One of the ones that I read without fail is cosmeddicted's Weekly Reads. Last week's (#25 August 11, 2011) Weeky Reads featured How To Build A Light Box For Better Pictures by Not A Rich Girl. Please take a chance to read this post because I found it quite interesting and decided that I wanted to build one too.
Not A Rich Girl used a cardboard box but I wanted something that I could dismantle so that it wouldn't take up space while not being used. Not wanting to spend money and going with the "using my stash" mentality, I thought about what I could do. I have lots of white fabric, so that's not a problem and I found a stash of dowels that had been cut down to about 20" lengths.
The dowels had been used in another project that I did a few years back.
All that I needed was to get elbow fittings for the corners.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find elbow fittings that small enough to accomodate the size of my dowels. The smallest was 3/4" fittings and I think that my dowels are 1/2". I also didn't feel like spending $1.68 per elbow fitting--I would need eight.
Thinking about it more, a light bulb went off in my head. A few weeks ago I had bought an organizer system to put my different makeup containers on.
Most of these interlocking cube systems are usually made out of wire grids but this one is made with a frosted plastic. I can take it apart and put it together as needed and with the frosted plastic, there's no need to attach fabric except for the inside background.
I can also use more pieces of it to make a bigger box if needed.
I'm still playing around with it a bit as I wanted to use a light-colored fabric for the background but it seems that white may be the best for the brightest pictures. I'm also playing around with a couple of different lighting choices. Pictured here are regular lamps but I also have a couple of LED lights that I'm testing out.
This DIY (kind of) light box cost me nothing since I bought the set to use for my makeup. I'm using the left over pieces for the light box. I'm happy that I was able to apply "use my stash" to this.
What do you think?
*Kat*
16 comments:
I love posts like those too as they encourage me to read blogs that I don't normally.
Way to be resourceful! These days its all about things that cost almost nothing for me and Mr. S lol.
I look forward to see the pictures of items you take in your new light box.
@Brianna--The great thing is that you find interesting posts of blogs that you wouldn't have read since there are so many blogs out there.
The last post of my review of Lioele BB Cream--the pictures were taken with the box using the white background.
*Kat*
You are so crafty! I really need to think about doing this!
wow you did such an awesome job! I don't actually have any lamps in my place in Japan LOL- that would involve me buying not one but two :P I think I prefer natural light overall but that is such a novel idea!
A light box is very handy for shooting pictures and I also think a DIY version can be just as good too!
A tip Kat, when choosing a cloth, make sure that they're sheer enough for the light to pass through.A white fabric is usually the best.
xo
lisa
Great post. I love reading DIY and lately I've been into ones like the one mentioned - DIY alternatives for better quality pictures. Thanks for sharing.
I agree with you, those posts are awesome, because it's honestly impossible to read every single blog out there =p
I like this light box idea, definitely gonna read the post =D && i like how yours looks~
This is incredibly clever... I seriously think I need to look into doing something similar... but of course I am dead lazeeee! Hehehehe.
Cheers
BV
ahh! it looks fabulous! the organiser system looks good!
i love DIY projects like these! <3 making things yourself will make you feel proud of what you have achieved everytime looking at it!
@Jamilla--If you do decide to make one, please show us your results! I think that it will be interesting to see everyone's ideas on it.
*Kat*
@Nic Nic--I would prefer natural light too but my house is actually rather dark. In order for me to get a good natural light picture, I have to go out onto the balcony, which is rather dusty. I would probably also have the neighbors wondering why I'm taking pictures of makeup.
*Kat*
@Lisa--Thank you for the tip! I'm still playing around with the lightbox although it's a bit troublesome because someone else is super curious too and comes and bothers me. *Looks at Hime chan.*
*Kat*
@Fannie--Thank you! I'm glad that you liked this post. If you do any kind of DIY projects, please let me know. I'd love to see what you've done.
*Kat*
@Steph--Thank you! You are always so sweet with your comments!
*Kat*
@BV--I know that you're crafty and can come up with something good too. I'd love to see yours when you're feeling in a not-so-lazy mood and make one. Hehe!
*Kat*
@Evie--Thank you! It was fortunate for me that I had this organizer system with leftover panels. It ended up working out perfectly.
*Kat*
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