What and Where To Get Materials For a Lightbox

Lead_Head · 5 Mar 2010 at 13:48

Hello all,

I've got an idea how to put together a lightbox however I'm unsure what fabrics and paper to use for the base and to cover the cut out walls.

I've never been in to art so I'm not that clued up in the terminology so what is the fabric called and what weight am I looking at? Also what weight paper should I be looking at?

I read about 'Bristol board', but I gather that's american. I'm sure some of you guys have made a lightbox before, so what materials did you use and how successful were you?

High street shops and and URLs appreciated.

Zaf · 5 Mar 2010 at 13:53

Have a read of this mate

http://jyoseph.com/diy-light-box-for-product-photography/

There is loads of tutorials out on google

Lead_Head · 5 Mar 2010 at 14:00

Yeah I've seen the tutorials but most are American.

peterattheboro · 6 Mar 2010 at 15:54

All you need is some A4/A3 paper and some decent light. If you want you can cut holes in a box and cover it with paper. It's a very very easy DIY job.

electric ant · 7 Mar 2010 at 11:56

Bristol board is just a brand of mountboard, essentially its 2-5mm thick card. You should be able to buy mountboard at an decent artshop. I see youre in Nottingham, try Shawes (near victoria centre), or Boningtons art shop (in nott trent).
For the diffusing material fabrics such as muslin or calico can be used, or just sheets of tracing paper will do.

Lead_Head · 8 Mar 2010 at 16:49

Great stuff. Thanks for the help and shop suggestions. What prices should I be looking at for this mountboard?

electric ant · 8 Mar 2010 at 18:10

Its relatively inexpensive, i think around £2.50 for an A1 sheet (594 x 841 mm). You can also find foamboard there too, as mentioned in one of the guides linked earlier.

Lead_Head · 9 Mar 2010 at 16:40

I like the idea of foamboard as I can just pin it together and flatpack it away when finished rather than a box. which has to stay constructed.

I presume I can get this in white anyway, saving on fabric to cover the insides and potential shadow issues with the creases.

syke · 9 Mar 2010 at 16:45

Get one of the collapsable ones? They pack down pretty small.