Anybody have any experience using those portable light boxes? Widely available on Amazon and Ebay for less than $100. Looking at 24 inch size to shoot my models. More for sprue and parts shots and in-progress photos but maybe for final finished photos as well.
Portable Light Boxes?
Portable Light Boxes?
John aka JKim
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Re: Portable Light Boxes?
Following!
- Kari
- Kari
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On the bench:
Tamiya F-4B Phantom II 1/48
Kinetic F-16A (new tool) 1/48
https://www.facebook.com/GrundAsk-Scale ... 721218708/
On the bench:
Tamiya F-4B Phantom II 1/48
Kinetic F-16A (new tool) 1/48
https://www.facebook.com/GrundAsk-Scale ... 721218708/
- speedgraflex
- Moderator
- Posts: 9759
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:08 pm
- Location: Santa Monica, California
Re: Portable Light Boxes?
Yes. If you want to photograph your work with a seamless effect, go for it! I could tell you were not very happy with the last batch of aircraft shots but I personally feel your combinations of work bench shots and final outdoor finish shots are quite the bee’s knees. They are you, John. They tell a story. I dig the individual approach. Photographing in a product manner will create a different look but it is a common look. Not to degrade any experiments on your part. If you are going to be professional and want the elegance and repeatability of a studio product, then yes, this will help you achieve that, and I fully support your decision.
Bigger, better, perhaps—I worry that 24 inches is not enough room.
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-EP5 ... B01GIL6EU4
Bigger, better, perhaps—I worry that 24 inches is not enough room.
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-EP5 ... B01GIL6EU4
Bruce / SPEEDGRAFLEX
Re: Portable Light Boxes?
Got me this one a few years ago from Amazon.
Didn't have the space to keep it build up permanently. So no WIP shots. I've tried a few setups with lamps but learned that I'd have to invest a lot of money to get good results. So sunlight is my friend since. The box scatters the light and as long as I keep the back of the box towards the sun I totally can avoid hard shadows. This only works outside your house, of course. A professinally lit box can lead to better results , but with my low cost setup I'm satisfied so far.
Edit: Found this and ordered it immediately. Having an illuminated floor and background was always my goal in model photography. But those setups where quite expensive. Now this is dirt cheap:
https://www.amazon.de/ST60100-faltbarer ... =fototisch
Didn't have the space to keep it build up permanently. So no WIP shots. I've tried a few setups with lamps but learned that I'd have to invest a lot of money to get good results. So sunlight is my friend since. The box scatters the light and as long as I keep the back of the box towards the sun I totally can avoid hard shadows. This only works outside your house, of course. A professinally lit box can lead to better results , but with my low cost setup I'm satisfied so far.
Edit: Found this and ordered it immediately. Having an illuminated floor and background was always my goal in model photography. But those setups where quite expensive. Now this is dirt cheap:
https://www.amazon.de/ST60100-faltbarer ... =fototisch
When the sun of culture hangs low even dwarfs throw shadows.
Re: Portable Light Boxes?
So how do you use those "light tables" that look like chairs? Almost mimics setup for my final shots, which is to drape a piece of white poster paper over a wooden bench in my courtyard. Without the see-through material as the bench is wood.
The light box I'm thinking of would be more for in-progress shots. I'd like to get better and more consistent quality on those as well as sprue shots. And maybe toy around with for completed model shots. But you're right Bruce... I like the results that I get with ambient sunlight in my courtyard. My dissatisfaction with the last shots were due to the white poster board having gotten too dirty and the cloudy conditions of the day.
The light box I'm thinking of would be more for in-progress shots. I'd like to get better and more consistent quality on those as well as sprue shots. And maybe toy around with for completed model shots. But you're right Bruce... I like the results that I get with ambient sunlight in my courtyard. My dissatisfaction with the last shots were due to the white poster board having gotten too dirty and the cloudy conditions of the day.
John aka JKim
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- speedgraflex
- Moderator
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- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:08 pm
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Re: Portable Light Boxes?
My thought is buy a roll of seamless in white and cut sections as necessary. That is my approach. Most of the issue will be lighting anyway, but I guess you could use the light box in addition to your bench photography. I could see a use for the light box for sprue shots and featured details. Is that how you plan to use it?
Bruce / SPEEDGRAFLEX
Re: Portable Light Boxes?
That was the thought... the light box would be used for my work bench photographs primarily. I'd have to work out a convenient location. To have the light box next to my work space so that I could easily throw parts in there and take some snaps without interrupting my work flow too much. My work space is in SERIOUS need of a makeover. The kid's desk is way too small. I want enough table top surface for modeling, a laptop + the Portrait mask cutter and the light box. Maybe an "L" shape in the corner.
Where is a good place to get a "roll of white seamless"? Paper, I assume. I'd also like to get some in blue.
Where is a good place to get a "roll of white seamless"? Paper, I assume. I'd also like to get some in blue.
John aka JKim
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- speedgraflex
- Moderator
- Posts: 9759
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:08 pm
- Location: Santa Monica, California
Re: Portable Light Boxes?
Adorama ships seamless through Amazon. I’m not sure if shipping is covered by Prime. Min width is 26 inches - length maybe 10 yards. I always cut off a section to test how the paper behaves and how best to work with it. I use gaffe tape but Gorilla tape works well, too. Most of the time a photo shoot is mostly about building on the fly, but seamless is the foundation for almost all studio backgrounds. I was going to suggest you create a floor plan drawing earlier because this helps to solidify studio space, and consider a rolling utility cart with locking wheels which is also a platform for shooting your inserts. That way when you are done, you can roll it into a corner and it is out of your way. Most food shoots use a version of this system.
Bruce / SPEEDGRAFLEX
Re: Portable Light Boxes?
I guess there are a couple of approaches to this. One is a transparent light diffusing box that you can shine a light through (either sun or artificial). The other is a solid walled box with built-in lighting and reflective walls. I think I'm leaning more towards the latter. I'm pretty satisfied with my setup outdoors but am looking to improve the quality of my shots when I'm inside the modeling room.
The seamless paper looks to be thirty something bucks for a 26"x30 feet wide roll of paper... does that sound about right? If I go the lightbox route, I may be able to use the included backgrounds for outdoor use on my bench, which increases the utility of the purchase a bit.
The seamless paper looks to be thirty something bucks for a 26"x30 feet wide roll of paper... does that sound about right? If I go the lightbox route, I may be able to use the included backgrounds for outdoor use on my bench, which increases the utility of the purchase a bit.
John aka JKim
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