Make a Lightbox

1st lightbox

A lightbox can mean different things in the world of photography. Originally it was a box with a glass top with light bulbs inside to view slides.  But the kind of lightbox I am talking about is like a mini home studio where you can take photographs of items with soft, even, diffused light, and a seamless background…  

You can buy a lightbox.  There are many very nice ones. But you can also make one that will work nicely for very very cheap.  Strobist has a set of directions for making a lightbox with just a carboard box. Check out my original box to the right :) Most of my lightbox shots have been done using this simple box…  

The time came though when I needed a sturdier, more versitile, AND collapsible lightbox for easy sotrage and portableness.  My hubby came up with a genius design. Let me show you …  

My Homemade lightbox!  ( I know I need better lighting…)

  

To make this 2 ft lightbox frame you will need these items:  

4 pieces wood = 24 x 1.5 inches,  8 pieces wood= 10.5  x 1.5 inches, 3 pieces wood= 21 x 1.5 inches, 12 hinges, 4 locks, furniture dowels, wood glue, and tools of course ;)  

The two sides of the box are assembled like the diagram to the left.  It is best to router out the wood where the hinges are needed so that the pieces of wood lie flat against each other. Both left and right sides should bend inward toward the center when the locks are not fastened. When fastened, the trunk locks keep the legs of the box upright.  

Once these 2 side panals are built, all you need is the 3 beams that hold the box together. Notice in the diagram that there are peg holes in three of the corners.  Take the remaining three pieces of wood and, using your drill and wood glue, add dowels to each end. Now the box is easy to assemble and disassemble!  When taken apart the box frame will look like this…

And when using the box you can get results like this :)  

  

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Having a lightbox is essential for product photography. Recently I shot greetings cards for the company Mackie Mack and she needed straightforward shots of her products for a catalog.  The lightbox was invaluable.  But you can do many creative things with a lightbox too…  

   

Here are some fun things I’ve done with mine :)   

        

Visit my lightbox / Products gallery, or  

See more lightbox shots in my posts :)