So, I got around to building a light box. I was going to buy an x-ray illuminator box, but they start around $200 and I figured I could build one for less. Although I’m really getting tired of building things at this point. To ensure even light, and enough room for the negatives, I had to go with a 48″, 4 bulb troffer light($48). It’s huge(21.5″x45.5″). To diffuse the light, I got a sheet of white sign plastic from TAP for $48, and put it over the existing diffusor. The light is quite even, about as good as an x-ray illuminator, but I can still see the bulbs slightly. I’ll probably just add another sheet of the white sign plastic to fix that. That last photo is a view from my backyard at the top of the back steps. Next shoot will be tuesday night at the top of Russian Hill.
That last shot of your backyard is quite stunning -nice work!
The photos look pretty good.
If you want to diffuse the light even more, space the second layer of white plastic either above or below the first by at least 1/4 inch.
I’ve tried a similar thing with tracing film and spacing the two layers apart was the only way it seemed to really make a big difference with the second diffusser layer.
Thanks Jeff. I’m too broke to get that second sheet at the moment, but it’s been on the list.