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So here is a little video I made about my light box, if you want to know how I made it. The link is in the video description. It was easy and cost near to nothing. Hope you enjoy!




The list of materials are the following:
1. Aluminum Foil
2. Wax paper
3. A box
4. Clear Tape

Even though it is not a must have in your arsenal of tools, a light box is something useful to have, especially if you want to take pictures for forums and etc. This here is one of million videos of creating one.

While other may be very complex or requires tool or an investment, my light box was created using only the materials above. Sure you will still be a light source of some sort, a decent camera, and a tripod but lets just assume those are things people already have.

Even though I did not put in the exact procedures of how I made it, it is so straight forward, so simple, a "no brainer" project that creating such a video would be 10 seconds long. So hope you guys here can benefit from this, even though I am only one of the millions other videos.

Thanks for the heads up. It's even easier than going to Harbor Freight and buying one there. Good on ya.

AdeptArtificer wrote:
Thanks for the heads up. It's even easier than going to Harbor Freight and buying one there. Good on ya.

So true. Before I made this, I went through so many sites but the prices have always made me pause for logic. Paying $30+ for wires wrapped by thin fabric seems extremely slowed.

I will be making a build video since people have been asking for it. Even though, it will be an extremely short video.

Cool.
But, which "side" is on the inside: the shiny side of the aluminum foil, or the more matte side?

 Tim 121RVC wrote:
Cool.
But, which "side" is on the inside: the shiny side of the aluminum foil, or the more matte side?

I will be making a video with more details on the build but, as I am very sick at the moment, I will try to describe it for now.

The foil is on the right, left, and bottom of inside of the box. What it is intended to achieve, it to imitate light sources even though you only have one lamp. In the above video, you can look at the Adepticon set up. They have 2 lights with de-fusors (don't really know what it is called) behind or parallel with their camera. They also have two addition lights with out de-fussors on the left and right.

The tin/aluminum foil placed on the left, right, and bottom of the inside of the box looks to reflect light from the your light source, which should be pointed roughly 45 degrees and vertically parallel with your camera. Your light source will shine downwards on to the reflecting surfaces of the foil, making light rays bounce around to create even more light to illuminate your model, which should be places roughly in the center of everything.

The reason why we don't put foil directly opposite from the camera is because we do not want any light ray directly reflecting into the camera lenses. Why? I don't know but it does not sound like a good idea.

On top you have two options. Firstly, you can simply cut a big hole or even cut the top off entirely. The reason I did not is because cardboard boxes are not as durable without its 4 walls still intact with each other. Lastly, you can cut a hole on the top and put a "de-fussor" or any matte see through material. I just use wax paper because it was there. The de-susser goal is to de-fuse the light source. I do not know the detail or anything fancy but what I think it does is to spread out the light rays from the light source as well as, if it is even possible, tint the light for a more white appearance since most bulbs are actually more orange.

Like I said, I will probably talk or even use what I typed as a basis for the video scrip. If anyone knows more of what certain things are done, please share it. Since all I do is copy what professionals do and adapt it to what is available.

Hopefully this is helpful and hopefully I get my voice back soon.

"If you don't know why... Just copy and you'll get good results!"

Hahahahah. Nonetheless, I love seeing cheap DIYs like this, just like the one some other guy did about a cheap air compressor for his airbrush.

 joevmt wrote:
They have 2 lights with de-fusors (don't really know what it is called) behind or parallel with their camera. They also have two addition lights with out de-fussors on the left and right.

Diffuser is the word you're looking for. A diffusion panel is used to make a small, bright, hard light source appear to be a bigger softer light, creating softer shadows without a hard, dark edge. Wax paper, rip stock, or even a white shower curtain will work.

The reason why we don't put foil directly opposite from the camera is because we do not want any light ray directly reflecting into the camera lenses. Why? I don't know but it does not sound like a good idea.

Light shining directly into a lens creates "lens flare", those pretty, rainbow colored streaks you sometimes see in photos or movies. OK for artistic effect, but not for product photography.

I like your simple approach, btw.

Nice one! Might give it a chance...

Ok so i get that you put foil furst and then wax paper but what did you use for the frame and how did you build it?

Can you post up some pics you have taken in your light box?
Thanks