DIY Soft Box for $7

[@sulatlalaki]

Parchment paper for your diffuser...either that or buy a translucent shower curtain liner, if needed, but it's heavier. You can also adhere your aluminum foil using a spray adhesive like Elmer's, which is fantastic: spray on your cardboard and smooth your pre-cut foil into place. No tape binding up as you pull it out!

[@savannabrewton9566]

love these ideas! I decided to shoot headshots last minute so I don't have time for a softbox to arrive, making my own tonight!

[@Phillip_Schultz]

7 years later and still such a great video. As evergreen as it gets, Dustin!

[@Yomi-san]

As someone who is kitting out a home studio as inexpensively as possible this is great. Thanks!

[@PunchNugget]

One of the best straight to point videos I’ve watched on this tutorial. Thanks for the solid speaking and just showing what you did. Subscribed

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

Thanks!

[@GirlyGirlz]

WOW.. Great idea! So simple, inexpensive and so clear and easy to understand and you speak so well on camera. What most viewers don't realize, is how extremely challenging it is to produce a tutorial like this one, with all of the details that are necessary to complete this entire project. Trimming out all of the fat from the video when editing AND filming AND bringing to us viewers a 5 minute video. Can't express enough how extremely challenging this is to do. I mean, I can't even keep my comment under 5 minutes to read. lol Excellent job Dustin! I wish you all the success with your channel that you deserve. Thanks for the vid!

[@strawhatrore2072]

Outstanding. Can’t wait to give it a go! I like that this method allows for a lot of creativity on the part of the viewer when they use their own lights too!

[@tcornacchione7481]

Thanks for the tips Dustin! I had googled DIY light boxes and clicked a link to you before I realized it was you. Keep up the good work!

[@michelle_ajema]

Best softbox DIY tut ever! Simple and really affordable. Trying it out soon. Greetings from Kenya! Dustin McLean

[@LeoTV100]

Baking paper works just fine. Now you can do it for under 7 bucks.

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

Leo Ferus That's a good idea!

[@DiegoJordanA]

Leo Ferus I was gonna ask cuz at least for me living in Bolivia, the whole point of DIY is because there is nothing like home depot or a photography store. So baking paper works? awesome thought it could burn because of the heat.

[@filmogenics5861]

Diego Jordán theres a reason its called baking paper

[@LeoTV100]

Yeah, i've been using softbox with baking paper since the last winter and it works perfect.

[@DiegoJordanA]

Filmogenics hahahaha you're right, in spanish it's called "butter paper" and even though Im reading it in english, I'm thinking in spanish I guess, and it sounds like "butter" paper could melt, LOL, thnx for the info.

[@thelostgentleman5096]

I saw this video 2 years ago and have been looking for it since. Thanks a bunch for this DIY trick! I will try this!

[@850Tech]

lots of companies will go out of order with mates like you man. That thing you made was awesome . !

[@gretarorri]

Thanx for the great soft box idea... I just made mine out of two Cheerios boxes with your design for the parts, used glossy silver paper as lining, white vellum paper to soften the light and velcro to fasten the box to my light :) Looking forward to use it for my next video 👍🏻

[@Thepromisedplaces]

Thank you for this great idea, I really appreciate it,😊

[@ucheucheuche]

Great ideas. I'm gonna build a smaller one tonight. Shops are always throwing away cardboard boxes. What I'll do different: Use Velcro to attach the diffuser - so I can switch strengths and colours. Fasten 1 edge of box with Velcro instead of tape - so it can close flat for travel. Thanks.

[@adrianeden6261]

I dont mean to be offtopic but does anybody know a method to get back into an Instagram account..? I was stupid lost the login password. I love any tricks you can give me

[@kierandaxton2597]

@Adrian Eden Instablaster =)

[@adrianeden6261]

@Kieran Daxton I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and im in the hacking process now. Takes quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@adrianeden6261]

@Kieran Daxton it did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thanks so much you saved my account :D

[@kierandaxton2597]

@Adrian Eden no problem :)

[@BrianLife]

Great idea! Maybe use Velcro’s for the strong part also. Cool!

[@clayerickson567]

Good instruction video. VERY misleading cost estimate.

[@evolvedentertainment9623]

Super helpful! Thank you Dustin :)

[@sirromiori8843]

Best video by far

[@sslatt04]

This is great, thanks! A very thorough tutorial that I will try. However, velcro is not cheap so that really should be reflected in your cost as most people don't have that readily available.

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

That's true I should've included it although it's probably $2 or so for a pack. Which I used very little of. :)

[@fotowalo]

if you take some diffusion-material from the dys store it costs even less......and it works great, I use it for my lights since years als 2x1m big diffusers even in studio !

[@oziermuhammad2488]

This is very ingenious and frugal. Thanks Dustin!

[@P10strings]

I appreciate the video. When I have time, i plan on doing this. The LED lights I have don't have a good softbox that fits and the one that a third party has created is way too expensive for what it is. Thanks again.

[@thealismusic6506]

Very very veryyyyyyy nice man ... loved it

[@MrCAHD]

Great video. Love the idea. just curious what the angle of the edges & the depth of the soft box are?

