Homemade Light Box on a Budget.

[spawnsauce]

I've been taking pictures the same way for a while now. I'll drape a cloth over a chair, turn off all the lights, use one pose able lamp, and a hand held digital camera with no tripod.

They all end up looking like this:



Now I know it's really moody and gives off a great vibe and a sense of style, but they look more artsy than professional. When I decided to put stuff up on Ebay, I knew I needed to take different kinds of pictures to show off more detail and be more professional. I'm always gonna take moody pics of any custom I make, and I'm also going to do it this other way.


You can go out and buy a light tent or diffusion box, and both will work great, but they can be pricey. So I looked around for some Do it Yourself light boxes and I think this one is perfect if money is a problem or you're just cheap.

Here's one
http://www.jpgmag.com/stories/458

Now this guy made his collapseable and used coat hangers. I didn't think that was necessary so I found another guy who used a cardboard box instead.

Here it is with instructions. I based mine off this one.
http://desktoppub.about.com/od/scann...lightbox_3.htm

So I took some stuff from both and made this one.










It looks like crap I know, but it actually works pretty well. Any kind of poseable table lamp will do and I recommend having the non-lamp side facing a window for more light to enter. Two lamps would be better but I only have one. Then all you need is a piece of construction paper in the middle and a camera(which I won't even go into) and you're all set.

Here are some pics using the light box.





Hope this was helpful.

[BigHank]

Very cool tip! Also her face is awesome very sexy and heroic.

[NightBat]

WOW perfect thank you!

[frenzyrumble]

Very cool. I thought we just use magic lighting on procustomizers?

[Overhaulimus]

Very good tutorial man,I'm definitely gonna use it to build me a decent lightbox.

[Hatchet]

Need to build one. I need space for it though.... seems like space wouldn't be a problem but theres four of us jammed into a shoe box and I'm pretty sure the dogs would destroy it.

[Overhaulimus]

I have a temp one set up,made it out of white foamboard,it's the two sides and bottom,it's a wedge shape,it had a top but Universe 2.0 Nemesis Prime fell and destroyed the top,those Decepticreeps...you just can't trust em.

It takes decent pics with it,here is an example of it:


But I really need a much better one since I'm wanting to start doing customs heavily.

EDIT:
Yes that is a custom figure,it's my namesake Overhaul,base figure was Cybertron Downshift(great figure BTW),the weapon is from Universe 2.0 Dirge.

Overhaul is still a prototype WIP,I plan on getting TFTM 07 Big Daddy to redo him in a much better style.

[Hotwire]

You could get even better lighting by painting the inside on the box white. It reflects the light and brightens things up.

[spawnsauce]

Need to build one. I need space for it though.... seems like space wouldn't be a problem but theres four of us jammed into a shoe box and I'm pretty sure the dogs would destroy it.

lol. I know, my cat thinks it's a palace and my dog likes the feel of it between her teeth. I just put it in the garage when I'm not using it.

[spawnsauce]

You could get even better lighting by painting the inside on the box white. It reflects the light and brightens things up.

That's a good idea, thanks for the tip. I'll try using another light source(2nd lamp) first, but if I feel like I need more light I'll try painting it.