PhotoCubes/LightTents

poohie- i've started using different fabric back drops because i didn't like the crinkle of the white tent. I just go to the fabric store and get 1 yard of the fabric that i want

 

No offense but I just had to laugh when I saw how much Photoshoping was done to improve the photo. If you're going to all that trouble, what's the point of the light tent?

 

i dont usually have to do that much photoshopping on my pictures when i use the tent. i do, do a lot of photoshopping on my photos though because i like to have fun with all the features. i didn't pay all the money for the program just to crop and resize with it!!!!

 

Oh yeh..I know wot my next paycheck is going to lol. So hard to get good pictures in my room, such poor lighting.

 

Here's another tutorial for building your own using PVC piping, sheets, and desk lamps. I think the average cost is about $20 US to do this.

http://www.eyefetch.com/tutorial-light-tent-101.aspx

I'm planning on setting one of these up myself this weekend, doesn't seem too hard.

 

Aimee:

I've tried using the Reveal bulbs, and I find that certain angles give you a nice "pure" light, while from certain other angles, the light has a pinkish cast, especially in shadows or "bounced" light areas. Seemed to be fairly consistent, whether using a tent or shining the lights directly on the subjects.

Poohie:

Or that *wonderful* cardiac moment when a doll (usually my Hound) decides he's had enough posing for the night, and falls against the back or side of the tent --

 

Bumping this thread...As I would like to purchase a Photo cube for myself for xmas.

Id like reviews- Pros & Cons of the different brands.
Also Kits that might be a good deal- that come with the Lights/tripods & tent.

I was looking at Overstock.com...Only because paypal has the 20% cash back there right now.

Thinking about getting a 30 or 32"

 

It's not nearly as pretty as the other light tents in this thread, but you can't get much cheaper than this tutorial here. (You can find a lot of different versions by searching "DIY Light Tent" on Google, too.)

 

Has anyone experimented with mirror or silver paper of some sort anything that reflects light?
I'm curious what might happen if a person would use it in a tent.

Also if a person has 2 lights positioned on the sides and uses a large mirror at the back.
Would this be a possible way to compensate for missing a third light (cause I'm missing one XD). Since the mirror should reflect the light? Or am I sounding silly XD?

And how do you guys get the background flat without wrinkles?

I just bought for 100$ a 80by80by80cm tent including 2 backgrounds, 2 light stands and bulbs on ebay (shipping cost was free).
I haven't used it yet since I bought a Uk set so I need to get UK plugs.
I thought it was a good price since one Light stand here in the Netherlands already cost 40 euro without bulb =_=.

I'm hoping to use it soon but I actually don't have any space for the tent XD.

Are there people here who use tents but live in a small house?

 

I have used a cloudy sterilight box with a shop light behind me with good results. remember to do a custom white balance before.

Just to clarify light at 45* around right shoulder. I have also used a relflector at the other side...sometimes it helps sometimes does not make a difference. My background was white posterboard.

 

Putting a mirror in the back,...you would probably see your reflection or that of the doll's back reflected back.

You can iron the material if you want. Set the iron to the lowest setting so it won't burn the material. If you're really unsure, then place another piece of cloth on top of the material and iron on that but with the iron on a higher setting.

If you live in a small house and space is limited, then you will just have to set up the tent only when you are ready to use it. You could try setting it on a dining room table that is large enough to accommodate the entire setup.

 

Thanks Nikita!!

I took some pictures yesterday!

I took them with natural light and it wasn't good weather either.

I think with a better camera, tripod and light source the pictures will be much better(since I took these pictures without tripod, lights and I don't have a DSLR camera XD).

But I think the tent alone increases the pics quality too.

 

Nice start, and I do agree that using a light tent instantly increases the quality of the picture by giving that beautiful, diffused light. However, I also find that it can also produce what it has done in your picture. The camera exposes for the bright background, leaving the doll too dark. This can easily be solved in Photoshop or, if your camera allows you to do it, I stop up a couple of stops. This produces effectively an overexposure, creating the correct exposure for the doll and giving the background a nice, blown out look.

If you have none of these adjustables available to you, your other option would be to use an opaque background and have the light coming in from the sides and top. The camera should then expose for the background, which would be lit to the same extent as the doll.

Sorry if that makes little sense. I am only just getting into this photography thing and very much learning as I go along!