[@AndrewConfident]

awesome vid! I have the same Led panel

[@CullanAndTravis]

this is cool. but I decided just to buy a small £20 one and use a cheaper led light...do you think it matters?

You can get the defusion foil out from the old LCD or LED tv from the scrap-yard recycling center :) It is in every LCD/LED TV.

[@NickNCC]

omg everyone is freaking out cause it's a little over $7. That's still nothing. Great video @Dustin thanks for sharing your creativity.

[@Sushihunter250]

Instead of using tin foil inside your soft box, try painting with flat white paint. It will reflect more light than the tinfoil and you won't get hot spots where it reflects off the shiny foil.

[@timreighard4636]

Any good cheap light options on Amazon or elsewhere. Would love to make this.

[@arerayace]

Hi Dustin. Would replacing the rope with velcro be as secure or sturdy as using the rope?

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

arerayace It could be, but I've found that the velcro itself doesn't always stay attached to the cardboard. So I use it for smaller things (like how I did around the edges) but not usually for things that will have a lot of pressure on them, so in this case I went with tying ropes so I could really tighten them down. But yeah I bet you could make velcro work too and it would probably look better that rope!

[@trishlindstrom251]

Fantastic! Thank-you!!!

[@itsAjobi]

looks pretty easy ! great video!

Will it catch on fire if I'll use it with 300w Monolight? :D

[@adetayoscottyadegbola9633]

Thanks for sharing. i really found this very useful. I just want to ask can we use a tracing paper in the place of the 251 quarter diffusion white.

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

scotty adegbola I actually haven't experimented with how much light "normal" papers let through, but it's certainly worth a try. Someone else suggested wax paper. My only concern would be that yes it will illuminate but very little light will come through so it will be dim. But tracing paper IS pretty thin so it's hard to say. Let me know if you try it!

[@JGDeRuvo]

Great job, Dustin!

[@dadsworkshopbykipplabrie7982]

Dude, thanks for sharing, the DIY soft box worked great! Just testing the waters with my new Canon M50 and because of your video I finally got the photo I was searching for. All in all I was able to stay under $50. I purchased a cheap Walmart LED work light for $40 and amazon diffusion sheet for $10 just liked you mentioned. This gave me a better idea what to upgrade to in the future. Thanks for sharing and thanks for your time. #LexusTech

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

Glad it helped!

[@HectorMerced]

Bravo. Great video and even greater DIY. Congratulations.

[@DuncanAppleby]

I just made this for my tiny 150-LED panel! Still missing a gel and some paint, but the gel is on its way, and I'll be getting hold of some paint in the next couple of days!

[@jennchoii]

thank you so much for sharing this video! I needed a soft box and they're soooo expensive!

[@coralindabisignano6821]

newbie youtuber here! Loved your video on softbox diy. I actually happened upon another video that was really great, and just wanted to ask since im unsure how to proceed. I am about to start creating your soft box. the other youtuber suggested using a fitted white sheet for a baby mattress covering pvc pipe. So these are both can easily be broken down when not in use. I wanted to ask if I could potentiall use the sheet as a diffuser for the light, and maybe just design the back part (the cardboard portion of your light box) and combine the two? Do you think this would be possible? thanks in advance!

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

I feel like a sheet would just kill too much of the light, it might be very dim. But if it was thin enough it’s worth a try!

[@muahollywood]

Hi Dustin. Would you suggest the lighting led you have in this video without the soft box for makeup tutorials?

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

+Mua Hollywood Yeah to be honest I usually use the panels without anything on them. But they can be a bit harsh, softer light is usually better. (You could literally just clip a sheet of diffusion over the light too)

[@reloadersjournal]

Right, $7 for the diffusion material and probably about $200 in tape. Don't forget the shrink and med fees after you drive yourself insane trying to build this softbox! Oh OK, it's a great idea, I'm just jealous because I didn't think of it. Great video and thanks for sharing it! :P

[@TheRealestIdealist]

LMFAOOOO!!!!! 🔥:)

[@nana-ld4cr]

dude! so cool. Thank you

[@juntjoonunya9216]

A demo to show what the thing can do would have been nice. Now I gotta guess what size light and box to put together

[@mario619siz]

Okay, so I have a lamp that had a ring light in it along with a regular bulb. The ring light broke but the bulb works and I wanted to just wrap about a quarter of the lamp in a white sheet and tape it with electrical tape for this kind of look. With the bulb I have it doesn't produce a lot of heat (I can touch it with it on and not get burnt) I don't think it would catch fire do you think this can work? Should I use a different kind of material? I want a soft box look but sadly I'm broke. :( I've seen someone use an umbrella to cover his light and another person used some kind of plastic any ideas?

[@paperbagman7934]

Cool .I'll be using this in my future videos.

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

I'd love to see pictures if you build one!@DustFilms on Instagram and Twitter

[@SwaySkits]

what's the angle? Is it a 45 degree angle from the light out?

[@SanghamitraGautam]

how do you plan to make this stand? btw your video is really helpfull for me. thanks :)

[@SamAdamFreeman]

very simple and awesome !

