For taking pictures of small packshot product (product photo studio) background and lighting quality are required, mainly to avoid thinking surrounding objects on metal surfaces.
To achieve these photos yourself with the means at hand, I found a very useful information on the net: the gas can! So basically you need is a can of gasoline slightly translucent white (most are) and make a cut greater than the size of your goal.
Place the container under a light source powerful enough, flash remote, desk lamp, window, giving an overall light and disseminated.
Its object is placed in the can you pass the goal into the hole, the bottom of the can in form reproduces an infinity.
Given the narrowness of the work area this type of picture is reserved for small objects and targets whose area of focus is very short, so usually macro lenses.
For example photos I use a 90mm macro Tamron 50 mm or with a conventional extension ring which allows me to reduce the area of development and that gives me a 1 / 1 ratio.
Of course we can find cans of larger size to increase the working area, it will therefore increase the lighting function.
Here are some photos taken in the "lightbox", these photos are only present to show the type of light produced by this system, I would take more time to make some pictures when I have more thoughtful a little time at my disposal. The photos were processed in the excellent and free RawShooter that can "grow" its raw files desaturation was applied to the pictures.
Pictures taken with the "lightbox"  | Photos of the "lightbox"  |
June 17th, 2006 at 8:02
Hello,
Super photos. But if you have a compact that does not support the raw format, how can we do?
Thank you
June 17th, 2006 at 2:37
The raw is not mandatory, it simply offers a meillieure dynamic image, a shot at sub photoshop will do just as well
June 20th, 2006 at 8:24
thank you
one last thing: what were the settings of your device? (Iso etc.)
June 20th, 2006 at 6:35
The Exif are present in the picture
July 8th, 2006 at 9:23
If I may ...
I regret to tell you that it's not that ... packshot
The packshot is to be descriptive and have no shadows or blur ...
Here
Bye ...
July 8th, 2006 at 9:33
JB thank you for this relevant remark, anyway the goal here was to show a simple and inexpensive to make small objects in picture.
If I just closed my f-stops and added a source in the box I went back to your definition
July 8th, 2006 at 9:51
Actually ...
Anyway ... I find it pretty.
August 4th, 2006 at 11:09
Hello, frankly on this page and a few others, I remain "stuck" with the technique, tips and humility that emerges from all this. Hats off! Congratulations.
August 4th, 2006 at 11:11
... In particular by the boards of the page "concert". I will make good use.
November 29th, 2006 at 10:08
Thank you for sharing your techniques, it is really nice.
Your photos of examples, shows that many things are possible with this method. I essairai dice as possible.
Good luck!
December 15th, 2006 at 1:23
Very good idea to introduce this system, it is difficult to cheaper efficiency and value for price is unbeatable, and then I like the site in general.
Come on, a good day and more photos.
Stone
January 6th, 2007 at 6:09
Personally, I find the idea of a lighter in a gas can, it's the bomb!
Thank you for sharing these tips.
January 25th, 2007 at 1:22
Hello!
I was wondering if you used as your gas tank / light box for your portraits? And if for your portraits forever (I think your photos are the most successful) you used a flash or continuous light?
Well done anyway.
January 26th, 2007 at 12:36
Hi Jerome, people I work with are usually pretty big and it was hard to return to my gas tank
For portraits often of natural light, and sometimes the flash
March 17th, 2007 at 1:38
Hi Ben,
And if we can not how can we get a result close to yours? This is me and I bcp wrong with the success, I use a white background overexposed, but I feel that it makes me forget about my subject matter.
March 18th, 2007 at 2:04
say that the interest here is the use of this container, there is a solution based light tents, the principle is always the same one infinite substance and a max of diffusing material
April 6th, 2007 at 3:59
Hello,
Why did you put that black and white? and not colored object ... I can be the answer. but I expect to see
April 6th, 2007 at 7:45
Simply because the images were too "clean" to be offered, say that the purpose was simply to show a diffuse light well, if I had a little time I would do something more constructed
, The objects were also very few colored black and white metal
June 5th, 2007 at 3:49
Benjamin thank you for your articles that are both highly technical and very affordable for the neophyte.
I was inspired of your container and from a translucent plastic box type curve (I can not find), I get very good results already. A small request, could you complete the section by the shema positionnatn / light sources in order to understand how you build your light? I'm sure it would help me a lot and I can not get their hands on this article ...
July 12th, 2007 at 5:20
Hello!
Thank you for the tip! Unless I have a little problem ... I can not find a bottle: / or you find a?
August 13th, 2007 at 11:27
Thank you for the technique. I try when I have time.
August 31st, 2007 at 3:19
Hello and thank you for this advice.
Question: How do you use extension ring with your D50?
Jerome
October 29th, 2007 at 4:57
Hello,
I'd be very interested to do this kind of photo. I can not see the size of the container you used. Would not you a picture of it in action?
Anyway cheers for the site, great photos, superb technical part, bravo!
October 29th, 2007 at 5:08
Hi Samuel, the size of the container should allow an object to return
January 13th, 2008 at 7:37
[...] The trick phony Simple and practical: the use of a plastic jug of Recovery for a free replacement light tent [...]
