How to Make a Photography Light Box
A photography light box is a miniature studio where small items can easily be shot without the need for specialized lighting or backdrops. While elaborate commercial boxes are available, they tend to be pricey. A simple one can be easily constructed at minimal cost that will serve the purpose equally well.
Items Needed:
- 3/16 inch thick foam board
- Yard stick
- Utility knife
- Marking pencil
- Duct tape
- Measuring tape
- Desk lamp
- Lay the foam board out, and measure the side, bottom and back panels 20 inches tall by 16 inches wide. Put a mark with the pencil on each end of the measurement. Take the yardstick and draw a line from one mark to the other. Do not make the box any smaller, or there will be insufficient room to take a quality picture without the walls or overhead light showing up in the photograph.
- Cut the foam board along the marked lines of the four sections using the utility knife.
- Fasten the side and back pieces together with duct tape. This will enable you to fold them together for easy setup and storage. The bottom section does not need to be fastened.
- Use any desk lamp with a 60-watt bulb for overhead lighting. When you are ready to shoot a picture, place the item to be photographed in the center of the enclosure. The white foam board will serve to brighten the picture.
- Background colors can be changed by covering the foam board at the back of the box with colored poster board.