DIY Light Box

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  Step 1

  Lay the plastic bin on a table or flat surface. Insert the poster board (or fabric) in the bin to be your backdrop. Lay the interfacing around the bin and clip the 2 lamps on either side of the bin. You really can get by with using just 2 clip lamps. I like them shining in from both sides. (The lamps I use have 60 watt bulbs.) Also, try moving them around in terms of direction as well as placement. For some items shining the light down from the top looks best. If you think you need more light, another lamp can be used.

• Step 2

  When you are ready to take pictures, make sure you have a tripod for your camera. It will give you the stability you need for a clear shot. Make sure your flash is off. Next, turn up the white balance to a level that looks good on your digital camera and shoot away. Take a lot of photos and test to see which setup works best for your photos. You can also take your finished photos and modify the levels in Photoshop or do any kind of cropping/masking. For this shot, I only adjusted the levels a tiny bit.

• Step 3

  What's great about the plastic storage bin is that I can store fabric in it when I'm not taking pictures. It is a great space saving solution.

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crafty_puppy *. 13th July 2009

thanks so much for posting this. this will be really helpful. =) hope you're having a CRAFT-astic week!

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DIS.AR.RAY · Las Vegas, Nevada, US · 32 projects 2nd August 2008

This is brilliant! I am always trying to find a way to make my crafts look good, but I always wanted that white background thing [I've been using computer paper, lol]. so this helps bunches!

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Emily · Springfield, Missouri, US · 8 projects 31st July 2008

this is magnificent and surprisingly easy! thanks : )

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Natalie Zee Drieu · San Francisco, California, US · 5 projects 30th July 2008

In terms of patterned fabric, i don't think that would work because the light needs to be softened to shine through, that's why the interfacing works. But it's worth a try if you want to have a patterned fabric in the back. Just make sure it's not too thick.

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Twiggy · Chillicothe, Ohio, US · 12 projects 30th July 2008

Great idea!

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Shivi · Perth, Western Australia, AU · 14 projects 30th July 2008

thankyou, this is brilliant! if you used a patterned fabric for the background would the photos still work out?

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Debbie C. 30th July 2008

This is a great idea. I have put off building a light tent out of a box or pvc piping and what not because I don't have space to store one like that. It's not an issue if I can just store stuff inside the light "tent" itself. Thanks!

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