MoonCrab Loc: Goldsboro, NC

I am new to Hedgehog and am very happy I found this sit. While looking for plans for a light box, I stumbled onto this site. Making jewelry is a part time business for me and brings in enough to help with retirement.

I am looking for plans for a light box so that I can shoot good quality Pics of my jewelry to be posted in my Web Store. I know nothing about light boxes or how to light them. So, if someone out there could help me, I would greatly appreciate it. I have wood working skills and have had two SLR 35 mm cameras and now have a digital Kodak EasyShare C875. I can move up to a better, more flexible camera, if necessary. On a Web Store, good photos are a must.

Thanks for the help.

MoonCrab

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I had these plans in my files. I did not write the instructions with all the misspellings. :)

Attached file:
(Download)

KathyinNH Loc: Kingston, NH

Try makezine.com they have a video that is great. I found it by googling DIY softbox, there are many to choose from. You also want to use a tripod for shooting for tack sharp photos of your jewelry. Good luck.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Simple approach is to used your colored fabric, as a continuous background. Perhaps on a chair fabric anchored on a length of wood or metal at the top. Fabric comes down with a smooth curve transition to base and then to the front. smooth out the wrinkles.

Lighting is generally from 45 degrees. you may want to use a spot for intensity and sparkle. For a spot, I use an LED flashlight taped to #10 Bare single strand copper wire. The wire is based in a plastic container filled with plastic of Paris. that way I can direct the beam.

You may want to use a dark background and several spots to make the art object fully the center of the photo.

In a sense my words were a waste! After I wrote I Googled: www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/jewelry_photography.htm

The studio and lights,are $29 free shipping on EBAY
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Deluxe-Table-Top-Photo-Studio-Photo-Light-Box-/180691841479?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1212b1c7

If you do not have PayPal then get it. It is the safe way to make payments ANYwhere. Don /p

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

SUBJECT: SPELLING AND UGLYHEDGEHOG AND COMMUNICATIONS

Hay berchman, I consider any one who can not spell a word in more than one way is with out imagination. So, I consider you as a creative speller and photographer. So share your plans and say that your 5 year old typed them. Communications count and Moon Crab would over look the spelling and be appreciative, as would I.

By the way,berchman, to get into Engineering Graduate School the entry exam is spelling given twice. If you do poorly enough, with miss-matches between exams, then you are considered to have the potential to be a creative engineer. All else are relegated to simple mechanical engineering where they read things like shear strength of 1/4 inch 20 tpi (the size to fit the hole in the bottoms of cameras) bolts and design with standards that have been around for 1000 years. UGH

As you may guess, I can not spell worth a plug nickle and so use humor to cover my short comming. oops, coming. Guess what I was before retiring, yep trained as a chemist, up graded to creative engineering based on my first two reports!!! Would have it no other way!
Don d/p

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I attached the relevant file. Doesn't the Download link bring it up? Anyway, it seems as though others have answered the question.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Go to ebay, in search type in "table top studio" ; at times with the net and virus blocks, then we have to be imaginative in trying links. Often they must be trimmed down and they open a few doors. Sorry if it does not link as given on yours.

I had this exact studio, great, portable, and some one else in air line baggage in South America thought it was to. Thanks for the question, I am buying another one. For $29 it is a bargain.

Don, d/p

Table Top Studio

MoonCrab Loc: Goldsboro, NC

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply with some very good info. I will look at the table top as a good possibility but hope to see some plans before I make a decision.

billybob40

Go to youtube.com theres a lot on this.

MoonCrab Loc: Goldsboro, NC

Thank you, Mr. Billy Bob 40:

I will go and visit YouTube and take a look.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

TO ALL: If there are articles and videos that you find, then please share the web addresses with us by cut/paste. That way we can share the info. Too many people say "I saw", or "there is" and do not do that courtesy.

Also, MoonCrab, please once you make a decision, buy a macro studio, or build one or use a drape technique. Please do us who have helped you the courtesy of sharing. If you are happy with your choice or unhappy, share that, share some photos. We are all a family or classmates of this photo forum.

Agree or disagree??
d/p Don

MoonCrab Loc: Goldsboro, NC

Of course I agree. That is the whole idea of the forum. I have decided to build my own Light Box. There are many ways to exibit jewelry so I will be building one that is large enough to allow me some flexability. As with the 1901 Oldsmobile I am building, I will take photos of each step and have them available if someone wants to use them. There will be no fee or charge of anykind. Now, I may end up with something good or it may be a piece of crap and I will have to start over. But, I will keep at it until I get it. I am sure I will need help with lighting and I have no doubt that I will find it right here. Thanks for your comments.

arphot Loc: Massachusetts

http://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Table-Top-Photo-Studio/dp/B0027OUOVW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1317651646&sr=8-2

or

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Yes, MoonCrab, In way, like me, I like the fun of cut and whittle to make my own. Creativity does not stop with the photo and photoshopping (generic, like Kleenex). I build things by putting together parts, often low cost, but at times greater. Arphot, right on with the cardboard box "strobist" they have that box Idea complete with resulting photos taken with the box!!

Do make the box big enough to contain "Head of Alfredo Garcia" should some one bring it to you. If they do not call Sam Peckinpah and tell him Warren Oates hasn't delivered it yet. (Just saw the movie!)

Thank you arphot for the links, EBay has the delux,,, many listings of same,,, for $29,,, so depends on shipping. Have fun MoonCrab, that is what it is all about.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

For Ring Lighting for Macro, check out
http://www.amazon.com/Macro-Flash-LED-Light-lenses/dp/B0031AQ302/ref=pd_sim_sg3

I paid 35 for mine. Ebay has listings for various cameras search for ring lighting or macro flash and numerous ones will come up. Some for some cameras go for $45 depends on the make and model. I purchased the lowest cost because it comes with a flash adapter and so you can buy an adapter to fit you particular camera.