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How to Design a Lens Hood

Lens hoods are accessories that attach to the front of a camera lens and prevent stray light from entering the lens. Controlling the light this way leads to better contrast in pictures, and reduces the possibility of lens flare appearing in your pictures. Lens hoods will also protect the front of your lens from rain, and can prevent the lens from being damaged as the hood extends out in front of the lens.

Things You'll Need

Scissors
Flat black gaffers tape

Instructions

- 1
  Decide on the material to use. If the lens hood is being used outdoors, then it will need to be able to withstand the different weather you may encounter.
- 2
  Pick a material that has a flat finish as opposed to one that is reflective. Ideally the lens hood should be made of a flat black material.
- 3
  Determine the angle at which the hood will need to be constructed so it doesn't encroach on the field of view of the lens. The best way to do this is to put the camera with the lens you are building the lens hood for on a tripod. Cut a four inch square of the lens hood material.
- 4
  Hold the square in your hand and position one end to rest on the top of the lens near the front. Slowly start to tilt the front of the square up in the air, allowing the back end of the square to rest on the lens. Look through the viewfinder and when the square is no longer intruding into your field of view, you will have the angle at which the four sides will need to be.
- 5
  Cut the square into a trapezoid, trimming the excess material from the front of the square back toward the rear so the square is same size as the lens opening. Use this as the template for the other three sides.
- 6
  Attach all four sides to each other using flat black gaffers tape. Place the lens hood on the lens and secure it in place using gaffers tape.

Photography