Make Your Own Light Tent for Better Photos

There comes a time when every photographer will need to take close up photos of items and products in a controlled environment. To make this possible light tents are often used to control the amount of lighting a certain product receives.

Commercial light tents can be very expensive however with the right tools and materials you can easily construct your own at a fraction of the cost.

Step 1 - Assembling the Box

The most basic light tent is made using a cardboard box. You will have much better results if you choose to use a cardboard box which has never been used before as this will be in much better condition. Choose a box which is the right size for the type of items that you will be photographing.

Make the box up and fix it together so that it holds its shape. Once you have done this then you can start getting to work making your own light tent.

Step 2 - Remove the Top

Start by using your craft knife to completely remove the top of the box. Make sure that this cut is as clean as possible and is level all the way round.

Step 3 - Cutting the Box

Next you should cut all of the centres out of the sides of the boxes. Leave a couple of inches frame all the way around the box, and just cut out the centres. This is actually fairly easy to do with a craft knife and a little bit of patience. This will create the frame for your light tent.

Step 4 - Covering the Box

Now you need to use fabric or white paper to cover all of the openings of the light tent except for one. This will provide a soft surface for the light to reflect off so that soft photos can be taken.

Step 5 - Background

Cut the poster board to shape but make sure this is slightly bigger than the back of the box. This will cause a slight curve on the poster-board which will also help to reduce the appearance of any shadows or sharp edges.

The background can be any color you want, although if you intend to cut the background away from the subject at a later date then you should choose a color which is not found on the product.

Step 6 - Lighting

Lighting should be placed outside of the box and most people use either one or two lights. Experiment with the number of lights so that you can get the best results with the fewest shadows possible. You will then be able to take photos of the item through the open end of your light tent.

The paper or material will diffuse the light and make it much more even. This will ensure that the subject is lit evenly and that there aren't any spots of light which distract the viewer.

Step 7 - Taking Photos

Taking the photo is as simple as pointing and shooting. However you will get much better results if you set up a tripod outside the light tent as this will reduce the chance of camera shake.