Lighting questions

[LUDELVR]

All right, this is a bit geeky but I need some pointers on lighting for diecast model cars. From what I've read, I am going to construct a light box similar to the one that this guy used as a diy:

photo light box (http://www.diecastsociety.com/diecast-models-photography-tips-tricks/)

I'm going to try the black glass floor but I'm wondering, do you just use any type of light (this will be in my basement so no natural light) or should there be a specific one. I really don't want to go out and buy anything too flashy (excuse the pun) but would rather just use what I have available if possible like my point and shoot camera.

Does the light have to come through the walls I set up or is it coming from beside the camera? This is the part I'm not too clear on. I get the walls of the box will help diffuse the light but does that mean the light needs to come from behind it?

At present, I'm just using an LED light overhead on a marble pattern background and honestly, I'm not too thrilled with his the models look. I have a few cars that I want to have photos just to inventory and I wouldn't mind if they looked good, both the models and their setup.

Cheers for any input.

[LUDELVR]

This is kind of where I'm at for these photos and like I said, I have quite a few that I want to retake their photos of for an inventory/catalogue. There is pretty much every colour you can think of so any recommendations on background colour would be great too. I really like the glass floor look but not sure how that would look with black cars since I have so many of them too.

Here are a couple photos:

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlf1/t31.0-8/fr/cp0/e15/q65/10947382_10153046226080180_635509094078494780_o.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/t31.0-8/fr/cp0/e15/q65/10855044_10153046228750180_6366203927297541969_o.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/12219601_10153661477580180_4305586858119095038_n.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&oh=4e8f5df7a68fff4df088b8161586c086&oe=57574884

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/12345631_10153721080015180_8600035531794663965_n.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&oh=00e95bbe0eb764012ea47d628cf78acb&oe=57279530

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by LUDELVR
All right, this is a bit geeky but I need some pointers on lighting for diecast model cars. From what I've read, I am going to construct a light box similar to the one that this guy used as a diy:

photo light box (http://www.diecastsociety.com/diecast-models-photography-tips-tricks/)

I'm going to try the black glass floor but I'm wondering, do you just use any type of light (this will be in my basement so no natural light) or should there be a specific one. I really don't want to go out and buy anything too flashy (excuse the pun) but would rather just use what I have available if possible like my point and shoot camera.

Does the light have to come through the walls I set up or is it coming from beside the camera? This is the part I'm not too clear on. I get the walls of the box will help diffuse the light but does that mean the light needs to come from behind it?

At present, I'm just using an LED light overhead on a marble pattern background and honestly, I'm not too thrilled with his the models look. I have a few cars that I want to have photos just to inventory and I wouldn't mind if they looked good, both the models and their setup.

Cheers for any input.

You can use either flashes or constant lighting, and yes they will shine through the sides of the softbox (this is what diffuses the light). Some boxes come with their own lighting, some expect you to use your own. Use the same kinds of lights, and then you just set your camera to that color temperature or take a custom reading to get perfect white balance.

The photos you posted look underexposed and the white balance looks off - two very easy problems to fix.

If you want the shiny black floor, you can just get a normal light box and put something like this in it:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/621395-REG/MK_Digital_Direct_2025_9_5x11_Reflective_Acrylic_Background.html

I just plucked it from google images but this is just one example of what a simple DIY setup might look like:

http://i.imgur.com/bhcdT.jpg