Make your own Lightbox

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How to make your own Lightbox in under Rs.100

How to make your own Lightbox in under Rs.100


Ever wanted to create professional looking photographs for your existing gadgets? Money, time and resources have most likely been the three main reasons why your dream never materialized until now. Presenting the cheapest and the quickest way to make a lightbox using materials you’ll find easily. As little as 100 bucks and thirty minutes is what is required for this brilliant Do-It-Yourself! Let’s get started…


Step 1: You’ll have to get the required list of materials. Most of them are household items or easily available in any stationery store. The list includes:
  • Cardboard box that is sturdy enough to last
  • 2 bulbs (more than 90 watts, compact fluorescent, full spectrum)
  • Holster for the bulb
  • 1 full sized sheet of white chart paper
  • 2 full sized sheets of butter paper
  • Scotch tape
  • Glue
  • Cutter
  • Long Ruler

In case acquiring a light bulb with those specs is difficult, you can try using ordinary lightbulbs and see if the effect is as desired. We acquired ours for as little as twenty rupees per piece, so don’t go for something too expensive. Alternatively, a table lamp can do the job as well.
Step 1
Step 1


Step 2: Open one end of the cardboard box, leaving the other three edges unopened to make it a more hollow cubical structure. Tape the four edges together. 
Step 2
Step 2


Step 3: It should look like a cube with 6 sides. Ensure that the box is sturdy enough. Apply additional tape if required. 
Step 3

Step 4: Draw lines on two of the adjacent sides, with the open edge facing you. These opposite sides will allow light to evenly spread through the insides of the box. 
Step 4
Step 4


Step 5: Cut out the edges as shown in the figure. For certain cardboards, the thin edges may become a little weak, so you can reinforce them by taping another strip of cardboard. In our case, we took a strip of the cut out cardboard and stuck it to the outer ‘beam’, so that the entire structure would become sturdier. 
Step 5
Step 5


Step 6
With both sides cut


Step 6: Cut out butter paper in the size of the sides of the box and glue it on both sides. 
Step 7
Step 8

Step 7: Next take the white chart paper and stick it inside from the top letting it flow towards you, creating a boundary-less structure. 
Step 9
Step 7


Step 8: Get the light and the holsters and place them next to the butter paper. Try out a couple of snaps to see where they need to be placed for the lighting to be appropriate and adequate for your product shot.
Step 10
Step 8.


Step 9: Voila! Your lightbox is ready! Get clickin’ to see how brilliant your products look. Action figures, smartphones, tablets, watches or even your swanky new laptop (based on the size of the box) can be shot inside. You can use different solid colours, instead of the white chart paper to add some colour to your photographs. Alternatively, you can cut the top of the box as well, to add in an extra light, if required. 
Almost like a press shot!
Almost like a press shot!


There you go, it’s as simple as 1– 2–3 and the best part is that most of your requirements are things that you will find lying around in your house. If you do try this out at home, post your awesome pictures in our thread out here. 

100 Rupees. Thirty minutes. Job done!