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How to Make a Tent for Photography

Photographers use light tents as mini studios where they can place small items inside the tent to photograph. Light tents are available for purchase from most camera specialty stores; however, you can also make one at home using PVC piping and panels of white material. Once constructed, light the object by placing studio or traditional lights on the outside, directed towards the tent. The white material diffuses the light and creates an even light inside the tent.

Things You'll Need

12 3-foot lengths of one-inch PVC piping
8 one-inch three-way PVC connectors
Duct or gaffer's tape
White poster board
10-by-10 foot length of white material

Instructions

- 1
  Insert the three-foot lengths of one-inch PVC piping into the three-way connectors to create a cube frame. Once the frame is assembled, place it on a table top and ensure that it sits flat. If the cube fails to rest flat, adjust the PVC pipes until it does.
- 2
  Cut five panels out of the fabric. The panels should measure three feet and quarter inch square. The extra quarter inch of fabric will allow for enough overlay to sew the panels together.
- 3
  Sew the five panels together on a sewing machine so that they create a cube shape with one open side. When the sewing is done, slide the fabric tent over the PVC frame. Use duct or gaffer's tape to hold the fabric tent in place on the frame.
- 4
  Cut a piece of white poster board three feet wide and four feet long. Place the white poster board inside the light tent and tape it to the top back cross PVC pipe. Tape the other end of the poster board to the front bottom cross PVC pipe to create a ̶0;seamless̶1; floor inside the tent.
- 5
  Place the tent on a table or desk top. Position two studio or household lamps on the outside shining into the tent. Place the object your are photographing inside the tent and begin photographing.

Photography