How to Make an Aperture Out of Cardboard

Stand a can on the kitchen counter. Cut the top of the can off with a can opener. Pour the contents of the can into a plastic container. Wash the can and cut lid with tap water. Dry the can and cut lid with a paper towel.

Place a sheet of newspaper on a table. Place the can on the newspaper with the cut end facing up. Shake the can of black spray paint for five seconds. Spray the inside of the can with the black paint. Let the paint dry for three hours.

Wrap masking tape around the edges of the lid. Place the lid on the newspaper. Spray the lid with the black spray paint. Let the paint dry for three hours. Turn the lid over. Spray the lid with the black spray paint and leave the lid alone for three hours.

Stand the can on the newspaper with the open end facing down. Hammer a nail through the center of the bottom of the can. Remove the nail.

Place the cardboard on the newspaper. Measure 3 inches in from the top left corner. Make a dot with a pencil. Measure 2 inches down from the dot and make another dot.

Draw a vertical line between the two dots using a straight-edge. Draw a horizontal line from the dot closest to you across to the left side of the cardboard. Cut through the lines with a utility knife. Dispose of the rest of the cardboard in the trash.

Place the cardboard cut out on the newspaper. Spray the cardboard with the black spray paint. Let the paint dry for three hours. Turn the cardboard over and repeat this procedure.

Make a hole in the center of the cardboard cut out with a needle. Twirl the needle inside the hole to slightly enlarge it. Remove the needle.

Place the cardboard cut out that is now the aperture for your pinhole camera on top of the can, over the hole that was made earlier.

Tape one side of the cardboard to the can with a strip of masking tape. Turn the can over. Tape the lid onto the open end of the can with strips of electrical tape to complete the making of your pinhole camera.