How to make a light tent (DUW)

How to make an efficient and inexpensive Light Tent
By Connie Silvernaile
(LittleIndianGirl)

Are you looking to get some great photos without spending a ton of money on a fancy camera or set up? Then let this be your guide. For about $40 you can make a light tent that will give you the right lighting to avoid those washed out or glaring photos, and bring out the true natural colors of your snakes.

We will be setting up a frame of ½ in. PVC pipe. I decided to use PVC because it can be dismantled, stored, and transported very easy.

To diffuse the light as much as possible to achieve a softer more natural look, we will wrap the frame in a white muslin cloth available at most craft and hobby stores. (i.e. Jo Ann Fabrics etc)

For a backdrop, I went with a non glossy white poster board. Try to pick a sheet that is free from any marks or creases. Everything will show up with the amount of light directed at it.

For the light housing, I bought a 10.5 in. Brooder clamp light with a porcelain socket. We want to spread the light, not focus it.

Lastly, the most important part; the light bulb. I went with an N:Vision 100 watt daylight (UV) bulb. This is very important to avoid an off white look with our setup, and well worth every penny.

Shopping list
From the Home depot or Lowe’s:
(2) 10 ft ½ in. (20 ft) PVC pipe: About $1.70 for 10 ft (They will cut this down for you if you don’t have a truck.)
(8) ½ in. PVC elbows: $0.25 ea.
(1) 10.5 in. light dome: $12
(1) N:Vision 100 watt bulb: $7
Subtotal: $24.40

From Jo Ann Fabrics:
5 yd of white muslin 36”: $2 yd
1 white non glossy poster board: $2
Subtotal: $12
(you will also need safety pins or clips to affix the cloth to the pvc, so pick some up if you don’t have any.)
Total amount (minus tax): $36.40


Assembly 1
You will need to cut the PVC into eight 2ft lengths. A hack saw or circular saw works well. Remember safety first and practice it. (The longer pieces are for the frame at the end of this set up.)

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0955.jpg
We will assemble the pvc and elbows into a frame like so:

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0952.jpg

For the next few parts, I took pictures of my new tent that uses 3 light sources and a larger PVC frame to attach them too. The dimensions and cost of that will be at the end of this set up.

Next, cut your muslin into 2 pieces. The short top piece is over a yard long and the rest can stay intact. (I don’t measure, I just wrap and cut, sorry.)

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0956.jpg

We will wrap the longer muslin piece around 3 sides of the frame, I use these clips I found at Bed Bath and Beyond, they fit perfectly over the pvc, but you can use safety pins as well.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0951.jpg
Next, take your shorter piece of muslin and drape over the top, fixing it into place with your clips or safety pins.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0950.jpg

Like I said, I now have a tent with 3 different lights, for less manual touching up after the shoot.

For the single light set up, place your light and dome directly on top of the muslin, you will have to fix the clamp light to something to hold it into place.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0958.jpg

For the 3 light set up, you will have the frame to hold your lights.

Turn the light on, and put down your poster board with the edge curving up the back. This avoids shadowing, and keeps everything looking nice and white.
Throw a snake in and shoot away. Get creative! See if they look better with or without flash. Use different angles. Use more or less light. This is your time to explore, and the snake will too. (Macro shots don’t work well with flash btw)

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0939.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0937.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0905.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0909.jpg


And you’re all set.

Yes, this set up will render great results, but you may find that you want some touching up in an image editing program like Photoshop or the GIMP (http://www.gimp.org -- an open source image manipulation program.)

For a quick and easy contrast correction using the GIMP, just use the “white balance” feature. In Photoshop you want to use "Auto Contrast" or "Auto Levels."

