Photography/Light box questions

[Former_Member]

So at the suggestion of some great team members, I finally made a quickie light box a few weeks ago to take photos in and the difference was HUGE. (thanks!) But I'm still having some slight problems.

1) I'm pretty sure I made it too narrow/small. Alot of my handfasting photos are shot from an angle and I can see where the poster board meets the edge of the box. It came out very rectangular making it difficult to photograph some of my bigger items, like the embroidery hoop hangings. Is there a recommended size? Should it be more square looking?

2) I'm still getting some shadows in some of my pictures. The whole box is done in white foam board, and I've got a plain white piece of poste rboard behind it. I try to take my pictures early in the morning or afternoon with the light behind me through our window. But somehow either I'm in the way creating shadows or the sun moves while I'm taking it and they come out much darker on the computer than when I took them. I do have GIMP, but when I go to lighten them, they come out looking horrible. Is there a way to fix shadows while taking the picture? Should I try angling a lamp down from the top?

[FrenchVintagePrints]

I use artificial lighting with my lightbox (for the glass beads I sell in my other shop). I have 3 cheap painter's lights, one on top and one on each side. That's more efficient and more reliable than sunlight... especially with the spring we're having here.

[Former_Member]

Are regular light bulbs okay? They won't give a yellow glow will they?

[Former_Member]

Did you cut windows in the top and sides of the box, as well? When I was using one, I had windows in the box, covered them with a very lightweight white fabric, and had two different lamps with daylight bulbs - one aimed at the side and one aimed at the top.

The other thing - does your camera have a button on the back with a plus and minus sign in it? If it does, that will help open the aperture of the camera to allow more light in.

[ArtbyHeroux]

When shooting a light object against a white background the image will always turn out darker. Cameras see in middle Gray , you have to over expose ( add more time +1 stop) to compensate.

[Former_Member]

I didn't cut windows; the tutorial I found on pinterest didn't have windows cut and it came out looking nice. I'm going to try windows this next time around. I've heard fabric and even tracing paper. Will plain white tissue paper (like the stuff used to wrapping in gift bags work?)

My camera is actually just a regular digital camera (a Cannon cool pix I believe; my parent gave it up when they got a new one), nothing special. I'll take a look at my instructions about how to add more light.

Thank you all so much!

[heartsabustin]

Yes, tissue paper will work just fine - I just happened to have some really lightweight muslin handy, so that's what I used.

I've got a Canon, too, and just look at the back and see. Those buttons are pretty common nowadays. You'll hit the button, get a bar down at the bottom - turn the wheel to open or close the aperture. (I think that's what you're doing - :P)