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04/06/2009 07:03:54 PM · #1
I attempted to make a home made light box today. The box itself came out nice. I used some white foam board from a hobby store and some masking tape to put it together. I also bought 2 of the clamp on light domes form Home Depot to use for the lighting. The problem I am having is lighting still looks very yellow like I took the shot indoors. Does anyone have any suggestions about which bulbs are the best to use.
04/06/2009 07:10:38 PM · #2
Please post some pics. I have been looking at doing something similar.
04/06/2009 07:32:16 PM · #3
Check out this thread. I have a pic I took with my home made light tent and I linked the tutorial I used in that thread. Mine looks virtually the same.
04/06/2009 07:50:26 PM · #4
I made my own box too. I made mine out of a cardboard box, white copy paper and use plain old 60 or 100 watt light bulbs.
Did you change your white balance setting from fluorescent to tungsten (or vice versa)?
ETA: In fact, here is my super ghetto set up and a couple of examples of my results


Message edited by author 2009-04-06 19:55:04.
04/06/2009 07:59:41 PM · #5
Here's my tutorial:

//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=881818

and a couple of pics:





Message edited by author 2009-04-06 19:59:54.
04/06/2009 08:11:43 PM · #6
Here's my set up. I decided to buy some foam board because I figured it would be more durable and last longer. I noticed that others have holes cut out on the sides and top and the light is shining in from the top of the box through fabric. Is this necessary? I don't have time to try today but I will have to switch my camera's white balance settings. I did not check that before taking my shots. I wish I could show the shot's I took but they might show up in a challenge. Next oportunity I get (probably Saturday) I will take a few shot of random things and hopefully some member's could critique them for me.

I know this shot is very bad. I just took it with the P&S quickly to so everyone could see it.


Message edited by author 2009-04-06 20:14:36.
04/06/2009 08:54:48 PM · #7
You can find full spectrum bulbs in the nursery departments of most home improvement stores, or you can shoot in RAW and yank the colors over into the blue.
04/06/2009 09:04:53 PM · #8
Originally posted by BrennanOB:

You can find full spectrum bulbs in the nursery departments of most home improvement stores, or you can shoot in RAW and yank the colors over into the blue.

Agree with this -- the full spectrum bulbs are sometimes labeled "daylight" or "cool natural light" or "6500K". And they have a spectrum that is pretty close to daylight, so you can use them to supplement light coming in from a window without ending up with a partially blue and partially yellow image like you have in the photo of your setup.

Message edited by author 2009-04-06 21:06:03.
04/16/2009 04:59:53 PM · #9
I've seen the GE Reveal full spectrum lights. Would it make a difference if they are frosted or clear? Also is there a good wattage to stick with? 60,75,100 watt?
04/16/2009 05:42:43 PM · #10
Originally posted by cytoxan:

I've seen the GE Reveal full spectrum lights. Would it make a difference if they are frosted or clear? Also is there a good wattage to stick with? 60,75,100 watt?


______________________

Louis, the difference is, the frosted are already somewhat defused and all though they are rated for the wattage on the bulbs they put out less light then the clear bulbs. The wattage

refers to the amount of "heat" the bulb puts out. I know it's sounds strange but it's true. If you have access to a laser thermometer give it a try on the bulb and you should get a

reading very close to the rating on the bulb. That being said, if you look at studio lighting almost all the companies supply clear bulbs with their products or fluorescent if you have

that kind of $$$$$$$$$. One thing you should consider if you have lights that you are not able to dim is putting different size bulbs in the two lights, a 60 in one and a 100 in the other

you will have better results. You will have better luck going to a wholesale electrical company to get your bulbs, in fact I would wager that if their worth their salt as a supplier you

will be able to look at a catalogue and even pick the size and shape of the spectrum beam. I too built my own light bow and I've had a lot of fun taking photos with it and some measure of

success as well.

Here's a shot from the light box that I'm really proud of

I hope this helps.

MAX!
04/16/2009 06:15:24 PM · #11
What about my setup? Should I try cutting a hole on the top and sides and put a sheet over the holes. Then have the light come in through the top sheet? I've seen some done this way.
04/16/2009 06:29:19 PM · #12
Originally posted by cytoxan:

What about my setup? Should I try cutting a hole on the top and sides and put a sheet over the holes. Then have the light come in through the top sheet? I've seen some done this way.


the one i made is almost just like yours, but i cut holes in the sides and covered them with tissue paper. it works pretty well, i took a bunch of shots with it. i bought some cheap halogen lights for it, but they get hot fast so i keep them plugged into a powerstrip so i can turn them off quickly. for the latest pics i took with it, i didn't even use the halogens and instead used my 430ex.

with 430ex


with halogens
04/16/2009 06:30:59 PM · #13
Originally posted by cytoxan:

What about my setup? Should I try cutting a hole on the top and sides and put a sheet over the holes. Then have the light come in through the top sheet? I've seen some done this way.


_____________________

Yes you can and should cut holes in the top and sides and cover them with Muslin cotton fabric, it works better then anything else that I tried.

MAX!
04/16/2009 06:49:36 PM · #14
Mine is made of PVC piping and has the advantage of being easy to store when my studio becomes a garage, or a wood shop. There are a great many photo toys you can make up out of this Tinkertoys PDF My lightbox is a framework for a sheet , and a clamp bar to place light where you want it. the diffuser is held in place by lighter walled PVC cut down so it clamps the fabric into place. About $15 worth of materials and very flexible.


