Author Topic: Light Tent - Not camping, photography!  (Read 2511 times)

Matt K

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Light Tent - Not camping, photography!
« on: April 28, 2014, 08:17:24 AM »
Have you ever noticed how many of the best product images on places like eBay and Etsy are simple shots of the item against a pure white background? Well, those product shots are usually done in something called a light tent.

A light tent is basically a cube made of translucent material, a background insert, and one face of the cube cut away. Background inserts can be any color, but white, grey, and black are most common. You light the tent from the outside and it gives a nice clean background and soft even light all over the product being photographed.

Light tents can cost as little as $50 for a name brand one, or you can make one yourself with little more than some paper and a sacrificial cardboard box. A quick google search will turn up a bunch of DIY guides.
( http://www.boostyourphotography.com/2014/02/DIY-light-tent.html http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent/ )

Being that this is MMM, I suggest most people make their own. And I'm going to suggest you base it on this:
http://krull.ca/2014/04/foldio-a-light-tent-for-everyone/ (please ignore any format issues, I'm still getting the blog setup)

You could just buy the Foldio, I did, and I'm happy with it. But, you could get the same results, and the ability to fold flat (unlike the above linked DIY options), for the price of some bristol board, an LED strip light, and some paper clips. Longevity would be shorter with the DIY option, but it isn't like you can't fix it ;)

dragoncar

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Re: Light Tent - Not camping, photography!
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2014, 11:20:33 AM »
Good reference - thanks.  I'm not in ebay mode right now, but some day soon I may be selling a bunch of stuff.

MissStache

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Re: Light Tent - Not camping, photography!
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2014, 11:48:37 AM »
I JUST made one of these this weekend!  I used a cardboard box that I saved from my recent move, some fabric I had leftover from making curtains, and the lamps I already owned.  Cost was $0 and entertainment factor was immeasurable (the cats love it).  I could use a more powerful utility lamp, but I've been pretty happy with my zero dollar investment!