How to Build a Photography Light-Diffuser Box

A light-diffuser box is a simple photography tool you can make at home. Light-diffuser boxes are used by photographers to soften the light coming from a flash unit. The lighting from a flash unit is often very harsh. This harsh light washes out colors and creates dark shadows around the objects being photographed. The box is placed between the flash unit and the object. The box absorbs some of the light, creating a softer picture.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 3 16"X20" picture frames 3 yards of white tissue paper Masking tape (white duct tape works, too) Wire or white zip ties

1. Lay the picture frames down, side-by-side, on a flat surface.

2. 
   Wire Placement

   Make wire or zip-tie hinges. Loop a piece of wire or a zip tie around the top of two of the frames and the bottom of two of the frames. Twist the ends of the wires to make them stay. If you are using zip ties, secure them with enough room for the frames to move. This will make the frames look like a book that can open and close. Connect the last frame to the frame in the middle in the same way.

3. Place a sheet of tissue paper on the flat surface and position one of the fames in the middle of the sheet.

4. Fold the edges of the tissue paper around the edges of the frame and tape it in place. Cut a small slit in the paper so that it can be folded around the wires or zip ties. Repeat this step with the other two frames.

5. Use the light-diffuser box by setting the frames up and folding the two outer frames at 45-degree angles to create a box around your subject. The frames should stand on their own. If not, shorten the length of your wire or zip tie hinges.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a thicker type of paper to absorb more light. You can also use white linen or silk instead of tissue paper. Different materials will give you different results.
• If you use wire make sure to tuck the ends away from the tissue paper so that it doesn't get damaged.

Resources

• How to Make a Diffuser for Your Camera

[leduncan]

on 9/11/2009 Good ideas! I'm going to implement some of these!