[@GabeCuello]

Do you know where we can buy them instead of making them? I have a similar LED light but need to make my light softer.

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

Yeah any photo/video store or online! Try B&H or Adorama

[@DelhiHipHop]

Would something like this also work with 1000w halogen lights ? These lights tend heat up pretty quickly, would the cardboard or frost gel not catch fire ?

[@65971]

DelhiHipHop its all about led these days

[@drutgat2]

Many thanks for this.

[@kidzdreamland4257]

thanks bro !! very useful info's, saved my money and time..

[@MarilisProductions]

You're a life (and wallet) saver!

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

Marilis Morales Glad to help!

[@justinjrebbert]

I guess this is fine for making stuff to use in a studio. Not so much for portability, for photos in someone’s home or workplace or wherever anywhere else outside of your own studio.

[@SeyhanK17]

if the light gets too hot won't it burn the cardboard??

[@orange-teeth1074]

wouldn't the cardboard catch on fire when the light gets too hot?

[@no.9skits72]

Nice video! I'm gonna use it in my next skit

[@karengius8064]

Could you use parchment paper for the filter?

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

It would be a bit fragile but yeah, you could!

[@razisharbini7569]

If not mistaken, flat white spray paint would be more reflective on the inside.

[@SchardtCinematic]

I also read about using a cheap thin white shower curtain liner as well

[@williamjones6751]

would wax paper be a good substitute for the diffuser?

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

William Jones Possibly, you just don't want it blocking too much of the actual light. But worth a try!

[@arashchitgar7445]

thanks for this great DIY 🙏🙏

[@mrstanlez]

Hi, where to buy a frost gel ?

[@mynameiskranz]

i like the idea, subscribed!!

[@flexor212000]

Nice job sharing this kind of info!

[@zitlalyalvarez7013]

Thank you for shearing this DIY with us

[@mertalia1837]

Me: puts wax paper on my desk lamp

[@littleduckiereborndoll]

brilliant thank you

[@mangofish69]

I'm thinking that wax paper might work as a diffuser

[@LTDanno360mods]

whats the diy diffrence from wax paper and frost gel ?

[@cottoncandyallstars3684]

🍬🌟🍬we love diy protects,great job!!🍬🌟🍬

[@lukewestwood]

Would love to have a way of making this fold down so is easier to transport. Any ideas?

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

+Luke Westwood That might be tough. Maybe just velcro along all 4 side edges?

[@danielmdev]

thanks :D, really apreciate that!

[@MakeupMobster]

I bet you can use that press and seal Saran Wrap stuff instead of that light filter cloth and get the same effect and use an LED Work light from hardbor freight and then it would be even cheaper!

[@ManishDeyMusic]

Can you name the fabric use in the softbox to soft and diffuse the light.

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

+Manish Dey That's special diffusion paper from a photo store, not sure exactly what it's called

[@stevenbriggs168]

Very helpful! Thank you :)

[@SammyTraff]

Thanks Man this is great advice

[@Rararasputin2]

Hypothetically , could we use a sheet of plastic or tissue paper ?

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

+The Doctor Yeah!

[@AyeshaNoelle]

Great video!!

[@goughfamily]

Can you comment on how this handles the heat of the modelling lamp?

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

goughfamily I'm not sure what a modelling lamp is, but LED panels such as the one I use (link in the description) give off little to no heat at all.

[@audiografica1]

Was not it easier to put the filter in the barndoors with hooks?

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

It is easier but this glows a bit more due to the reflection inside

[@rvchrono]

Nice Tutorial, there is only one thing I miss ... how do I know how big the "box" itself has to be? not everyone uses the same lights for example use circular ones and have a hard time figuring out how to do build it ^^

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

+rvchrono Yeah I'm not sure, you'd just have to measure your light and build from there.

[@icanteven1555]

Can I use parchment paper in replace of the frost gel?

[@DustFilmsOriginals]

+I Can't Even Sure but it will dim t he light a bit more

[@divinodayacap3313]

saw the piano and guitars.... SUBSCRIBED

[@cornerstoneproductio]

Great Job!!

[@mr.aszureperry2896]

can I use this with my lamp?

[@sumitwadhwa2569]

What that paper that he puts in front is called?

[@tindle438]

Awesome idea

[@CzarnaStrzala1]

This white is tracing?

[@isaj6055]

Great job!!!

[@CanalFactoide]

Thanks! I will make this today!

[@curiosity2314]

Excellent!

[@OdileOdile19]

When is your back to the future scene coming out??

[@radoslavio]

How everyone who builds this DIY soft boxes don't show comparasyn of before and after using soft box on face or any object. It would be nice to see it.

[@VeltisAngel]

Amazing DIY!!!

[@ValsReview]

Great Video thanks

[@JanAlamKhan]

What is the white paper name is?

[@ProfessioneVideomaker]

very well done, but the point is: i will have a fragile sofbox (being in cardboard), no possible to disassemble it, so very bulky. I have to buy the tripods apart. On ebay for 80 euros i can have a disassemblable couple of lightbox, including 8 cold light bulbs and 2 tripods, and the bag, shipment included.....

[@Qarsmat]

voy a intentarlo