Have you ever wondered how those wonderful product images you see in catalogs or online retailers are created?
A light box is typically used by professional photographers to generate even lighting on the objects.
The most expensive solutions on the market might cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. So, how do you build a DIY light box for photography if you don’t have a lot of money?
It’s fairly simple. We’ll teach you how to make a DIY light box out of repurposed items in this guide.
Box- If you find a square and thick cardboard box and light it, you can easily make a lightbox. These kinds of boxes are frequently discarded, which means you may obtain them for free. Visit the rear of grocery shops, shopping malls, convenience stores, or any other adjacent establishments that sell things. There’s a good chance you’ll discover a box or two there.
Fabric- For example, I purchased white muslin from a nearby craft store. When selecting fabric, remember to measure the size of the box – it must be large enough to cover the entire box. White fleece and nylon are also good options. You may also use old white underwear as an option. It is preferable to choose shirts of the same hue for a great effect. Cut up the sides of the garment to make two halves.
Lights- Visit a nearby hardware store and buy custom-led light strips. I don’t advocate buying regular bulbs because they emit a horrible yellow light. Instead, look for “Daylight” fluorescent light bulbs. Whatever “Full Spectrum” bulb you find will suffice.
You may use your desk lamp for this purpose.
Bristol Board in White- Bristol board is a very thick paper that is commonly used in painting and sketching. This type of paper initially debuted in Bristol, England. As an essential component of any DIY light box, this board serves as the background and lines the inside of the box. Consider the size of the box when purchasing the board. You may require two to three sheets for lining the box and one for the backdrop. It does not have to be white; other hues are acceptable as well.
Tape is required to secure the cloth to the sides of the lightbox for shooting. For example, I use regular masking tape so that I can simply swap up the cloth if necessary.
Various Tools and Glue- If you’re wondering how to create a lightbox, you’ll need a knife, scissors, tape, and a standard ruler or a triangle. You need to get a glue stick or spray adhesive from a stationery store to glue the liner in the photo light box.
A large cardboard box is required to create a professional DIY lightbox display. The larger your box, the greater the variety of items of various sizes you will be able to shoot. Ask employees at local stores for unused boxes, or purchase the best one from a storage facility.
Use robust materials if you want to learn how to create a lightbox for photography that will last a long time. Boxes constructed of wood or opaque plastic work well. However, bear in mind that you will need tougher equipment, such as a saw, to cut the panels on the sides of such boxes.
Locate the box on one of the sides so that the flaps in front of you are open. With a ruler, mark a point roughly 5.1 cm (2 inches) from either edge of the DIY light box’s side. Draw one line at the box’s boundaries and link the spots using a pencil. As a consequence, a rectangle-shaped portion towards the borders would be visible. Remember to do the same on the other side.
This is the region where your window will be covered with fabric or a sheet of parchment paper. If the box is rather large, I recommend reducing the size of a window so that you may cover it with paper or fabric.
Using scissors or a specialized cutter, cut along each drawn line of the box. You should be able to detach a piece of cardboard from the center and see a window once you’ve completed it. The opposing side must be completed in the same manner.
If you want to make sure the lines are perfectly straight, lay a ruler beside them and cut across them. As a result, you may not only have the finest photo lightbox, but also one that looks good.
On the upper half of the DIY lightbox, place a white poster board or a thick sheet of white paper. Remove the board’s unneeded edges with the cutter or scissors to fit neatly into the box. The board must be almost twice the size of the upper side and the same width as the box.
I recommend that you use a white poster board. It will not wrinkle within the box due to its level of surface. Look for such a board at a neighborhood craft store; it’s not expensive. If you can’t locate it, you may substitute a large sheet of dependable white paper with a matte surface.
Nothing beats a white poster board for creating your lightboxes and giving them an “eternal” appearance. It will make an object appear to have been photographed in a desolate region. You may even use different colors to vary the photos.
Begin with the upper edge of the chosen material and use glue or tape to secure it to one of the windows. Then go to the opposite sides, allowing the material to hang down over the window. The identical procedure must be followed for all of the photo lightbox windows.
The next step is to secure the upper edge of the poster board with a wide length of packing tape or duct tape. Fasten the tape to the inside of the lightbox photography closer to the top half of the backside while keeping an eye on it. Using another piece of tape, secure the opposite edge of the board to the bottom of the box. Take care not to crease or fold the poster board. By angling the board at the back bottom corner, you may make it slightly bent.
The above-created enclosure is ideal for photographing in natural light. When it comes to lightbox photography, though, you can’t always wait for the sun to shine.
What if you have to shoot late at night? Don’t worry, our next project will have a lightbox with LED lights! The best-led light for this project is the 5050 RGB led strip.
Elstarled high-quality SMD 5050 flexible LED strip lights contain 180 quality of Super brightness, the LED strips have a stronger adhesive and come with a 24V RGBW led strip certified adapter, RF remote, and controller. Their brightness may be adjusted, and 20 different colors are available; the RGB light strip can be sliced and linked.
Do you want to learn the fundamentals of product photography so that you can capture eye-catching photographs that stand out AND sell?
You don’t need expensive equipment or skills to take great product shots… All you need is some motivation, a few exclusive tips, a reliable LED strip light manufacturer, and you are good to go.
English 
Spanish 
French 
Arabic