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12/13/2005 01:45:34 AM · #1 |
I was just wondering if anyone had any inexpensive tips for making backgrounds and lighting.....like any household items that i can use for backgrounds and lighting.
thanks |
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12/13/2005 01:51:26 AM · #2 |
Two words man: clip lights. Get them at Lowes/Home Depot, mine were $6. Some GE Natural Light bulbs in them and they are GREAT for low-cost, simple lighting. I have three and love them. They're no Alien Bees, but they work very well for starters.
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12/13/2005 02:10:21 AM · #3 |
I'll second that about the clamp lights. They are just a light bulb socket with a metal reflector around them and clamp on to anything. I got a couple at Meijers (like a kmart or walmart) for $4.99 each! Also, I have a dual halogen stand shop light. 2 lamps, with 2 settings each. the stand telescopes and you can swivel the angles all around on each lamp. works pretty good, and you can find them for around 20 - 40 $. For backdrops I get flat sheets at walmart pretty cheap. I also have some posterboards and large white foam boards, work as backdrop and as reflectors. I saw a plan for making light tents from pvc tubing and sheets that was pretty cool. Like under $30. Just get creative and put your problem solving skills to use :-)
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12/13/2005 02:13:16 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by taterbug:
I saw a plan for making light tents from pvc tubing and sheets that was pretty cool. Like under $30. Just get creative and put your problem solving skills to use :-) |
You wouldn't have a link to that plan, would you? :D I'd love to see it!
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12/13/2005 02:16:40 AM · #5 |
I just built a 3 foot cube light tent out of PVC pipe and white sheets.
PVC pipe cost be $25 and the sheets cost me $5
I have 2 cheep halogen worklights I got from home depot (I don't remember how much they were, but they were CHEAP) put them on either side INSTANT LIGHT TENT
Works great. I'd show you an example but my trial run with it was my cheese entry and I don't want to give my submission away (I'm sure people would vote me down because of who I am)
Edit:
I didn't have any plans for the light tent, just bought some 3way PVC elbows and some pipe and made a cube. Pretty simple.
Message edited by author 2005-12-13 02:18:53. |
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12/13/2005 04:36:35 AM · #6 |
In many threads about lighting I always say that Home Depot is the poor mans lighting source. You can get tungsten, quartz, halogen, flourescent, and in alot of variations of wattage.
Also, contact local film production houses, and rental houses. Ask them if they are selling any used inventory. Ask them if they have any scrap white diffusion you can have.
Sometimes they will especially if you create a relationship.
The best light to get is a paper china ball. They come in several sizes and shapes. The wire 'harp' that they provide sucks, so you will have to figure out a way to keep the bulb from moving. Anyway, the ball is papered so it will give you a softer light. The bigger the ball the softer the light.
And if you know how to build a handheld 20 amp dimmer, then you could put up to a 2kw globe in the ball. Dimming changes the color temp.
In the industry that I am involved with, and am burnt out in, we use china balls alot. But, our harps are much more advanced than a normal human really needs.
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12/13/2005 04:54:03 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by OdysseyF22:
Originally posted by taterbug:
I saw a plan for making light tents from pvc tubing and sheets that was pretty cool. Like under $30. Just get creative and put your problem solving skills to use :-) |
You wouldn't have a link to that plan, would you? :D I'd love to see it! |
Light Box/Light Tent |
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01/03/2006 03:17:52 PM · #8 |
What about sheet scene backdrops? do they have anything like this? Like a bed sheet that has clouds or trees or somthing dyed on the sheet? you could use lighting to illuminate the sheet?
I thought of an idea im gona use, first the clamp lights but then im gona get some cheap microphone stands from the local music store. It will work like a studio lamp but the clamps lights i can move up and down the stand and rotate any angle i need. The microphone stands are fairly compact using a weighted base.
A boom microphone stand may be handy also to get light in on top or under and keep the post and stuff out of the way. |
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