Q&A for How to Create an Inexpensive Photography Lightbox

Yes, this will work as long as it is not a heavy thread count. Hold it up to the light to see if it is bright white. Things that do not work include: Cheesecloth, taffeta, upholstery fabric and burlap. White silk is a good fabric to use.

Just use white light bulbs.

Yes.

Yes.

Target or Walmart probably has it in the craft section, or you could go to a craft store like Joann's, Michael's, etc.

This is likely due to the white balance settings on your camera not being adjusted to the light coming from your white bulbs. Turn the lamps on and adjust the settings in the camera until your photos look the way you want them to.

Just try whatever you have -- maybe try even your phone's built-in flash light if you have a separate camera to take the picture.

The reason for the poster board is that it is more difficult to crease. You could use large printer paper, as long as it's a bright white, but you might find it doesn't work as well as the poster board will, because it develops folds that will show up in your photographs. You can find poster board at Target or Michael's Crafts as well.

Baking paper is just another name for parchment paper, so it should work excellently for this project. Anything that lets light through while diffusing it should work.

Both work, but paper may be easier to come by.

This sounds like an issue with the exposure or ISO settings on your camera. Play around with your camera settings and keep taking practice shots until you achieve the desired look.

Sure, if you don't mind the difference in texture. It won't be as crisp or clear as with poster board, but if that's the look you're looking for, use felt.

Cardboard is used here primarily because it is cheap and easy to work with. Almost any other solid material will work fine. Feel free to use anything in your home that could work just as well.

A large piece of printer paper will work. Alternatively, simply use some more of the material that you used on the sides, but iron it first.

You can, as long as the light is not too centered, and effectively fills the material with a wide glow. You may need to add more layers of material to minimize any harshness that will show in the photo otherwise.

Yes. The box works to contain the light produced and minimizes shadow due to the casting glow in almost every corner. Not using a box may work, but shadows caused by the way in which the material is cast may show in the final product.

It depends on how quickly you work! You could probably put together a photography lightbox in around 1 hour.

You could, but your photos may not look as good if the paper lets too much of the cardboard color through. Freezer paper also has a wax coating which may reflect the light too much, which posterboard won't do.

It ultimately depends on what sort of effect you're going for. A cold, brighter light will eradicate almost every shadow in the box area, and heighten contrast and focal points. A soft, warm light, however, will produce a gentler effect, help blend colors, and provide a more effective color balance.

Yes, you can.