Where I got my original idea to make a lightbox...

Some pictures I took with my homemade lightbox.

Why did I make it so big? I take pictures of large products for servicevilla.com reviews so I needed something big! It comes in handy at times... So you want to know how to make it?

Well it simpler than you think..
(instructions don't include light stand portion...)

I choose 1/2" PVC pipe because I didn't want it to be so bulky so that I can sture it and carry it easier.

What you will need
- PVC cutters
- 4 X 10 foot PVC pipes for a 3' X 3 ' X 3' lightbox like the one show above

- 6 X 1/2 inch side outlet 90s

- 2 X 1/2 inch 90 degree elbow


1. Cut your PVC into 3 foot sections. You will need 10 of them.

2. Attach the 90 degree elbows to two pipes each to make the front and bottom of your box.
(they are the red ones shown here)


3. Follow those pipes and attach the side outlet pvc pieces as shown above in blue pieces ...

4. Get yourself some white muslin from a fabric store that will be able to cover the three sides and the top of the box leaving about a foot extra on every side. The muslin is translucent but will aid very well in diffusing the light. I sewed loops at the end of the fabric so that I can thread the pvc as shown in the picture below. The fabric was placed on the box as shown in the illustrations. Notice in the real image how I sewed the loops to thread the PVC. I did it with a sewing machine and although it was my first time using such a contraption it came out half decent. I did the same for the smaller back piece.







Notice the sewed loops!...
(You can no longer see the lower pipes because they are inside holding the muslin tight...



You should now have something that looks like this.. Minus the light stands which are basically another 3 foot pvc pipe with a 4 way pvc elbow because they didn't have the 5 way in the big orange store. Ideal!!! is 5 because it's sturdier but the orange store doesnt carry it so I used the 4 and just put the light clamps on the side with the extra leg...



In case you were wondering what I was talking about... here are some pics of the three and four way pvc couplers.



Now that you are done making your box you will need some backgrounds and lights.

For my lights if you see the first picture above I use the 6.5 inch clamp on lights from the big orange store. See a close up picture below.



They run about 6 dollars each and I use the 100 watt blue package n:vision 27 Watt Daylight Compact Fluorescent Light (spiral lights 5500k very important otherwise it will be super dark).



They are cool to the touch so you wont be sweating while taking pictures. I used 3 here but it is still a bit dark. I am going to purchase two more soon to complete my little studio. If you have an external flash I would use that before trying any of the light contraptions... I used these lights only because the clamps were cheap and I use the lightbulbs regularly around the house so it is all reusable. The clamps can be used for many things specially if you are a do it yourselfer around the house. Ultimately you will probably want to use a flash. I am eventually going to get an SB-800 for my camera.

For backgrounds go to cvs or whatever craft store is closest to you and get some nice colored cardboard pieces. I had small ones but I am on the hunt for some larger ones that will span about 6 X 3 feet to cover the back and floor. You can see how to place them from the first pic above.

Remember most important of all NO FLASH!!!!

Some more pictures to help you with the details.