Being the ambitious DIY'er I am, I have decided to build a softbox. A friend will be helping me and suggested using four gang boxes and surface mount sockets. Question: what do you line the inside of the soft hood with for optimum light reflection? Foil? Or the glorious dollar store car reflector for the dash board? Thanks.
Home made softbox
- Thread starter fenigirl
- Start date
Cool Lights
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Why not just buy a softbox for about $25 to $30 off eBay? You can't build one much cheaper than that...
Well, I found a dash board reflector, a glue gun, and a pack of gluesticks, and velcro for a dollar a each. A free yard of black fabric for the outside, free coat hangers, and free use of a sewing machine. I know.....I'm a glutten for punishment......a homemade softbox.....I'll post a pic or two when I finish.
I would be REALLY careful. Your free fabric is probably not fire retardant, and if you're using a standard tungsten 500 or 1000w light, those put off a lot of heat, and black fabric will absort a ton of heat.
You could very easily end up with a fireball. At the very least, if you insist on doing this, I would keep a fire extinguisher very close by, and constantly be on the alert for smoke. (I'm not kidding.)
Of course, if you're using fluorescent fixtures instead, then the heat shouldn't be a problem.
You could very easily end up with a fireball. At the very least, if you insist on doing this, I would keep a fire extinguisher very close by, and constantly be on the alert for smoke. (I'm not kidding.)
Of course, if you're using fluorescent fixtures instead, then the heat shouldn't be a problem.
Cool Lights
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I think they are using fluorescents based on previous posts. Sounds like it'll be the "frankenstein" softbox when you get done. ;-)