Another Card Photography Thread...Re: Light Tents

cjbapp · 02-14-2009

Well, I have read countless blogs, threads and tips on getting perfect photos for my cards. And the photos I thought were absolutely perfect were done with a whole STUDIO light system and props and all... (Kurtis!!)...which I really can't make room or time for without dispensing of my children....LOL

So, I decided the best thing to do would be to get one of those little table-top studios with the collapsible light tent. I know there are a few of you girls who have them, I read about you someplace in my SCS travels, but can you all suggest an economical kit?? Is the cheapest one on Ebay going to be just great?? And my big question is which size tent seems to work the best for cards? I see the smallest is a 12"...is this too small? 16"??

Thanks so much for your input!! I am so sick of my red looking orange, and having to wait till daylight to take pics!!

krystie lee · 02-14-2009

Here is the light tent that I have.

Here is a picture of it in use from my blog. It's small, easy to fold away, and works well for my needs.

Hope that helps!

HoosierMama · 02-15-2009

Here's a tutorial for a homemade one - I bought the foamboard to do it, just haven't done it yet. I haven't found the shop lights they talk about yet. But now that I see the $25 one in the link above, I might just go for that instead.

http://www.studiolighting.net/homema...t-photography/

polargirl · 02-15-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by krystie lee

Here is the light tent that I have.

Here is a picture of it in use from my blog. It's small, easy to fold away, and works well for my needs.

Hope that helps!

This light tent is fab, not any work to make, I can use my own lights and doesn't cost alot. I am just starting uploading so this is a perfect solution for me especially in the frigid Minnesota winters.

Cook22 · 02-15-2009

http://www.amazon.com/Sunpak-620-EBO.../dp/B000JC3NOY
This is similar to the one I have, although I have to say it didn't cost that much buying it from the UK. Mine came with 4 different backdrops - white, red (haven't used it), blue and black. Have to say the tripod wasn't great, but the lights are fine, and it folds down easily, with pockets for the lights.
Two things to note.
I still prefer outdoors if possible. That means no rain!! and not too cloudy.
If you use the lights indoors, I don't find the auto White Balance gives a good result. I go for a custom WB setting.

binx · 02-15-2009

Thanks for this thread, and thanks for the links krystie lee.

Along this line, is the 30" tent too large for picture-taking of cards?

Shadow's Mom · 02-15-2009

Yes, I received a 30" tent for Christmas from DH and DS along with all the lighting etc. I found it too big if you're using it just for cards and have since added a 12" that's much better suited to cards.

You'll find it makes such a difference in the quality of your photos. E-Bay has some great pricing for these.

Hope this helps in your decision.

jmtaylor · 02-15-2009

have the big one that way I can use it for anything under 30". I just get up close and use a tripod to zoom in for the pictures. After I bought it I noticed they were selling them at Walmart so you might want to check that out also. I also have a big light that my son gave me but have never used it.

I take lots of pictures of my dolls that I make so that way I have it big enough

tdodd00 · 02-15-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by krystie lee

Here is the light tent that I have.

Here is a picture of it in use from my blog. It's small, easy to fold away, and works well for my needs.

Hope that helps!

So all the pictures on your blog are taken with just one light? I tried the whole "homemade" thing and although the box wasn't a big deal to make, I used two lamps and it wasn't enough light. Your pictures on your blog are great!

krystie lee · 02-15-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdodd00

So all the pictures on your blog are taken with just one light? I tried the whole "homemade" thing and although the box wasn't a big deal to make, I used two lamps and it wasn't enough light. Your pictures on your blog are great!

Yep, I just use the Ott light from my desk, that's it. I do usually take pictures during the day and try to have the light tent facing a window, just to take advantage of a little natural light, too. Lots of people take fantastic pictures without a light tent, but my house is really dark, so it has been a big improvement for me.

After I download the pics, I do very minor adjustments like crop and increase the fill light a little bit. I use Picasa, which is more than adequate for me.

My photos are nowhere near the quality of Stampin' Kub and others, but I needed to have a solution that was inexpensive, used minimal storage space, and could be set up and taken down in 2 seconds. This works fine for me!

Joan B · 02-15-2009

I bought an inexpensive light tent from ebay that was highly recommended by another blogger. Her pics look great/my pictures are horrible in that tent!

I do not really understand how to use my camera so I've gone back to shooting my old way until I can take the time to figure out the camera. Another $$ mistake!

Paula Pea · 02-15-2009

I got my light tent for about $14 (w/shipping) off of ebay...I use desk lamp with a 60 watt bulb in it...the tent is 14"...it's collapsable. I can take pics anytime of day or night and I use a Kodak Easy Share digital camera (so nothing big $$$)...you can go to my blog or to my gallery and see how my cards look. I personally think they are crisper and cleaner and the light is much better. I didn't spend big $$$ on an Ott light...though I thought about it before I bought the el cheapo light tent...saved myself oodles of $$$ there! HTH

Paula Pea · 02-15-2009

One more thing to add...remember that photo editing software can help a lot too...all of my photos are enhanced with software also...that has also made a BIG difference.

TruCarMa · 02-15-2009

I go back and forth on my light tent. I'm back on with it at the moment. I think so much of how your photo ultimately ends up looking is how good you are at photo editing. (I used the iPhoto software that came with my Mac. I know I need to upgrade to Photoshop, but just haven't made the leap. Too many other things to do/learn...) I do think I'd like a little more light than the two small lamps that came in my kit, but I'm not sure how to go about doing that, so I don't.