Whiter Whites: the GIMP way

Open photo in GIMP, and crop to whatever size you find most appealing. Try to avoid too much white space, and balance the photo to make it pleasing to the eye.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...ady/before.jpg

Now we will use the auto feature, white contrast, in the layer menu at the top of the screen. (Layer > Colors > Auto > White Balance)

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...ady/middle.jpg

Use the function, and get this as a result.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...lady/after.jpg

More light please!
I previously mentioned that I am now using a light tent with 3 lights. I made a frame out of PVC to hold the clamp lights when taking pictures.

Here are the additional materials you will need for this setup.
Two more 10 ft lengths of 1/2 inch PVC (four total -- the extra two will be for our light support frame)
4 more 1/2 inch elbows (12 total)
2 more hoods and lights (3 total)
The total for this set up will run you about $78. The majority of this is the lights.

The cuts for the PVC are 3 ft. I just found that 3 ft doesn’t tip over so easy and also gives enough clearance for the dome lights. Use whatever works for you.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0949.jpg

The frame will be in line with the front of the box, so your lights can be aimed more towards the subject to avoid back lighting.
With 3 lights, you are getting 2 more angles, cutting down on shadows, and just really bringing out a true white contrast.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0940.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0943.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0944.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0945.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0906.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...y/IMG_0909.jpg

All of these shots of the light tent are in the day time, with the lights on. I don't believe you need a dark room to achieve these results. (The pics just came out really dark)

There you have it, my light tent!!!
Thanks for reading~ Connie and Chris

You rock my socks! I had just started to consider the best way to put together a light tent of the size I would need... and I didn't want to pay $100 plus shipping for a little bitty one! Thanks for this post!

EXCELLENT Connie! Sticky worthy!

Awesome, I know what my next project is :D Maybe I will finally be able to get some good shots.

Thanks everyone. :D It was hard trying to keep it on just "building" the light tent. I kept straying into one big overview of photography. I wanted to write exactly what I do for pictures and why, but I cut it down to a bare bones "set up" instead. It was getting long!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

EXCELLENT Connie! Sticky worthy!

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Sticky gets my vote. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Sticky gets my vote. :D

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Thirded!!! :D :) :D

I've made several DIY light tents and they are very handy and a cost effective lighting setup. I agree use "daylight" bulbs, instead of the normal orange incandescent bulbs.

Keep one thing in mind. Do NOT leave it unattended with the lights on. Light bulbs get hot, they are right up against fabric, that can mean fire. So use some common sense. :)

Also, I wanted to point out that GIMP is freeware, and can be downloaded from their website. It is not user friendly like photoshop, but it can do just about as much as Photoshop. Go ahead and check it out if you dont want to spend $600 - $1000 on Photoshop. :)

awesome thanks for the diy looks like i got another project on my hand i love taking pictures and that will work great for some of the subjects

Agree it is sticky worthy :clap:

Thank you for sharing!

This is a perfect way to replace those expensive light tents :carrot:

Thank you so much! I'm a very visual person, so descriptions are all well and good but in the end it's really photos that I need. Thanks, this definitely helps!

:rockon:

good post, appreciate it folks.

Awesome post! TY for the FB Info!!!

Tim, Rosie, Flash:snake:, and Roses:snake:

Ok, so for any of you that have tried to make this light tent, have you found any way that works better for you with attaching the light fixtures?

The purpose of several different lights is to cut down on shadows, and the muslin is used to diffuse the light to avoid glares. Play around with your set-up, find what you like best with test shots before you bring the animals into it.


I don't like my original idea of using PVC tubing for the lights, the top light clamps slip too much and I opted for hanging the light instead. The ones on the side work just enough for me to not bother.

Also, I noted that when possible to make the light tent small enough to fit a 28 qt tub cubed. Easier to handle the animals, and it made the pictures brighter and need less post touch ups.

There are many different ways of making light boxes (large cardboard boxes wrapped in muslin, one stage with filtered lighting, and sometimes you dont even need them to take excellent shots.

