Pinhole Cameras Made With Butter Paper

Pinhole cameras are often used by children or amateur photographers.

Butter paper is water resistant and oil resistant, has a high wet strength, and blocks ultraviolet light. Because ultraviolet light can damage undeveloped film, an ultraviolet filter, such as butter paper, is required to protect the film. If correctly placed, butter paper can absorb all stray ultraviolet rays that would otherwise hit the film. Utilizing butter paper is a cheap and easy method for reducing light interference in homemade pinhole cameras.

Things You'll Need

• Butter paper
• Cardboard box
• Pin
• Black spray paint
• Film
• 2 dowels
• Knife
• Tape

Instructions

1. Coat the dowel and cardboard box in black spray paint. The black paint will help absorb stray light that might be reflected onto the film. It will also heighten the contrast between the image you are trying to capture and the background interference from reflected light.

2. Tape butter paper all around the inside of the box. The butter paper will further help to absorb ultraviolet light rays that enter through the pinhole.

3. Seal off the box so that no light can enter it. Cover any slits or holes in the corners.

4. Cut holes with the knife in the top of the box that are exactly big enough for the dowels to fit in. The dowel will be used to manually roll the film without exposing the inside of the camera to the light. Make the hole for the dowel as close to an exact fit as possible. Because any light entering will be parallel to the surface of the film, most of it will be absorbed by the sides of the box without damaging the film. The dowels should also be positioned in the center of the box approximately a fourth of an inch away from the front of the box.

5. Poke a hole with the pin in the center of the box front for the film. This hole allows the light to enter the camera, thus the name "pinhole" camera.

6. Tape one end of the film to each dowel inside the camera. Roll up the film so that most of it is on one dowel and it is stretched taut.

Tips & Warnings

• To take pictures with your camera, point the pinhole so it is facing the subject of your picture. Cover the hole with your finger or a makeshift cap when you are done shooting your picture, and rotate the dowels to expose more film to the hole for your next picture.

References

• Pinhole Camera