Light Boxes - Photo Booth

hobbit_homebrew · **Joined:** Thu May 03, 2007 3:31 pm **Posts:** 7

i have heard a few people in other places chucking around the phrase light box, i would like to know what it is, if i have to buy one or if it can be made and finally, how can it help me improve my pics? if anyone can answer these questions for me i would be greatfull. thanks everyone

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Sat May 05, 2007 3:57 pm

Lightboxes are used mainly by professional photographers to view transparencies taken on medium and large format cameras. The are like a horizontal version of the panels you see in hospitals where doctors and nurses view x-ray images.

You only need a lightbox if you are taking transparencies/slides and are seriously into semi-pro/professional photography.

Examples of lightboxes are here:

http://photography.listings.ebay.co.uk/ ... ngItemList

http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk ... _size.html

Photographers view the images on these prior to scanning on very high grade machines to produce huge files for processing into all sorts of pictures. For example, a top quality digital camera (E.G Mamiya ZD) gathers about 22 megapixels, translating into about a 66Mb RAW file. Compare that with a 645 rollfilm image coming in at the equivalent of 50plus megapixels or 150Mb file - no contest really.

I have a panoramic camera - 617 format. One of the sites I have seen is by a guy who DOWNSIZES the files this produces to 600Mb - that's 200 megapixel equivalent. I did some sums and the camera can go to about 350 megapixels on a really good scanner.

So, you probably do not need a lightbox - certainly no for digital photography - but now you should have an idea of what it is.

BrentS · **Posted:** Sat May 05, 2007 4:52 pm

I think he's probably talking about the type of lightbox where you have your light source diffused through a filter and even lights the subject.

Something like this:

http://www.studiolighting.net/homemade- ... otography/

or this

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/ho ... tudio.html

hobbit_homebrew · **Joined:** Thu May 03, 2007 3:31 pm **Posts:** 7

thanks for the replies, i was talking about the sort of box that was on the links brents supplied, i think i will try it and see what results i get, after all, a couple of bits of tracing paper and a card board box dont cost much

LotrCrown · **Posted:** Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:06 am

just bringing this subjects up again its something i have been working on and hope to make an artical for but thisis version 8 of my box and its portable !!

Curunír · **Posted:** Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:56 am

Hey Matt, that's a pretty darn cool light box.

Cheers

Beowulf03809 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 04, 2008 3:28 am

That is FAR too cool. I look forward to an article, or at least some notes. :shock:

Beatrice · **Posted:** Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:08 am

another variation: supercool!!

LotrCrown · **Posted:** Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:56 am

well this was version 8 the first 7 wernt portable well this is version 1 and i think 6 ..

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:56 am

The one in the aluminium case is very James Bond....what other tricks does it do, Meeeeester Bond?

I just mess about with lights and terrain until I get something approaching what I want.

LotrCrown · **Posted:** Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:59 am

well its the metal case i had left over from when i bought the mega paint set from GW and doing it that way stops it getting dusty and its then small enough to fit on top of a cupboard out of the way

BrentS · **Posted:** Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:39 pm

Now that looks great! I've tried unsuccessfully to get a light box to work out. I've only had limited success. I'm not sure if my tissue paper is too thick (too many layers) or my bulbs too dim or perhaps both. I've started using 100W daylight bulbs.

How many layers of tissue to you use? Whats the wattage on your bulbs?

LotrCrown · **Posted:** Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:31 pm

the bulbs are regular blue hobby bulbs (60W) but i dident use tissue paper at all i used cheap greese proof paper for baking and just theone layer

Curunír · **Posted:** Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:56 pm

LotrCrown wrote:

the bulbs are regular blue hobby bulbs (60W)...

Blue hobby bulbs? Do these simulate daylight better?

LotrCrown · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 12:41 am

well compared to the standard yellow bulbs they show the colour a hell of a lot better , though myself i have a new lamp for painting thats different all together its a low energy bulb thats better day light than the sun ?? lol

Ukfreddybear · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:16 pm

I have a 100W blue 'daylight' bulb in my spotlight which I use when painting at night. Unfortunately though it does get very hot and I've lost count of the times I have burnt my forehead on the thing.

LotrCrown · **Posted:** Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:49 am

this is the one i have its pumps out perfect light and dosent get hot !!

oh and its only £15

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4308148/Trail/C%24cip%3D1500005806.Furniture%2Band%2Bfurnishings%3EC%24cip%3D1500005961.Lighting%3EC%24cip%3D1500005970.Table%2Blamps.htm

Kelemvor Lyonsbane · **Joined:** Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:00 pm **Posts:** 2

LotrCrown wrote:

this is the one i have its pumps out perfect light and dosent get hot !!

oh and its only £15

I second the vote for this lamp, I bought one a few months back and it's the best light set up I have had in the 20 or so years I have painted.
Well worth every penny!!!

Ukfreddybear · **Posted:** Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:46 pm

Okay you talked me into it. That lamp just made it onto my birthaday list.

tidoco · **Posted:** Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:01 pm

Yes I bought one of those a couple of years ago and now I can't manage without it, it is ideal for both working under and for taking pictures with as it gives a very natural spread of light and good pictures can be achieved without the use of more than one lamp.
It is also cheap too so not expensive to replace if you need to (I did).

Light Boxes - Photo Booth

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