The key for me is brilliant lighting. :sunny: I cheat often and use flash for many of my photos. I don't know diddly squat about photography. :P
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Going off of what AshleyB has posted numerous times, the settings on your camera are very important, so learn your camera and study it well.

I like her use of natural light, and whenever possible I recommend it. There are just some great shots using sunny light through a window or even outside.
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I'm always hoping others will chime in on this thread and write what works great for them, and maybe a quick summary of how they do it. *coughAshley&Deb&Justincough**

My sincerest apologies to anyone that took the time and effort to make the last humongous, pain in the butt, light tent. It was big enough to photo a small child with a burm. This is a new version, and improving on the faults from the last tent; most notably the non existent top lamp grip. I have used all of the same PVC tubing from my last model, so no need to spend any more money than you have to.

There are a few new items to pick up, here's the new list if starting from scratch.

Shopping list:

3- ½” x 5 ft of PVC pipe (or reuse the old PVC)
4- ½” PVC tees
4- ½” Street Elbows
1- ½” PVC cross piece
PVC cement
5 yards of muslin cloth (36" wide)
Safety pins or clips
1 (or 3) 11" work shop lamps w/
3- 100 watt "daylight" fluorescent bulbs

Carpenters Square
Sharp saw, Permanent marker, screwdriver and a hole punch.

(optional)
Backdrop list:
3 screws
white poster board


http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_1221.jpg


Cutting the PVC to size

Using a saw, cut your PVC tubing to size.
These are the measurements I am using, but by all means, cater to your size needs. If you want a shorter tent, a taller tent, wider, what ever you’d like. I’m using this size as it fits great on our table in the snake room.

6x 21” These will be used for the legs, and for 2 sides of the frame.
2x 12” The front length of the frame
1x 25” The back length of the frame




Assembling the front middle lamp grip

With our two short 12" pieces, we are going to cement the PVC cross piece into the middle to give the lamp something to grip instead of twisting around and falling into the muslin on top.
You’ll most likely want to cement this to stop the cross from twisting under the weight of the lamp.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_1229.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_1232.jpg




Making the frame legs

Cement the street elbows to the 4x 21” lengths of PVC for the legs.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_1237.jpg

Your going to cement the street elbows to the tees, but the tricky part is making them as perpendicular and as square as possible to keep the legs all sitting straight. This is where a carpenter’s square or some good eye balling comes into play.
For example:
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_3839.jpg


Setting the street elbows on a flat hard surface, you’ll have an easier time of putting the tee on square.


http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_1239.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_1241.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_1244.jpg


IMPORTANT!!!!
You’ll have to reverse the direction that the tee is facing to make sure you have two opposite facing sides for the frame. If you were to look into the street corner piece itself, you’ll have the tee sticking out to either the left or right. Make sure you get this step right!

Like so!
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_1246.jpg



Assembling the frame

The front length of PVC with the lamp grip
The 25” PVC tube as the back length of frame
The 2x 21” as the short sides of the frame

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...backcopy-1.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...esetupcopy.jpg

You’ll want the front lamp grip piece to be angled to hold the lamp up. Mine is angled roughly at 45 degrees.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_1250.jpg




Muslin

Now like before, I didn’t measure my 5 yards of muslin. I wrap, clip it on and cut!

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_3849.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_3850.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_3851.jpg



That’s really it! I do have one optional idea I didn’t write out, but here it is in picture format.



Optional backdrop holder

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_1258.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_1269.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Y/IMG_1272.jpg

Fancy backdrop holder! ;) I used paperboard, but it will work with cloth as well.

Finished!

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...IMG_3876-1.jpg


I hope this was easy to understand, and takes care of some space issues from the last design. You can still use 3 lamps, although I lost 2 somewhere in a move. The one lamp on top seems to work pretty good anyways. :D


And now for some neat pictures just taken this evening in the new light tent. (On white poster board, make sure you set the white balance!)


http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...IY/shot1-1.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...IY/shot2-1.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...IY/shot3-1.jpg

Nothing like seeing a nice ghost showing her true colors! :gj:

Thanks for looking! (And always feel free to ask me or give me any suggestions!)

