White Box Bulb help - noob here

KillBoY_UK

KillBoY_UK

KillBoY_UK

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I've made a reasonable sized white box out of A2 foam board . I plan to have 2 or 3 light sources one via a flap towards the top right hand corner and the remainder shining in via the open front.

Question is how powerful a Bulb do I need. I know i need something with 5500k or 6500k color temp but what about the wattage. Do you think 20w bulbs will do the job ?

If it help the box I self that I've made is 25.5" X 16.5" X 16.5" (Inches) in its size.

Only going to be using the thing to take some photo of my gear and the camera Im using ATM its not that good for this sort a thing I think (Panasonic DMC-TZ5) and to be frank Im abit of a noob on this sort of thing.

Ta for the help.
 
Is this for general product shots?

If so, you dont want an enclosed box, you need diffused light. The best thing to do would be to cut out the centre of each side of the box, so it resembles a frame, then cover it in see through fabric/tracing paper.

Finally, a couple of desk lamps can be placed either side of it so the lighting is soft and from the side.

If you have flaps that open to reveal a point light (i.e. bulb) you will get very harsh shadows. If that's what you're after however, then go for it;)

I wouldn't worry about the colour temperature, white balance can account for that (hope the TZ5 can do custom white balance).

A tripod would be pretty handy too.
 
Stupot_ said:
Is this for general product shots?

If so, you dont want an enclosed box, you need diffused light. The best thing to do would be to cut out the centre of each side of the box, so it resembles a frame, then cover it in see through fabric/tracing paper.

Finally, a couple of desk lamps can be placed either side of it so the lighting is soft and from the side.

If you have flaps that open to reveal a point light (i.e. bulb) you will get very harsh shadows. If that's what you're after however, then go for it;)

I wouldn't worry about the colour temperature, white balance can account for that (hope the TZ5 can do custom white balance).

A tripod would be pretty handy too.
Click to expand...

Something like that yes. want to end up if the sorta of thing you see on anandtech, clean looking product photo on a white background nothing fancy.

Well I took some test shots with a single 20w 6500k light source in various positions. had some mixed results in the original middle of the top panel position, but i then move the light to be all-most over head the camera which seemed better. Last few shots I was tweaking the white balance setting and settled to what i think was a tweaked manual setting in my last shots.

I think I defo need more light in there so a 2nd bulb is on it way. Some of my Test shots are uploading to flickr now but will take awhile with on 60kbs upload (there 9mp each). Would much appreciate some feedback.

ty

EDIT Im using no flaps atm might not have to with the lamp I'm using so I just have a open front atm.
 
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