Light boxes
 

From time to time I see articles about photographing still life, leaves etc where they use a llight box to place the items on. I have looked on ebay and found craft ones, tatoo and stencil.

I don't want to spend a fortune the cheaper the beter but want to buy something suitable so I wondered if anyone had any recommendations of the sort of thing I should get.

Many thanks

Dave

maplin sell a kit for 30 quid which looks like it would give you a an idea what it's all about

[url]http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=229132[/url]

or you can just buy the light tent for around a tenner if you wait till they reduce the price in there so called sales normally 20 quid

Thanks for that cosmica but that isn't quite what I meant I already have a lighting tent, the boxes I am referring to are like a tray that are illuminated from underneath.

Like [url=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/A4-Art-Craft-Tracing-Light-Box-Energy-Saving-Bulb-/230554230839?pt=UK_Crafts_Other_Crafts_EH&hash=item35ae1a6037]this[/url] sort of thing only flat.

Like this one. [url]http://www.lightboxuk.net/userimages/Shop--A4-Lightbox(948088).htm[/url]

You can get them at craft shops as they serve a duel purpose for art and photography. :D

[QUOTE=wavemachine;32823]Thanks for that cosmica but that isn't quite what I meant I already have a lighting tent, the boxes I am referring to are like a tray that are illuminated from underneath.

Like [url=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/A4-Art-Craft-Tracing-Light-Box-Energy-Saving-Bulb-/230554230839?pt=UK_Crafts_Other_Crafts_EH&hash=item35ae1a6037]this[/url] sort of thing only flat.[/QUOTE]
Make your own.

All you need is some thin plywood, or MDF, a piece of frosted glass (from any glass merchant) and a couple of short fluorescent tubes.

Should not be beyond the scope of anyone here. :D

[QUOTE=wavemachine;32788]From time to time I see articles about photographing still life, leaves etc where they use a llight box to place the items on. I have looked on ebay and found craft ones, tatoo and stencil.

I don't want to spend a fortune the cheaper the beter but want to buy something suitable so I wondered if anyone had any recommendations of the sort of thing I should get.

Many thanks

Dave[/QUOTE]

A piece of glass with a white fabrick underneath and a off camera flash underneath that.
This was my result

[URL="http://www.photoradar.com/files/imagecache/original_large/photos/users/cutter/kiwi.jpg"][IMG]http://www.photoradar.com/files/imagecache/original_large/photos/users/cutter/kiwi.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Cutter that looks really good (you do love the off camera flash), I have a sheet of glass from an old picture frame so that combined with an old shoe box could be a good solution.

[quote]All you need is some thin plywood, or MDF, a piece of frosted glass (from any glass merchant) and a couple of short fluorescent tubes.

Should not be beyond the scope of anyone here.[/quote]

Ashley good idea, may do that if I need something a bit more permanent maybe beyond my scope though;)

Oldboy that looks like what I was looking for but a bit pricey for something I may use occassionally however if I find I use it more then at least I know what I am looking for.

Thanks for your help everyone much apprecaited.

Dave

I made my own with a plywood box around shoebox size and put a ligt in it with an old picture frame on the top cost me less than a tenner. I am not overly please with it as I just have a tungsten 15 watt bulb at one end and the light drops off quite dramatically so am looking for a small flourescent type lamp to replace it.

[QUOTE=silversnapper1;33009]...I just have a tungsten 15 watt bulb at one end and the light drops of quite dramatically so am looking for a small fluorescent type lamp to replace it.[/QUOTE]
The other alternative you could try these days is LED strip, which could be cut into strips and made to cover the area of the light box.

They give out a surprising amount of light and can be cut about every 25mm. Each piece can be easily soldered with connecting wires to either connect to the next strip or back to the transformer.

The advantages of this would be a very even spread of light, low voltage in the box, and no heat output.

All of this talk has made me think about making one for myself. :rolleyes:

There is this one but no idea if any good:

[url]http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails.aspx?productId=31519892&shop=10004&type=Froogle#[/url]