Materials needed
| Material | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cardboard box (medium, ~40cm cube) | Free | Any delivery box |
| White tissue paper or thin white fabric | $3 | Craft store |
| White foam core or card (for inner surfaces) | $5 | Art supply / stationery |
| Craft knife | $5 | Hardware or craft store |
| White tape or masking tape | $3 | Hardware store |
| Total | ~$11 |
You'll also need two desk lamps with daylight LED bulbs (5000–6500K) — if you don't have these, they cost about $15–20 total and are reusable for all your photography.
Step-by-step build
Cut three windows in your cardboard box: one on the left side, one on the right, and one on the top. Leave the front open as your shooting window. Leave at least 3–4cm border around each window.
Cover each window with a single layer of white tissue paper, taped securely at the edges. This is your diffusion material — it spreads and softens the light coming in.
Line the inside of the box with white foam core or white card. This makes the interior bright white, which reflects light and creates an even fill.
Create a paper sweep inside: tape a piece of white foam core at the back of the box, curving it down to the base without a crease. This creates the seamless white background.
Place your product on the paper sweep inside the box, visible through the open front.
Lighting your lightbox
Position one lamp on each side of the box, aimed at the tissue paper windows:
- Keep lights 15–25cm away from the box surface — too close creates hotspots; too far loses brightness
- Use equal wattage bulbs on both sides for even fill
- Make sure room ambient light isn't adding a colour cast — ideally, shoot with room lights off and rely only on your two lamps
Getting the best results
- Camera settings: f/8, ISO 100, shutter speed set to expose correctly (use tripod)
- White balance: Set to 5500K or custom white balance using a grey card
- Product positioning: Centre your product and shoot straight on or at a slight angle
- Check for reflections: Reflective products may show the box walls — angle the product slightly
Limitations of DIY lightboxes
- Only practical for products under ~30cm in any dimension
- May not provide enough light for very dark products that absorb light
- Won't create lifestyle or textured backgrounds — for that, use AI background tools like WaffleIQ
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