets, and then the panel is reattached.
The film is held in place by even pressure. No tools, glue, or separate holders are needed to replace it.
/ The matte screen and LED backlighting are positioned behind the negative area. The screen diffuses the light across the entire surface, concealing the individual LEDs.
The frame is activated by a button on the body. The backlight brightness is adjustable.
Dimensions
Preliminary frame size—350 × 350 mm. Light field size—approximately 290 × 290 mm, casing depth—approximately 35 mm.
Six horizontal strips of film, each holding six frames, are housed inside. This layout allows the entire standard 36-frame reel to be displayed.
Final dimensions will be confirmed after the prototype is manufactured.
Structure
The frame consists of a magnetic removable front panel, a film sheet, a matte diffuser, an LED module, a housing, and a back cover.
A concealed wall mount is located on the back.
A spacing is provided between the LEDs and the diffuser to ensure even light distribution. All surfaces that contact the negatives must be smooth and free of scratches.
Lighting
For the project, an LED strip with a warm color temperature of 2700–3000 K is used.
The lighting operates from an external low-voltage power supply. A switch and a brightness regulator are mounted on the housing.
The placement of LEDs and the depth of the casing will be tested on the prototype. The light must be distributed evenly, without bright spots or darkened areas.
