DIY lightbox tips

[Speckee]

Anyone made one? Want something more permanent for taking pic's. I like patrickG's photo's, very professional looking. Suggestions regarding light types would be good too. I seem to get better pics using an old bulb torch rather than led's.

[Bluey Zarzoff]

I grabbed something like this a while back from EBay. Might give you an idea. Thelights are used outside the fabric to soften it. Seems to work.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SOFTBOX-40cm-OPEN-CUBE-LIGHT-TENT-STUDIO-LIGHTS-CASE-SMALL-PRODUCT-PHOTOGRAPHY-/290768625839?pt=AU_Cameras_Photographic_Accessories&hash=item43b32920af&_uhb=1

[pete]

I got the same as Bluey except 60cm version. I should've got 40 cm but good kit and includes good bulbs. I wasted my time with homemade stuff for a while but this pack was far superior.

[Gearloose]

Here you are folks...a "tent" that works quite well for five cents US.

Uses a gallon milk or water jug, a pair of shears and about two minutes.

http://gemologyonline.com/Forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7868&start=15

[Bluey Zarzoff]

Cool Gearloose. Looks like it works a treat.

[Speckee]

Nice simple setup gearloose. What type of lighting are you using? LED, fluoro or incandescent?

[fishaholic5]

Awesome

Cheers
Wal

[brett h]

I've a variety of macro/lighting options including two colour balanced light hard and soft boxes, macro ring-lights and boom lights.  You need a combination of light sources/diffusers to cope with the refractive/reflective qualities of the different materials we all covet. If you can avoid flash bulbs then you can better see what the light is doing before you take the photo, and better maintain the colours of the subject.  The easiest setup is a white box with a lamp: http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent

[Gearloose]

What type of lighting are you using? LED, fluoro or incandescent?

My wife gave me a couple of "Daylight" balance CFL floodlights. I use them in a pair at 45°, and stick the camera lens in the hole cut in the corner.
ALWAYS USE A TRIPOD. I don't care how steady your hand is, and how long it's been since you had a drink, the slightest motion, even in a camera like my newer one with shake stabilization, will degrade the image.
My experiments with LED lighting suggest they are not "There" yet. There are holes in the spectrum where some gems will not photograph their true colours. I like LEDs, and have converted most of the house lights to them, and they save a lot of $$ on the bill...but for photography, they are not quite there yet.

Here is 16 WATTS of a 20 W warm white LED tape installed under the kitchen counters. We rarely need the other lights now..but look at the colour balance:

[wilsonintexas]

I recently redid my kitchen, and bought strip LED lights from.... you guessd it china.  The cool white was $16.oo (US) for 5 meters, a power supply was another $10.00.

IT is a nice white light, and would be easy to make into a light that could go around the milk jug......

[Jimnyjerry]

Great info on a DIY white box Gearloose 

[MakkyBrown]

Yes, very good timely thread, thanks everyone. Just been looking on ebay best deal I can find is $39.90 delivered for tent 40cm, 2 lights, camera mount/stand, & backgrounds seems a good deal. Think I'm going to get one.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/140903838586?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649