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Sarao
01-07-2009, 05:18 PM
I am getting bored at home after exams, so thought to made a DIY Softbox light, which I read somewhere a long ago. Heres the procedure.

The things I used:

One CardBoard Box, should have enough strength so that a CFL can be hanged
Aluminium Foil
Brown (or Khaki) Tape
Normal Transparent Tape
Scissors
White Transclucent paper, 3 sheets of 1 mtr
Bulb Holder
CFL Light, I used 25w
Wire, I used 6 mtrs
Glue


I used a box of the heater we bought some days back, its around 1.5ft*1.5ft box. I have two more boxes of Music system and 29" television, but I did not want to spoil those, as it is my first experience. My next Soft box would be of the TV Box ;)

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z124/stuntingsouls/box.jpg

I folded the openings of the box to back of it to make the walls of the box a bit more strong. Put the brown tape over it. It would look something like this.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z124/stuntingsouls/boxfoldings.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z124/stuntingsouls/boxtape.jpg

Then I cut the inner foldings of the box and took them out, this is to make sure that it has a levelled surface, you can also keep it there as it is, in that case, stick it to the back by either using glue or tape. Tape is preferred.


http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z124/stuntingsouls/boxtape.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z124/stuntingsouls/boxtaped.jpg

Here comes the most fun part, paste the aluminium foil to the inner walls of the box, I used Glue stick, because its better and hardens very quickly. I used the rectangular pieces of the alumunium foil because they are already in pieces and you dont need to cut them. If your box is of bigger size, it would be wise to use the roll pack of aluminium foil.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z124/stuntingsouls/boxtaped.jpg

I used the tape on the edges to make it sure that almunium foil does not come out. It made it permanent there. But be careful here, foil is very very soft and use it with some care.

After that the box looked like this.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z124/stuntingsouls/boxcompleted.jpg

I did not have the CFL and other things at home so I went to bed for a sleep as it was already 1 am :D



OK, now comes the lighting part, make a hole as per the size of the holder. There are two screws in the holder which make it stick to the place. I placed the holder in the box, installed the wires and tightened the screws to complete it.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z124/stuntingsouls/boxcut.jpg


http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z124/stuntingsouls/boxholder.jpg

I switched on the light and heres the Outcome. I kept it on for 10 or 15 mins, it became pretty hot, so I made three holes on the upper wall of the box and two holes, one side each at the left and right walls. This is for cooling of the box.

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/6025/07012009361ee0.th.jpg (http://img65.imageshack.us/my.php?image=07012009361ee0.jpg)

then I used the white translucent paper and put it over the box, it was still very bright then I used the second sheet. It was looking pretty.

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/2808/boxwhitepaperhk6.th.jpg (http://img65.imageshack.us/my.php?image=boxwhitepaperhk6.jpg)

It is doing a pretty good job, I was afraid of the white balance due the color temperature, but it is not affecting the colors at all!

CHEERS!

KrishnenduKes
01-07-2009, 06:38 PM
Topic Approved

Good job there Sarao! I have removed the image tags from your last two images. You can resize them and put them up again.

Secondly, could you also show us the effects of the light box, I mean WB wise. We would like to have a look at the effects.

Xavier
01-07-2009, 06:56 PM
Nice writeup and good pictorial presentation Sarao!
I'll second ken and would like to see some sample images using this DIY Softbox light.

Sarao
01-07-2009, 08:05 PM
ya I m just doint, wait for a while please.

Aryan
01-07-2009, 08:44 PM
Good job Sarao! Thanks for sharing this DIY softbox light thing..;)

Sarao
01-07-2009, 09:20 PM
Heres a quick shot of me, sorry for the backgrounds, its inside my room, clicked by my friend, who dont know thats P in photography :P

http://images.orkut.com/orkut/albums3/ATgAAAAos_otYzIkg3CjjTEeguU-qZNbHRt-I5SMU_8LLtUiZHThoZADgM5QaiWJNQvlo1qWemV3PUrlD2owVj eKUXFTAJtU9VAzRvmWru9Q1FNCbddfRfh3XPMs7g.jpg

As far as WB is concerned, I dont thing it has any issues.

motorcycho
01-08-2009, 02:13 AM
Looks Pretty good!!!
And can anyone tell me how to diffuse the flash off our cams?? I've seen some ideas like stacking up Styrofoam cups over the flash, do they work?? the problem being they always end up giving a bit of tungsten effect!! though the fluorescent effect is much more desirable!!!something exactly like Sarao has got over here!!

Sarao
01-08-2009, 01:11 PM
Are you talking about built in flash? Or the off camera flash?