How to Make a Homemade Light Box for Jewelry Photography
Lighted shadow boxes are a creative and effective way to display jewelry for photography. Antique, artistic and modern jewelry will show off the best features they have to offer in a lighted shadow box. Shadowboxes can be made at home for a fraction of the retail cost. Customized shadow boxes can be decorated and painted or left plain, depending on the purpose of the photography. Illuminating jewelry in a lighted shadow box will add drama to photography by highlighting the sparkles present in jewelry.
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Box cutter knife
- 1-by-6-inch wood board
- Balsa wood sheet
- Sand paper
- Paint or wood stain
- Wood glue
- Power drill and drill bit
- 8 screws
- 2 Light
- Hammer and nails (optional)
Instructions
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1
Place the jewelry on a flat work surface. Arrange it in the manner it will be displayed inside the lighted jewelry box. Measure the width, depth and height of the space that the jewelry fills.
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2
Use a box cutter to cut the 1-inch-by-6-inch piece of balsa wood into the dimensions measured in step 1. Cut two lengths of balsa wood that are the same length as the width measured. Cut two lengths of balsa wood that are the same length as the height measured.
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3
Cut the sheet of balsa wood, using a box cutter, into the dimensions measured that has the same width and height as the measurements taken in step 1.
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4
Sand the rough edges of the pieces of balsa wood using sandpaper.
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5
Paint the balsa wood white. Do not disturb the wood until it has dried.
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6
Arrange the 1-by-6-inch balsa wood boards into the shape of a rectangle. Apply wood glue to each piece at the corner in order to connect the light box frame.
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7
Apply a line of wood glue to the perimeter of the balsa wood.
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8
Set the frame on top of the balsa wood so the glue connects the flat piece of balsa wood to the frame.
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9
Use a drill to insert a screw into each corner of the balsa wood to secure it to the neighboring section of the balsa wood frame.
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10
Touch up any areas inside of the light box with white paint.
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11
Place the light box on a flat surface. Set the jewelry that will be displayed inside of the light box.
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12
Place 1, 2 or 3 lights outside of the box so the light shines directly in the box.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Make a simple version of a lighted shadow box from a cardboard box.
Showcase one or multiple pieces of jewelry in a single shadow box.
Use caution when handling sharp objects.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