As for the lightbox itself, I bought mine from a photography store and paid about $90 for it. The ones I've seen at WalMart that go for around $40 look exactly the same, though. I imagine all of them are pretty much the same, so wherever you find the best price, I say go for it. HTH!

Paula Pea · 02-15-2009

I added a picture of my card photo studio (in all it's simplicity) to my blog...so click on the link...it's under the fish card... and as far as photo editing...I let Kodak do it's auto enhancing...nothing major...
http://ponderingsofpaula.blogspot.co...e-my-card.html

cjbapp · 02-15-2009

Thanks for all the comments everyone! I am in Wisconsin, and though I got great pics with editing and all outside, I hate being limited by the weather (WIND!!) and darkness...LOL

I appreciate all your input...I had no idea Wal-mart had any of this stuff! Maybe I wil check there, at least then if it's not going to work it's easily returnable!

So I am understanding you mostly thing 12" for the tent is big enough? Or would you pick the 16 if you had the choice??

THANKS!

Cindy H. · 02-18-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by krystie lee

Here is the light tent that I have.

Here is a picture of it in use from my blog. It's small, easy to fold away, and works well for my needs.

Hope that helps!

Thanks Krystie Lee! I just found this thread via my SCS Weekly Inklings and checked out the links you provided. This is just what I've been looking for

I've already placed my order!

krystie lee · 02-18-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjbapp

Thanks for all the comments everyone! I am in Wisconsin, and though I got great pics with editing and all outside, I hate being limited by the weather (WIND!!) and darkness...LOL

I appreciate all your input...I had no idea Wal-mart had any of this stuff! Maybe I wil check there, at least then if it's not going to work it's easily returnable!

So I am understanding you mostly thing 12" for the tent is big enough? Or would you pick the 16 if you had the choice??

THANKS!

Space is a big concern for me, I like the 12" because I can light the whole thing well with just my one Ott light and slide the folded tent into a bookcase shelf when not in use. There have been some occasions when I wanted to photograph 2 or 3 cards at once, or an altered object, and couldn't because it was too small. It pretty much just fits one card.

If you don't mind using more lights, you have the space, and you anticipate wanting to photograph larger/more projects, you might go a little bigger.

nhoetker · 02-18-2009

Hi,
I got one of the light tents/photo studios, and also took the time to finally read the manual on my camera. I discovered the Digital Macro setting, which finally got me the resolution I wanted. Hope this helps.

c-mouse · 02-18-2009

I have one of the kits described by cook22 --but have to admit I purchased it for my photography hobby first--I wasn't making cards when I bought the light table/box/tent whatever you wish to call it. Mine folds up nicely and velcros together with lights,backdrops,tripod and etc all in one easy to store find set up contraption......but I really like the looks of the all in ones----lighting is the answer.....light from both sides evenly to elimnate shadows, light from the top as well to have enough...the darker your papers the more light it will take to produce a "good image" -----learn to use the macro setting on your cameras, zoom in, use a tripod or other support----

that said--I shoot my card images on my desktop with two Ott lamps --one from above and to the left and the other further away on the right. I don't do any post processing, but i do zoom in and use macro settings on my baby digi camera with all of its 3.2 MP in stead of hauling out the big boy one.

dglong · 02-19-2009

This thread has been so helpful!! I decided to go on a web hunt and this is what I found: http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics...tography/a205/ Since I don't have an Ott light or a table top tripod, I thought this price was really good to include two lights, tripod and a light box. And it's all portable so I can stash it away when not in use. I'll let you know what I think once it comes and I get to play with it!

TanyaL · 02-20-2009

A while back, back before my camera was dropped (yes, I'm bitter because I didn't drop it), I made my own light tent out of PVC pipe. I found the directions online somewhere. If anybody is interested, PM me and I'll see if I can find it again. It was great because it folds flat when you don't need it and it also had the ability to change the background to any color posterboard you wanted. Most of the PVC I used I found in the workshop so it cost me next to nothing to make.

sugarstamper@comca · 02-21-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paula Pea

I got my light tent for about $14 (w/shipping) off of ebay...I use desk lamp with a 60 watt bulb in it...the tent is 14"...it's collapsable. I can take pics anytime of day or night and I use a Kodak Easy Share digital camera (so nothing big $$$)...you can go to my blog or to my gallery and see how my cards look. I personally think they are crisper and cleaner and the light is much better. I didn't spend big $$$ on an Ott light...though I thought about it before I bought the el cheapo light tent...saved myself oodles of $$$ there! HTH

I got mine the same way! It came in the mail today and I need to experiment a bit with it. It got here in just a couple days! I was amazed!
Hey--we also have the same blog background (mine is on my scrapbook blog).
Beverly

rdoak03 · 03-07-2009

Aimee,
Have you tried this yet? I am searching for a photo tent, but I want to take pictures of 2 12x12 scrapbook layouts side-by-side (a 2 page layout), and anything big enough is way too expensive. Using this tutorial I can make it as big as I need! Just wondering if you had any tips after trying it...

Thanks!
Bekah

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoosierMama

Here's a tutorial for a homemade one - I bought the foamboard to do it, just haven't done it yet. I haven't found the shop lights they talk about yet. But now that I see the $25 one in the link above, I might just go for that instead.

http://www.studiolighting.net/homema...t-photography/