 

yes I would agree with above. I work on the exposure of the subject and let the background be blown.

 

The back got most of the light. The light was really that bad yesterday XD.
But Once I get my lights working I'll definitely use a black background. Thanks for the advice! Can't wait to try it!

There is a question some one else asked before that i would like to know too.
How does one get sparkles in the eyes inside a tent?

I did use photoshop to make the picture lighter I don't think I like it more than the dark one(But then I only made it lighter I haven't used the burn tool yet):

 

Yes, I would like to know if anyone has found a way to enliven the eyes when using a light tent. It would seem that, by definition, it wouldn't be possible without a little jiggery-pokery. A glint in the eye is a reflection of the light source. With diffused light, there is nothing to get a reflection off of. I sometimes use a sheet of white paper to bounce light up into the eyes, if the subject's head is tilted down. However, that just lightens the eyes. It doesn't give a glint and can also wipe out some interesting shadows. The only thing I could think to do is to use a secondary, small direct light to produce the glint. But it would need to be the same colour light as the original, to avoid strangely-coloured shadows. Could it be done with a strategically-placed mirror, perhaps? Or would that just bounce back yet more diffused light? Has anyone cracked this one?

 

hmm...I've heard there's a special light that is used inside light tents to make jewellery sparkle. Maybe that would do the job of lighting the eyes?

 

Yes! Just found it. It's called a jewelery sparkler and costs an arm and a leg. There must be a cheaper way to have a small, clip on LED light at the same temperature as your primary light source. So, for those who use daylight bulbs or daylight, about 5200K. I will have a look around.

EDIT: I just remembered that I recently bought some small, stick-on LED lights for my daughters' beds. They don't state temperature, but they certainly look white. They were extremely cheap (about $9 for two). If anyone is interested, I will have a play with the light tent and LED lights and post results.

 

OW I would like to see that!!

 

ah I didn't know they were expensive, a shame ^^;
Please do post your results

 

Yup. Upwards of $64 (see this ebay listing). I'm sure we can make a ghetto version that does just as well. I will get onto it.

 

I'm curious as to how many lights is best to illuminate a Light Tent.
Also, can I get away with just the cheaper alertnative of getting one of those shop lights from the hardware store and a daylight energy saver bulb?

 

When I need that glitter in the eye I just photoshop it in. Using a small soft brush with the dodge tool (or sometimes simply painting it in white) making sure I position the glitter in a realistic spot in the eye. I sometimes use the dodge tool also to bring back the color of the iris the trick here is to do it with a very small exposure value. Photoshop can often save pictures with problematic lighting.

 

If you want to really be well-lit, then 4 lights. 2 on each side, one in the back and one above the tent. I myself have just used 2.

Yes, you can use clamp lights and daylight CFL bulbs!

 

im looking into getting a photo cube, can someone post a pic of their atleast 60cm doll standing in a cube?

Im curious as to how much room they will have, 24 inch cube or 30 inch cube... any specific brands you ma recomend? overstock.com has a whole bunch thay even come with lights

 

I found this how to make one out of a cardboard box!
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent/

I'm also gonna check at bed, bath, and beyond for those hampers.

 

I posted a pic a long time ago of my Volks sd13 girl in the tent:

http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1165339&postcount=14

She is 60cm tall and standing straight up in the tent. As for brands, there really is no specific brand that people are using. I think most of us are getting them from Ebay. You could look there and see if the same type that Overstock has goes for cheaper on Ebay.

As for lights, you can save money by just buying clamp lights and positioning them around the light tent. Just use CFL daylight bulbs and you'll have a better chance of better white balance with those.

 

ah thankyou so much

 

I like the soft lighting you can get from the light tents - I'll have to check this out! Thanks, everyone!

 

I checked these out on ebay and I've bought one for $30, probably a little more than that.
Just gotta wait untill it arrives, I tell you what it's like when I get it.

 

My little cousin have a tent like this but in pink: http://www.ikea.com/se/sv/catalog/products/20072454 I think the white one might work really well as a light tent for SD dolls, it is almost 1m high. It is very cheap also. Anyone tried this?

 

I think it would be better to buy an actual light tent made for the purpose of photography as the shape of that one would limit how you could take photos, Light tents.

You can shop around for reasonable priced light tents or you can make you own for very little money.