NeoLucida Optical Drawing Aid

Product Description

TRACE WHAT YOU SEE. The NeoLucida is a portable camera lucida: an optical drawing aid that allows you to trace what you see. Based on century-old designs but comprehensively redesigned for the 21st century, the NeoLucida is perfect for artists, scientists, designers, or hobbyists-anyone who wants to draw. Originally patented in 1807, by the 1830s camera lucidas were everywhere. Fine artists, scientists, naturalists, explorers, archeologists, architects-all used the camera lucida for drawing in the days before photography. Our design is lightweight (7oz., or 199 g), sturdy, compact enough to fit in a handbag, highly adjustable, totally non-electronic, and effective in all lighting conditions. The NeoLucida will also be released with a liberal open-source hardware license, encouraging the world to modify and make their own NeoLucida devices and experiment with new optical applications. If you enjoy drawing from life, or if you're interested in experiencing for yourself how the Old Masters could possibly have created such accurate, lifelike drawings-then the NeoLucida is for you. Designed in Chicago & Pittsburgh, USA by Pablo Garcia & Golan Levin. Manufactured in partnership with Big Idea Design, LLC. Crowdfunded through Kickstarter. NeoLucida() is a registered trademark of NeoLucida, LLC. For ages 9+. For more information, go to http://neolucida.com

Top Reviews

Not much to it but still fun to play with:
by Jorge Marin, Jr. (3 out of 5 stars)
December 14, 2018

The functional part of this is a mirrored Triangular prism of 10 mm in length by 5 mm in width and depth.

Keep in mind I paid $40.00 for this artist tool. It's fun to play with and can help with getting accurate proportions and perspective, but for most things I can do it faster free hand. I'm not sure what I would do to improve upon it, perhaps a larger prism of maybe twice its current size would be good.

Furthermore, once you remove the prism it does not hold in place any longer. The prism is not held in place by any mechanical means. I had to use Elmer's school glue to put it back in place. So, that would definitely be the first place I would improve upon its design. The prism should be held in place by mechanical means so it can be replaced or cleaned, or whatever. The prism should not be held in place by double sided rubber tape, that is just cheap and lazy.
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Failed gimmick
by Christopher Fealy (2 out of 5 stars)
May 26, 2017

Extraordinarily difficult to use. Move your head a quarter inch in the wrong direction and you're drawing a different picture. I made my own version with a 2" mirror and it works much, much better.
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Close, but No Renaissance Cigar.
by Steve D. (2 out of 5 stars)
October 24, 2018

A great idea poorly implemented. Prism is WAAAAY too small, making use of the product unnecessarily challenging and limiting size of drawing. I see they've made a larger item at twice the price, but I bet that one is too small also, judging by the design decisions made by the manufacturer.

Still, props to them for their good intentions, even if this remains a premium priced product offering "As Seen on TV" quality.
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Fun, enlightening art tool!
by lloyd (5 out of 5 stars)
March 29, 2016

I had seen this online and had waited for it to be available for some time to the general public! It was worth the wait. It's sturdy, heavy, and maneuverable. I have taken it to school many times to show my art students and have them try it out. It's easy to use, and fun, but does take a little moving around to find the image. It comes in a very nice, thin padded box, with a velvet draw string case to keep it clean. It's given us many fun hours of drawing and my students a fun new perspective on how the masters used to use art tools. The videos on YouTube are helpful in understanding how it works. I love it!
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Interesting, but not perfect!
by Simon Doyle (4 out of 5 stars)
February 13, 2014

This product should be commended for finally making a modern, affordable version of the ancient camera lucida available to a wide audience. Long available only in expensive antique form, this is the first mass-market device of its type available in decades.

However, the makers perhaps over-emphasise the ease of its use; whilst it is simple in form, it is far from simple to set up effectively, quite difficult to maintain in position once it has been set up, and a steep learning curve to get anything more than rudimentary results from (in many respects that is what it should be used for - to make preparatory sketches for a more finished drawing or painting, rather than to make a finished drawing directly).

It also has (for me) a very limited field of view due to the tiny prism and aperture. While it can be positioned to draw small objects and still lives, it is harder to see how it could be used for landscapes or even for larger interior scenes - a factor not mentioned in the information I have seen.

It also needs very precise lighting conditions to work effectively - slightly too dark, and the subject is hard to see on the paper; slightly too bright, and you can't see your pen or pencil on the paper to trace.

So while it may be widely available, it may not be for all. If you are interested in art history, or optical devices it is great; if you are also patient and looking for a drawing aid it could be a boon. However, if you are a novice looking for a quick means of suddenly being able to draw, you may find this frustrating and more trouble than it is worth to you.

At the price it is unbeatable for what it is, just don't expect magic.
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One Star
by duane matlen (1 out of 5 stars)
August 16, 2017

Virtually unusable with glasses. The prism is very small.
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Just wonderful
by JetsonJoe (5 out of 5 stars)
January 4, 2014

I have never owned a camera lucida...but have used them. This one however is a most clear creation and resulting product...I would say...honestly anyone who draws...should purchase this...if not for curiosity sake but just to have and try and be part of the historical process of tools that artists have used to improve and simplify their means to an end. The price is just amazing and the quality is most amazing. As is the portability. I bought one....but am tempted to buy more to give as gifts...and to have as a required tool for all of my drawing students...they would get a kick out of it...EXCELLENT and FUN!
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Found it through Kickstarter, Bought it through Amazon - Amazing!
by Michelle Constantinescu (5 out of 5 stars)
January 6, 2014

The NeoLucida is the perfect art tool for our family. Everyone around here draws and loves to explore new ways of accomplishing realism. The NeoLucida has proved to be not only an incredibly fun tool to use, but an educational one as well. As a homeschooling family, we've been able to use this to teach things like foreshortening and proportion. That's hard to explain to a 7-year-old! But this makes it a joy. Thanks to the NeoLucida team who set out on a labor of love and ended up bringing art to so many of us the world over!
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NOT GOOD
by antoine thomas (1 out of 5 stars)
August 9, 2018

Its so bad and does not work and it is super hard to trace i do NOT recommend this product
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Nifty tool except for one thing
by Megal (4 out of 5 stars)
October 9, 2014

Just received the NeoLucida and got the hang of it right away right out of the box. No problem. Nifty tool. Built sturdy. I gave it Four stars instead of Five because it needs to have a broader pressure plate on the screw mount. This would eliminate the possibility of damaging the underside of the table edge where you mount the device. Especially if the table is a softer wood. I just used another piece of wood, but you get the idea. Other than that it is a fun way to draw what you see and it is easy to use. I am anxious to try it out in the field mounted on my french easel. One more thing about using this kind of device. Keep your viewing angle consistent. If you move your head around much you may briefly lose your place.

It is quite small and a little pricey for it's size but it works well enough to get perspective and proportions correct.

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