DIY Light Box

[bobwood]

Followed the directions and have a nice cheap light box. I only have one light and no macro lens at the moment, so I only got promising shots, but I am very pleased with the idea I got from DPS.

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[kencaleno]

1. A "Light box" is used to view slides

2. A light tent/cube is a waste of time-only good for e-bay items-They limit lighting and cause conflicting shadows.That's why pros don't use them.

3. By the way, your backgound needs to be white,not grey

[DogHeadGod]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

3. By the way, your backgound needs to be white,not grey

Hi Bob,

I think that is just a colour cast issue from the white balance, you should be able to sort that out easily in photoshop, and remember to set the white balance in-camera before your next shoot.



How does the box look, is it the cardboard box with the sides cut out and tracing paper over the holes?

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

1. A "Light box" is used to view slides

2. A light tent/cube is a waste of time-only good for e-bay items-They limit lighting and cause conflicting shadows.That's why pros don't use them.

3. By the way, your backgound needs to be white,not grey

Wow, nothing but the facts eh ken?

A light tent is fine for small items and stock: pros DO use them.
The issue at hand here is that the images are actually underexposed. Assuming youve got the camera on a tripod, use a timed release and extend the shutterspeed if necessary.

(and, btw Ken, we don't call slide viewers "light boxes" here.)

[bobwood]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes it is the card board box with the holes cut out and covered with muslin. I lined the inside with Bristol board, so everything is white. I only had a desk lamp to put over the top for my practice photos. No side lights. I hand held the camera and used the tungsten setting. I do not currently have a macro lens, so there are some issues to be worked out. Once I figure out the WB and add more lights, pics will look better.

I was just happy to get a DIY tent done. I said box, instead of tent. I am going to build a couple more larger ones and buy some lights. I can see lots of good uses for the tent.

Thanks again. All info is helpful.

Bob

[douglas]

If you search "light box" in DPS you will find a number of posts,some with pictures of 'how to make' and examples of photos. Some of mine somewhere and I have some on my Flickr.

[kencaleno]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Wow, nothing but the facts eh ken?

A light tent is fine for small items and stock: pros DO use them.
The issue at hand here is that the images are actually underexposed. Assuming youve got the camera on a tripod, use a timed release and extend the shutterspeed if necessary.

(and, btw Ken, we don't call slide viewers "light boxes" here.)

Neither do I- a slide viewer is a slide viewer-a light box is a light box-have you ever seen, or used a light box? They are various sizes,usually rectangular-they lay flat on a table,and use fluorescent tubes under opaque plexiglass, and you place several slides at a time on the surface for viewing.

Pros do not use light tents for stock items-I am a stock photographer, Rights free and Rights managed, and I don't know of any pros who use light cubes, or tents,they are a waste of time,period.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

Neither do I- a slide viewer is a slide viewer-a light box is a light box-have you ever seen, or used a light box? They are various sizes,usually rectangular-they lay flat on a table,and use fluorescent tubes under opaque plexiglass, and you place several slides at a time on the surface for viewing.

Pros do not use light tents for stock items-I am a stock photographer, Rights free and Rights managed, and I don't know of any pros who use light cubes, or tents,they are a waste of time,period.

Straight to the condescension. Nice.
I have used a light TABLE or COUNTER: we actually have them built into the counter at work (a photofinisher/retailer) for people to use with negatives and slides. I'm not an idiot, Ken. A Light BOX, here, is exactly as the OP claimed: a small enclosed space for all-white backgrounds.

Your blanket statement about "pro stock photographers", as with all blanket statements you make, irks me. You may not know of any people that use the devices, but that doesnt mean they dont exist. Open mind Ken.

[natek313]

Comment removed by me.

[kencaleno]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Straight to the condescension. Nice.
I have used a light TABLE or COUNTER: we actually have them built into the counter at work (a photofinisher/retailer) for people to use with negatives and slides. I'm not an idiot, Ken. A Light BOX, here, is exactly as the OP claimed: a small enclosed space for all-white backgrounds.

Your blanket statement about "pro stock photographers", as with all blanket statements you make, irks me. You may not know of any people that use the devices, but that doesnt mean they dont exist. Open mind Ken.

I interract with over 200,000 stock photographers,and none use or recommend light cubes or light tents,because they limit creative lighting, and produce flat colors. that's fact.