Connie

I'm huge into photography and photographing my snake appeals to me also. Not only will I use this to build for snake photo-shoots, but for anything else. This would work great for someone selling anything like on eBay!

Great tutorial!

Thanks

thank you for this. I just built and shot.

Sticky worthy for sure.

Very cool DIY, for those looking for another option, here's the one we use:

http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/RM1009/

Mike

I went to home depot today to get the PVC pipe and fittings to make this tonight and when I showed him the list of things I needed he looked at me like I was an alien. :rofl: Apparently they don't have PVC pipe or slip-on fittings at my local HD. Guess it's off to Lowes or Rona for me tomorrow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Buttons

I went to home depot today to get the PVC pipe and fittings to make this tonight and when I showed him the list of things I needed he looked at me like I was an alien. :rofl: Apparently they don't have PVC pipe or slip-on fittings at my local HD. Guess it's off to Lowes or Rona for me tomorrow.

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Sounds like whoever you asked may have been an idiot. :P Just look for the plumbing section and everything you need should be right there. :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by m00kfu

Sounds like whoever you asked may have been an idiot. :P Just look for the plumbing section and everything you need should be right there. :gj:

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I looked after I talked to him. Nothing even close to what's listed/pictured. I'll have to check somewhere else.

LOL, feel free to print out the pictures and show them each piece. :8:

If it makes you feel any better, it took me a loooong time of just staring at the wall of PVC connections to find the right elbows and fittings. :oops: It doesn't help when they don't even have a box open!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

LOL, feel free to print out the pictures and show them each piece. :8:

If it makes you feel any better, it took me a loooong time of just staring at the wall of PVC connections to find the right elbows and fittings. :oops: It doesn't help when they don't even have a box open!

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I actually saved the pics to my iTouch and showed him. His exact words when I showed him the street elbows "I've never seen a piece like that, nope not once in my life, must be a foreign part"... :rofl:

You rock!! :gj: This works great!!

I read through this the other day and love the idea. But then when I went back to find the post, I couldn't! (I've been playing on the redtailboa forum and corn snake forum so I couldn't remember where I read it.) But I was so relieved to find it again after 20 min. of searching and I look forward to building it!

yeah that is amazing. wow thanks. im going to start building mine asap lol

Lights, Camera, Action!

Thanks for this thread. I now have one built and it works great.

Just FYI, you can pick these up pretty cheap now days. I got a Square Perfect brand (great brand, not so shiny material) for dirt cheap on eBay.

I actually got the 30" cube for under $40 shipped.

I also bought a 60" one...which was too big (rather stupid purchase on my part) for around $100 shipped. I guess I could always use it as temporary housing for MYSELF, should I find the need. lol

Just go to eBay and do a search for "light tent".

Thats awesome

E guys, great home made set up. I was able to buy a ready made one for our office product shoots and decided last night to use it for my snakes.

http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/7b4eafdb.jpg

I noticed though that the colors of snake are not coming up that well. I am using regular house white bulbs, will the UV bulbs really make a bigger difference? :)

Here is a sample of a photo I took in this setup:
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...MG_5825_WM.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...MG_5822_WM.jpg


And another sample I took with my iPhone with no light setup:
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/7e595861.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/f38dbdc5.jpg


Any recommendations? Aside from the 3 lights, I used a flash, bouncing off the top part of the tent. The lens I used for this was a 50mm 1.8f

I am not an expert on the settings, so could this also be because of my settings? :)

This is an excellent diy for the photo enthusiast !!

neat!!! i personally have a professional camera, but no light tent to put my snake in! instead of paying nearly $100 for a "real" one, this is pretty much the same thing!! good job on this, i'll be showing this to my other snake friends who wanna show off their pretty babies with good lighting! :D