L@@K please,,everyone that uses a light box or knows of a Tutorial on one

Dan Gray

Dan Gray

Joined
Jun 25, 2001
Messages
8,474
I'm looking for a Tutorial on a good light box..
if more that one comes up,
then
maybe we can vote on the best one to put on the knife making site..
you guys got some ideas? :)
 
Originally posted by Gouge
Dan are talking photoetching or photo taking?

Mark
Click to expand...

Mark photo taking

I have One for photoetching on there now.
but always looking for bigger and better:)
 
Dan,

How about a tutorial on etching (Not logo, but damascus and temperlines).

Does anyone know of one of those?

Steve
 
Would you like me to write a tutorial on it ? Actually it's no big deal. The point is that when photographing shiny objects direct lighting , especially flash, causes nasty reflections. To avoid that use indirect light which may be in a number of different forms . Outside on a cloudy day. Inside with lights pointed every way except toward the subject . Diffused light - light shown through a translucent screen.Sylvester posted a photo of miniatures for me in july I think. That photo was taken by placing the knives in a container made of translucent white polyethylene. Outside the box, pointing toward it were 60 watt bulbs ,one on each side .I will admit to having many years of experience but that photo was done by setting up the lights once , placing the objects once .Hardly any time at all.If you are taking photos of knives on a regular basis you could easily set up a permanent or semipermanent system.
 
sure Mete that would be great..

ETP so noted

Steve dig some stuff up

I'm going to have my work cut out for me
I did get a knife done today at least
and 3 more started..:)
 
Dan,

I've been looking to, if I find one I'll pass it on.

You'd better get back to work. ;)

Steve
 
There was a great one at KFC about 11/2-2 years ago. It was in their photography/camera forum.
 
Dan, I actually have more photo stuff than I have knife stuff, and I have made money doing photography. I don't have much experience doing product photography, but the basics of it is the same as other subjects. Mete is right on the money. I have always felt that if someone under stood the reasons why things are done, then elaborate details are not necessary. You need a large light source close to the subject. Why?, this reduces shadows, minimizes reflections, and gives, what is refered to, as diffused light. This is very complimentary to small reflective subjects. How do you accomplish this? Use a large light source, close to the subject. The professionals use light boxes, scrims, umbrellas. They usually (almost always) use flash, so they have more control. They use a large translucent fabric that the light shines through. This is what diffuses the light (large light source). How do you do this? God gave us the sun, use it! If you just take a pure white sheet and have the sun light shine through it, PRESTO! you have diffused light and a large light source. The People who shoot movies (famous movies) use this technique. They call these scrims. You get the idea.
So, make a frame, drape a pure white sheet over it. Make a hole for your camera. Use a small f stop (f11 or f16), to have it all in focus. Experiment a little, you can do it. Of course you don't have to use the sun, you can use light bulbs (tungsten), color problems you can use a flash and not have enough power to get the small f stop. If you don't have good (professional) equipment. Available light (sun) might be better. Also think of other large light sources ( a north facing large window) as the large light source. Use a tripod (rock solid camera), and trip the shutter without ANY movement of the camera. Good luck!
Don Powell
 
Originally posted by Graymaker
I'm looking for a Tutorial on a good light box..
if more that one comes up, then
maybe we can vote on the best one to put on the knife making site..
you guys got some ideas? :)
Click to expand...

Don would you like me to add that just the way you wrote it here?
good pointers.:)
 
Dan, Earlier this year I made a light box using 1" sched 40 PVC, elbows and "T"s. It measures about 2' x 2' x 2'. I draped a white translucent fabric over it. I went to a fabric store where they had a good selection. I used 2 double 500k tungsten light stands (work lights) for a total of 2000w. These come in from the side and back.

Another way if have used lately is to take the same lights and "bounce" the lights off a white ceiling. I have a low ceiling in my shop & this works pretty well. I have just started using this method and am pleased with the results. I use a digital camera, set the white balance to tungsten (incandescent) and bracket the shots plus or minus .3ev.

Bob
 
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