04/16/2009 06:57:06 PM · #15
Here's what I am getting straight out of the camera with the light box set up like the pic in my previous post and 2 100 W Full spectrum bulbs. Can this be adjusted in photoshop or is it still too "yellow" for that? Do you think the holes and cloth in the top and sides will make this shot better? Thanks for all the kind help that everyone is giving. I am learning a lot and appreciate it!!!

04/16/2009 09:37:46 PM · #16
Originally posted by cytoxan:

Here's what I am getting straight out of the camera with the light box set up like the pic in my previous post and 2 100 W Full spectrum bulbs. Can this be adjusted in photoshop or is it still too "yellow" for that? Do you think the holes and cloth in the top and sides will make this shot better? Thanks for all the kind help that everyone is giving. I am learning a lot and appreciate it!!!



if you shot that in RAW, i'm pretty sure it's completely recoverable. the picture i posted of wall-e looked just about the same out of the camera. i think the holes in the side/top couldn't hurt. you might want to expose it a bit more next time though. i'm sure someone smarter, and better will chime in with more helpful advice. it looks good to me :)
04/16/2009 10:00:49 PM · #17


That is one click adjustment in lightroom to your photo.

Matt
04/17/2009 06:44:59 AM · #18
Originally posted by MattO:



That is one click adjustment in lightroom to your photo.

Matt


I'm sorry but I am still pretty new to editig. Is there a photoshop one click solution? Also I have done a few raw conversions with photoshop but can't figure out what I need to do to get the white back like you have achieved with lightroom.
04/17/2009 07:00:07 AM · #19
Originally posted by cytoxan:

Here's what I am getting straight out of the camera with the light box set up like the pic in my previous post and 2 100 W Full spectrum bulbs. Can this be adjusted in photoshop or is it still too "yellow" for that? Do you think the holes and cloth in the top and sides will make this shot better? Thanks for all the kind help that everyone is giving. I am learning a lot and appreciate it!!!



This may be a daft question but it looks like a white balance issue, what are you set to?
04/17/2009 10:49:06 AM · #20
Originally posted by cytoxan:


I'm sorry but I am still pretty new to editig. Is there a photoshop one click solution? Also I have done a few raw conversions with photoshop but can't figure out what I need to do to get the white back like you have achieved with lightroom.

It is easy enough using the white picker in the curves dialog box, but you'd be way better off getting it right (or close to it) in camera.

Full spectrum bulbs (aka daylight bulbs) are easy to get and give a MUCH better light to start off with.

Then use your custom white balance setting and you will have near perfect shots without any post processing.

ETA: I have some time today and would be happy to help you with this. If you'd like some help, send me a message.

Message edited by author 2009-04-17 10:50:19.
04/17/2009 01:57:36 PM · #21
Originally posted by Lutchenko:

Originally posted by cytoxan:

Here's what I am getting straight out of the camera with the light box set up like the pic in my previous post and 2 100 W Full spectrum bulbs. Can this be adjusted in photoshop or is it still too "yellow" for that? Do you think the holes and cloth in the top and sides will make this shot better? Thanks for all the kind help that everyone is giving. I am learning a lot and appreciate it!!!



This may be a daft question but it looks like a white balance issue, what are you set to?


I have it set to auto. What should I set it to? Daylight?

Beetle I'll be home from work late this event, about 5-6 hours frm the date of this post but I'll send you a PM tonight.
04/17/2009 02:22:22 PM · #22
Originally posted by cytoxan:

Originally posted by Lutchenko:

Originally posted by cytoxan:

Here's what I am getting straight out of the camera with the light box set up like the pic in my previous post and 2 100 W Full spectrum bulbs. Can this be adjusted in photoshop or is it still too "yellow" for that? Do you think the holes and cloth in the top and sides will make this shot better? Thanks for all the kind help that everyone is giving. I am learning a lot and appreciate it!!!



This may be a daft question but it looks like a white balance issue, what are you set to?


I have it set to auto. What should I set it to? Daylight?

Beetle I'll be home from work late this event, about 5-6 hours frm the date of this post but I'll send you a PM tonight.


Is the inside of the box covered with white or is there exposed cardboard? If the cardboard is exposed it may be a reflection of the cardboard color.
04/17/2009 02:24:56 PM · #23
Originally posted by cytoxan:

Originally posted by Lutchenko:

Originally posted by cytoxan:

Here's what I am getting straight out of the camera with the light box set up like the pic in my previous post and 2 100 W Full spectrum bulbs. Can this be adjusted in photoshop or is it still too "yellow" for that? Do you think the holes and cloth in the top and sides will make this shot better? Thanks for all the kind help that everyone is giving. I am learning a lot and appreciate it!!!



This may be a daft question but it looks like a white balance issue, what are you set to?


I have it set to auto. What should I set it to? Daylight?

Beetle I'll be home from work late this event, about 5-6 hours frm the date of this post but I'll send you a PM tonight.


Now I'm no expert but I've had this before.
If you are using regular household bulbs try setting white balance to Incandescent, or simply play around with different white balance options to see the what affects you get
04/17/2009 02:36:51 PM · #24
If you use a custom white balance you will get the results you want regardless of the lights you use. Read pages 52/3/4/5 of the D70 owners manual and it explains how to do this using a photo you shoot of the set-up when it is lit or a gray card/white piece of paper.

Message edited by author 2009-04-17 14:38:10.
04/17/2009 02:37:16 PM · #25
the inside is covered in white and I am using full spectrum bulbs. I'll post more images when I take them. I'll also have to try in PS to adjust this one like the one that matto did in lightroom.
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