Preface
When Hurricane Helene forced us to relocate, it uprooted not only our personal lives but also our creative workspace. Amidst the challenges of being displaced, we found a way to continue pursuing our passion for photography and creative solutions. This project—a DIY light tent—was completed in the living room of a rental property, proving that resourcefulness and determination can lead to professional results, no matter the circumstances.
Despite the unconventional setting, we remained committed to delivering high-quality content and solutions. Here’s how we built a light tent using simple materials like PVC pipes, a bed sheet, and clamps, while incorporating professional lighting techniques to achieve exceptional results. This guide is a testament to creativity and adaptability, showing that even in challenging times, great work can still be achieved.
What is a Light Tent?
A light tent, or light box, is a portable structure designed to create evenly distributed lighting for photography. It minimizes harsh shadows and reflections, making it ideal for capturing high-quality images of small to medium-sized objects, such as e-commerce products or still life scenes.
How to Build a Light Tent Using PVC Pipe, a Bed Sheet, and Clamps
Building a light tent is simple and cost-effective. Here’s how to do it:
Materials Needed
•PVC Pipes: Four vertical and four horizontal pieces to form the frame.
•PVC Elbow/T-Joints: For corner and optional base reinforcement.
•Bed Sheet: A white or translucent sheet for diffusing light.
•Clamps: To secure the sheet.
•Lighting: Professional strobes, bright LEDs, fluorescents, or tungsten lights.
Step 1: Assemble the Frame
Cut PVC pipes to size, connect them using elbow joints, and form a cube or rectangular box. Reinforce with T-joints if needed for stability.
Step 2: Drape the Bed Sheet
Cover the top and sides of the frame with the sheet, leaving extra fabric for adjustments. Secure it with clamps to ensure a smooth surface.
Step 3: Position Lighting
Place strobes or continuous light sources like LEDs, fluorescents, or tungsten lights outside the tent. Shine them through the sheet to create diffused, even lighting. Experiment with angles and intensity for the best results.
Step 4: Use the Tent
Place your subject inside the tent on a neutral background, we use roll paper, adjust the lighting and camera settings, and capture your shot.
Benefits
Building you own light tent offers professional-quality results with affordable materials, making it ideal for product photography and creative projects. By using strobes or continuous lights, you achieve even, shadow-free lighting for crisp, clean images.
The cost to build a 3″x5″ light tent is around $50. The one pictured is about 5″x7″, which costs around $60-a huge savings and better light quality than those purchased from amazon. Send a message to us to obtain the plans for the light tent.