How to Make a Homemade Full Spectrum Light Box
Light boxes work well for photographing small to medium size items, especially when you need a detailed shot for selling online. A full spectrum light box is ideal for creating wam, well-lit photographs that look professional even before editing them on the computer. Instead of spending money on a professional light box and full spectrum lamp, create your own light box out of cheap materials and a full spectrum light bulb. Not only will you save money, but you'll still achieve high-quality results.
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Things You'll Need
- Cardboard box
- White foam board
- Utility knife
- Poster board
- Metal ruler
- Tape
- Hot glue gun
- Bristol board
- Tracing paper
- White cloth
- Full spectrum light bulb
- Desk lamp
Instructions
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Create several light boxes if you want to photograph different sized objects, or make one large box and move closer for smaller shots. Decide on the size for the interior of your light box. For larger objects you'll want a larger size and vice versa for smaller objects.
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Find a cardboard box sized as closely as possible to the size you need. If you cannot find the right size box, or want a more elegant looking box, Studio Lighting.net suggests purchasing thick pieces of white foam board to use instead.
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Cut off the flaps of the cardboard box and turn it on its side with the opening facing you. This is now the front of your light box. Cut off the top of the box as well using a utility knife. On a piece of poster board, measure and cut out a square to use for a template in cutting the remaining three sides of your box. The square should leave an inch of the cardboard left on all sides when placed in the center of one side of the box. Trace the square on the left, right and back sides of the box, then cut the squares out by lining up the metal ruler with the line you want to cut and running the utility knife alongside it. This creates a straight cut and keeps the knife from slipping sideways.
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Measure and cut out four squares from the foam board if you prefer to build your light box instead of using a cardboard box. Tape or hot glue the squares together to form a box with the front side and the top open. Add a fifth foam board to the top if you want to shine a light in from the front of the box instead of down from the top.
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Place a piece of white Bristol board in the back of the cardboard light box. Skip this step for the foam board box. Tape the Bristol board to the top and let it curve down to the bottom of the box. Tape the bottom edge in place. It should create a nice, smooth curve at the bottom. Do not crease it or press it flat as this curve will reflect light and create a smooth backdrop for your photographs with no visible lines.
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Tape a piece of tracing paper over the top of the light box unless you plan to shine light in through the front. This will diffuse the light and keep it from creating a bright spot in one area and shadows in the rest of the box. If you find the tracing paper is too thin, try a thicker, yet still slightly transparent paper such as vellum or regular paper. Jefferey Bail, on Digital Photography School.com, suggests covering the box with a white piece of cloth.
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Place the box in an area of natural light, if possible, and insert a full spectrum light bulb, such as an OTT light bulb, into an adjustable desk lamp. Move the lamp so it shines light in through the front or down through the top of your box and turn it on. Adjust the settings on your camera for the best picture quality depending on how bright the light is, and use photo editing software to make any final adjustments or touch ups after taking your photographs.
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References
- Photo Credit cardboard box image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
