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Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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How-to: Make a Light Box

August 29, 2011 1 Comment

In recent weeks, I’ve been mentioning how much I have wanted to improve the photography on this blog.  If you follow me on Facebook, you already know that I’ve purchased a new camera recently. My new Canon t3i works really well on its fully automatic modes (it’s just a much better tool than an iPhone 4 for photography). Despite that, I did some research on how to really make good photos and had a good friend of mine hook me up with some photo tips. One of the first things I did after buying my camera was make my very own light box, a.k.a a mini photo studio.

From what I have learned, light boxes essentially help you to mimic natural light, which is the best light to capture photos in. Here’s how to make a quick and fairly cheap light box to help take better photos.

Supplies

3 cheap utility lamps

3 100-watt daylight bulbs

1 grounded extension cord with three outlets

1 large cardboard box (at least 12 or 18 inches on all sides – I realized after making mine that it’s easier to work with a light box that is a perfect cube)

tissue paper

box cutter

duct tape

scissors

fabric for a backdrop for your photos

Directions

Tape the bottom of your box shut. Cut “windows” in to three sides of your box and cut the flaps off of one end. The end will be the opening through which you take your photos when your light box is complete. Remember to leave two inches of cardboard on all sides of your windows for structural support for your box. I made mine slightly differently and, as you’ll notice from the pictures, had to cut four sides of my box since it wasn’t cube-shaped.

Next, cut tissue paper in pieces large enough to cover each opening. Tape a piece of tissue paper over each of your three windows. Create a backdrop inside your box using the fabric of your choice. I experimented with a couple backdrop options, but my favorite is ultimately an old, shrunken sweater mounted to cardboard with straight pins.

Once you’ve done this, all that’s left is to light the box by aiming your lamps at the top, right and left sides of the box. What I learned was not to place my lamps too close to my box and to tape a layer of tissue paper over each of my lamps to help diffuse the light a little more.

Easy peasy! Now on to the hard part – learning how to take better, consistent photos. One of my early, over-exposed attempts:

Related Information:

How to Build a Light Box at (never home)maker

How To: DIY $10 Macro Photo Studio at Strobist

 

 

 

Filed Under: How-to Tagged With: diy, light box, photography

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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handsoccupied

Helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010
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Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the S Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest. Thank you. 🙏🏻❤️ If you love this pattern & didn’t know already, we are going to be doing a knit along (KAL) from October 1-29 featuring this spooky sweater vest & lots of tutorials, especially for the intarsia part. 
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Later today my newsletter will be coming out with additional Knit Along details, so if you’re not already signed up, now is a great time - the 🔗 is in my b1o. 
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Pictured: My Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern from the new Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book by @tanisknits. Model is wearing size 1 with 2” of positive ease, knit in @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted. Vest images via @insighteditions 
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#spiralhillsweatervest #handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook
At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest, my contribution to the new book Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town, out now! 🎃💀 
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I’m hosting a knit along (KAL) October 1-29 for anyone who’d like to knit this vest along with a group & learn a little about intarsia while we’re at it. I’ve got weekly tutorials planned to help you knit this worsted weight sweater vest, and there’s a prize package giveaway at the end for KAL participants too. Details are on my site - you know where to find the 🔗 I think. 😉
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Book by @tanisknits 
Publisher @insighteditions 
Yarn @brooklyntweed Imbue 
Find it wherever fine books are sold. 
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#handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmas #intarsia #sweatervest #knittingpattern #knittingbook #spiralhill #knitting_inspiration #knitting
Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs closet after this weekend’s quick tutorial, here are few. ✂️ The tutorial is one post back in my feed as a video.
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As you can see, I didn’t worry about the wire hangers all being perfectly uniform, but it doesn’t matter to me. Also, this closet holds a lot! Despite that, it is already at capacity. Since the hanging bags don’t appear to be recyclable, I want to reuse them as long as possible. Who knows, maybe this will be a way to limit my WIPs? 😅
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P.s. In the third photo you can see how I use this system to store the original swatches, scraps, yarn ball bands, & notes from a design project all together. 
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#handsoccupied #wips #craftstorage #yarnstorage #yarncrafts #knitting_inspiration #craftstudio #craftroom #craftcloset
How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with jus How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with just a few supplies ✂️
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When I was a librarian, we would use these hanging bags to circulate books with audiobook CDs. They came to mind when I wanted to develop a filing cabinet-like system for my differently-sized WIPs. To fit in my studio closet, a standard bedroom closet, they just needed custom hangers. 🤙🏻 
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HOW TO MAKE THE HANGERS
1. Carefully cut approx. a 9” (23 cm) length of flexible 3 mm aluminum wire.
2. Near the end of a large knitting needle or dowel, wrap the wire around it as you would a twist tie. 
3. Bend the other end into a hook shape, perpendicular to the circle shape you just created. 
4. Hang like a hanger in a closet, as shown. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration #craftcloset #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #craftroomdecor #crocheter #latchhook #knittersofinstagram #wip #wips #hangingstorage
It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! T It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! This go around, get to know two new sister yarns from @manosyarnsusa, Marla and Sami, and enter to win a skein of each to try for yourself. 
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What makes these yarns sisters is that, while dyed differently, they’re the same weight and come in intentionally coordinating color palettes. For my review, I opted for a sky-inspired combo of Sami in Natural and Marla in Nube. 🌧️ 
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Check out the full review & enter the giveaway at the link in my bio. 
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#handsoccupied #yarnreview #manosdeluruguay #knitting_inspire #crochet #yarngiveaway #knitters #yarn #crochetersofinstagram
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