Equipment, strobist

DIY Softbox For Speedlights

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After my recent success making some DIY snoots, I thought I would try my hand at softbox manufacture today, since I need to be able to diffuse the light more than the Stofen plastic hoods will allow – as I discovered with the water droplets I was taking yesterday.

What You Will Need

  • 1-2mm thick cardboard
  • Black duck tape
  • Kitchen foil
  • White plastic carrier bag (without logos or writing)
  • Double-sided sticky tape
  • Cutting mat
  • Stanley Knife
  • Scissors

Step By Step

The actual shapes required were a bit hit and miss – but I cut out some trials with old envelopes first to get a rough idea of what was needed.

1. Mark out the shapes on the card
1. Mark out the shapes on the card
2. Cut out the funnel shapes with the stanley knife
2. Cut out the funnel shapes with the stanley knife
3. Lay out the card shapes on some kitchen foil
3. Lay out the card shapes on some kitchen foil
4. Lay out the card on the foil and apply double-sided tape
4. Lay out the card on the foil and apply double-sided tape
6. Stick the foil onto one side of the card
6. Stick the foil onto one side of the card
7. Trim off the excess foil flush with the sides of the card
7. Trim off the excess foil flush with the sides of the card
8. Four internal sides are covered with foil
8. Four internal sides are covered with foil
9. Try out two sides together to see how they fit!
9. Try out two sides together to see how they fit!

My initial shapes made for a box with a very shallow angle, which would not have been very good at reflecting. At the “try it for fit” stage above, I soon realised this and was able to adjust accordingly:

10. Trim off excess card to improve the box angle
10. Trim off excess card to improve the box angle
11. Fasten the corners with the duck tape
11. Fasten the corners with the duck tape
12. Assemble the other sides and check for fit on the flash
12. Assemble the other sides and check for fit on the flash
13. Tape up other sides and finish off the rear spout
13. Tape up other sides and finish off the rear spout
14. Lay out the opaque plastic from the carrier bag and cut out
14. Lay out the opaque plastic from the carrier bag and cut out
15. Tape up edges of bag and stretch across the front opening
15. Tape up edges of bag and stretch across the front opening
16. Nice diffuse light through the plastic
16. Nice diffuse light through the plastic
17. The finished article!
17. The finished article!

One thought on “DIY Softbox For Speedlights”

  1. Pingback: Day #1280 | 2011 Photo A Day

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