February 1st, 2008 at 4:57
hello,
you said earlier that the raw is not mandatory and it simply offers a better dynamic and photoshop will do the rest.
I'm not too much agree except on "the raw is not mandatory."
The raw file is an uncompressed, more clearly, the file can then be reworked into a log done without altering the image.
Voilou
February 13th, 2008 at 7:20
Hello, I repeat the question that seems unanswered = D
But this bogus, the famous, or it comes from? I toured the chip shops, they have only 5L and 10L, it's still small, I also tried to a garage, but the state of the can is weak on the "white"
If you can give a track
Thank you, and congratulations for your work
February 13th, 2008 at 8:41
Good evening, I found mine in a DIY store
February 13th, 2008 at 9:02
Me, I use a can of windshield washer fluid and it's fine.
http://www.f2mi.com/acatalog/LAVE-GLACE.jpg
March 9th, 2008 at 9:38
See in pharmacies, some still have alcoll cans of 25 l, it's clean
March 10th, 2008 at 1:56
Ah yes, not stupid!
I had to see the restaurants, the idea to polish up an oil can or feel the curd is sobering
For those who are lucky enough to have a beautiful wine region, in general all products are in those cans and large capacity
April 7th, 2008 at 7:27
Excellent tip! He had to think ...
thank you for this light! 
April 15th, 2008 at 8:24
See the cans of oil for domestic heating (all free services or hardware store)
May 7th, 2008 at 9:12
No way to find this bottle! I'm looking for weeks.
Help!
August 23rd, 2008 at 5:20
Hello,
I have a small can of 5L, it's done
But my problem is I have a 17-55mm Canon, and I must be a minimum of 28cm oject for the development works. How can I get without buying a new goal?
Thank you
August 25th, 2008 at 1:16
Mary
An extension ring allows you to have a closer focus
August 25th, 2008 at 9:39
Hello,
How do I know the brand and model the price of this extension ring? Because I do not really know anything
Thank you.
August 28th, at 7:37 2008
Mary
look toward offering a Kenko tube set (12/20/36mm) that have a very good price / quality ratio (and maintain automation)
August 29th, 2008 at 8:20
Ok, thank you.
Another question: With that, I can take pictures in the can? It makes me a tune to how many centimeters? Thank you.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:02
vein can:
I found mine at the car wash total floor of Waterloo Uccle (near the Avenue de Fre)
cans are used for the product rims and the person in charge - who accumulated the empty cans - nothing better than to see from one or two!
If you are looking so desperately like me, go through there!
October 20th, 2008 at 10:30
Benjamin,
I wanted to thank you for your technical translucent bottle, I was able to make shots of knives for a great quality and customer satisfaction was great. It does not replace of course the studio equipment, but the level of reflection that is fine. There are systems of pro chiffon tents for large format but I want to try with a PVC tank of 1000 liters and three torches (two side and one above).
If I can do you a favor and make you a tutorial on a subject, it will be a pleasure.
Flavien
November 28th, 2008 at 12:51
Hi,
For cans, there are ways to find a fuel pump, new ones. Me that's where I go.
Thank you for the tutorial
December 30th, 2008 at 5:16
Hello,
Super idea of the can and much less expensive than a photo studio! I just have a quick question, I am designer silver jewelry and I find that black backgrounds make much better ... is that the quality is good tjs if I add a black background to container leaving only the sides Side and top white original??
I just bought an Olympus E420 digital SLR, do you advise me to also on the choice of settings for photos of jewelry, I have a 25mm optical and??
Thank you and happy holiday season to all.
Virginia
March 25th, 2009 at 8:54
Great idea!
May 10th, 2009 at 10:50
Hello,
What about Halide lamps or French metal halide lamps?
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lampe_aux_halog% C3% A9nures_m% C3% A9talliques
http://img.alibaba.com/photo/209987865/Metal_halide_and_sodium_lamp.jpg
It heats less than the halogen lighting provided light and natural air, and as it's cheaper than the lights of photographers, it is tempting, but I await your advice.
Thank you for your help!
July 1st, 2009 at 9:49
Hi Ben!
I also advise you on tracing paper large as to make the box, but maybe you know the trick already.
It's cheap and it allows you to take pictures with larger objects. I made myself with 3 pots and lids, it works well.
External flash mounted on the camera and lamp type "halogen" outside. Not the top as a lamp, but the result was not bad!
Thank you anyway for all your advice, it will serve me!
@ More
Caromel
June 28th, 2010 at 2:53
Hello,
I wanted to know how many liters is the container used?
Thank you
November 11th, 2010 at 3:04
[...] A self portrait Tamron 11mm, two tests of "photo-pub" on Benba's Touch, as well as some pictures of the Japan Expo 2007, all developed in Rawa Camera [...]
August 5th, 2011 at 1:59
I, who was looking for a way to take pictures of LEGO! Thank you for this page very very useful and informative
October 19th, 2011 at 9:04
Thank you for the tip, I'll try it right away.