The LightBox is one of the most useful tools that a professional photographer (but also an aspiring amateur) can use. This tool provides clear and uniform illumination for shooting sharp images against a background without detail. Read these steps to learn how to build your own LightBox at home.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Basic Construction
Step 1. Decide on the size
The first thing you will have to do, even before building your LightBox, is to choose the size of the box that best suits your needs. This is because LightBoxes are usually made from real cardboard boxes. If you plan to photograph mostly small objects, such as flowers, porcelain or toys, your box can be relatively small (around 30 cubic centimeters); for larger items, such as kitchen fixtures, you will need a proportionally larger box.
In general, make sure the box you choose is roughly double or more the size of the objects you want to photograph. This means that a larger box is usually the safest choice, but it will also take up more space - decide based on your needs and space constraints
Step 2. Prepare the materials
The easiest way to build your own LightBox at home is to start with a heavy corrugated cardboard box. You can also build a Lightbox using more durable materials, but it doesn't make much sense to do so unless you want to carry it around all the time. In addition to the box, you will need a cutter, ruler, tape, and sheets of white printing paper.
If on each side your box is larger than two sheets of paper placed side by side, you will need larger material to make the box white. A clean white cloth will also work, as well as a fitted sheet; you could also use special size light paper or material such as projector screens
Step 3. Cut out the box
Start by cutting the closing flaps from the top of the box.
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Use the ruler width to define a margin of space along the edges of one side of your box.
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Then cut out that side of the box, leaving the margin intact.
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Leave the other three sides and the bottom of the box intact.
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Step 4. Turn the box over and add the paper
Turn the box so that the side you just cut is facing the ceiling, and the top of the box is facing you. This is the correct orientation of your LightBox. Now spread the sheets of paper on each side of the box so that they overlap slightly, then fasten them using tape pressed underneath them. The inside of the box should be entirely white.
Step 5. Add the background sheet
To hide the bottom front corner and create a virgin and uniform background for your photos, you will need to add a curved sheet of paper. For small boxes, simply place a sheet of printing paper so that it covers part of the bottom side, and part of the "floor" of the box, as if it were "sitting". Don't fold it; let it sag naturally. Fasten it loosely with the ribbon on top.
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For larger boxes, the ideal is to use white poster paper or a similar material at the opacity level of your choice.
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If you prefer a non-white background, you can use paper of any color: since it is not firmly attached to the box, you can replace it whenever you want.
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Step 6. Light up the box
Now that the box is ready, you need to light it clearly. For small boxes you can use flexible desk lamps; for larger boxes you will need larger lamps. Arrange two lamps so that they directly illuminate the inside of the LightBox, each facing the opposite wall. Turn on both lights and place an object for a test photograph.
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Use the brightest light bulbs possible to ensure the best light for your shots. Arrange the lamps so they don't cast shadows around the subject of your photograph.
Make a Lightbox Step 6Bullet1 - For larger boxes, you may need to add a third lamp on top. Be sure to experiment and check that the third lamp does not cast unwanted shadows.
Method 2 of 3: Three-Lamp Box
Step 1. Make additional cutouts
To create a three-lamp LightBox that uses more diffuse light, you'll need to cut out three sides of the box, rather than just one. Make sure you leave the outline margins so that the box retains its shape.
Step 2. Cover the sides well
Using white paper, cover all three sides evenly, securing the fourth side with masking tape or something similar. Make sure there are no folds or tears in the cover.
Step 3. Add the inner cover
Turn the box so that the uncut side is at the bottom, the top is facing you, and the bottom is at the back. Use the cutter to cut out a small horizontal stripe on the back of the box, near the top edge. Make it nearly as long as the box itself. Use a long sheet of paper as a cover for the bottom, tucking it into the strip and letting it naturally curve forward once it reaches the bottom of the box.
If the paper doesn't cover the bottom of the box properly, add a second sheet of paper underneath where you need to take the photo
Step 4. Light up the box
Use one lamp on each side, and one above the top of the box. The cut-out sides will allow the light to diffuse through the translucent cover, thus creating a clear and uniform illumination inside the box.
Make sure you keep the lights slightly detached from the sides of the LightBox, so you don't overheat it
Method 3 of 3: Photographing People
Step 1. Get plenty of space
Continuing on the theme of "relate to the size of what you have to photograph", a LightBox for portraying people will necessarily be quite large. At a minimum, you will need an entire room in the house; a large living room would be ideal.
Even an empty garage can do just fine for your purpose
Step 2. Prepare the materials
To begin with, the paper will no longer work: people will have to walk on it, ruining it: for the floor you will have to use a white flooring, at least 3 meters by 3 meters. Now, get a roll of uniform paper, available in specialized stores, some sturdy supports and clamps to keep them raised in place. Buy three very bright lamps, all of the same type, on tall stands (at least 30cm adjustable). Finally, buy some white folding doors at some home supply store.
- You can also buy colored folding doors, and add white wallpaper on one side.
- This setup is for a professional quality photographer. This is not a cheap or quick job. If you just want normal photographs of people, you can hang white paper with a couple of bright lights, and play around with the positions until you get a decent quality shot.
Step 3. Set the lights
Place the main light on top, centered on the uniform paper position. Place a screen on it to diffuse the light slightly. Place the other two lights on distant stands, facing either side of the main lamp, angled somewhat towards the center. Use the folding doors to prevent the light from the side lamps directly reaching the subject area. Fold them so that the corners are facing inward, and the white side is facing the lamps. Leave about a meter of space between them - in this space the main light should shine.
Step 4. Prepare the white cover
Prepare two sections of white flooring, from the camera station to where the even paper hangs. Overlap them slightly, with the layer on the camera side slightly raised above that of the paper side, so that the edges are not noticeable inside the photographs. Place the even roll of paper on the stands, and pull it to partially cover the white flooring, letting it fold naturally as it reaches the floor towards the camera. Secure the paper in place using clamps at the top.
Step 5. Light up and shoot
There are a lot of things to consider to get a perfect shot with this setup, but we've taken the basics into consideration here. Place your subject in front of the folding doors, next to the uniform paper. Turn on all the lights and start shooting from behind the folding doors.
Step 6. Good shots
Advice
- Get ready to edit photos. The nice thing about a LightBox is that it allows you to get clear and bright photographs of objects without an interfering background; however, depending on the quality and settings of your camera, the lights you use and the uniformity of your LightBox, you may need to edit your shots with a photo editing program, to get the best possible quality.
- Experiment with light bulbs. Different shades of color and materials will offer different effects inside the LightBox. Try clear, dimmed, halogen, or any other solution you can think of, until you find the right lighting quality for your projects.
