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The Dark Room -- Photo Editing and Picture Taking. Advice, tutorials, questions on all things photoshop, photo editing, and taking pictures of beads or glass.

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  #1  
Old 2008-05-21, 12:53pm
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nicholebeth nicholebeth is offline
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Default EZCube TableTop Studio Bead Kit - Do you like it?

If you have the Bead version of the EZCube TableTop photo studio set, do you like it? Would you mind posting a photo or two? Can you comment on it? I'm sick of taking photos in natural light on my deck, and want something more professional. Shari Slonski told me about the Cocoon that she uses - and I'd like that, but then if I get the lighting, background and accessories separately, I think it ends up costing more than the EZCube bead kit.

Thanks in advance for your comments.
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  #2  
Old 2008-05-21, 12:59pm
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Default I use much cheaper version!

I hate to take anybody's business, but someone told me about the "Portable Photo Studio" so that's what I use. I got it at Walmart, under $50, comes with two tripod lights, camera tripod, the "cube" folds out/folds up into its own carrying case. I love it...

Just a thought,
Lea
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Old 2008-05-21, 1:24pm
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I bought the Table Top Studios bead photography kit about 3 years ago. It has been great. Worth every penny to me.



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Old 2008-05-21, 1:29pm
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I have the tabletop EZCube which I purchased at their ebay store for considerably less. I bought reflectors with ceramic bases at Home Depot for next to nothing and then put high quality light bulbs in them. The base of the reflectors that I bought have clamps on them so I clamp them to weighted jars and they work well. I made my own underlighting panel from things I purchased at Home Depot as well but I didn't like the results---it washed out the beads. So, if you want to you can do things in a less expensive way. Everything on my website was taken with this setup using a Canon digital Rebel, but here are some photos to look at:






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  #5  
Old 2008-05-21, 3:28pm
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I have the small EZ cube tent. Didn't buy the lights. I bought my lights at the hardware store (the cheap ones with the clamps and stuck 150 watt bulbs in each. On light is clamped overhead the other two on the sides of the tent. Before taking my picture, the most important thing to do is to make sure you have a correct white balance.
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  #6  
Old 2008-05-21, 11:10pm
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I bought the setup - didn't feel like taking the time to find all the bits seperately. I'm very happy with it, and I think it has improved my photos quite a bit! Less glare, less shadowing, better color, that sort of thing. Yes, you can put together the same sort of setup for less. But your time is valuable, and these folks do have a quality product.






Aimee
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  #7  
Old 2008-05-22, 4:21am
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Aimee and Ellen, what are you using for your background? It looks gradient. Your photos and beads are beautiful! I bought Ellen's beautiful beads at the Watertown show. Her beads are amazing in person!

Quote:
Originally Posted by PolychromeBeads View Post
I bought the setup - didn't feel like taking the time to find all the bits seperately. I'm very happy with it, and I think it has improved my photos quite a bit! Less glare, less shadowing, better color, that sort of thing. Yes, you can put together the same sort of setup for less. But your time is valuable, and these folks do have a quality product.






Aimee
Quote:
Originally Posted by JavaGirlBT View Post
I bought the Table Top Studios bead photography kit about 3 years ago. It has been great. Worth every penny to me.



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  #8  
Old 2008-05-22, 6:22am
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I'm sorry if I sound dumb, but are the beadsets just laying down on the "floor" of the cube? They kinda look like they are on a tilted base - if so how do you keep them from sliding down? Aimee's (beautiful!!) beads look like they are standing upright. How do you do that?
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  #9  
Old 2008-05-22, 7:07am
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Hi Carolyn! Thanks for the compliment. I got a gradient paper background that fits nicely into the cube from the same vendor. There are ways to print one yourself, but I found this worked better for me.

And mine are laying down on the floor of the cube. The angle looks tilted because the camera is tilted down looking at the beads. My camera would be in front of the cube, angled down onto the beads through the front of the cube.

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Old 2008-05-22, 9:15am
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I use the gray gradient background (it comes with the setup - although I'm on my second one now!), and it is the best!

Sometimes I take pics with the beads laying flat, sometimes standing up - depends on my whim. The single beads I shoot upright using an acrylic bead stand to hold them. It's nice and unobtrusive. The sets I either wire to keep them in place, or hang them from the "ceiling" of the cube (like in the top pic I showed) with the long end of the ribbon on which they're strung.

Ahhh - giving away all my secrets now!


Aimee
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  #11  
Old 2008-05-22, 12:32pm
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Thanks so much. I'm just starting to get my crap together to photograph my beads. I have a cube but no back drop and I'm having a heck of a time figuring out how to arrange the beads.
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  #12  
Old 2008-05-29, 11:41am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PolychromeBeads View Post
I use the gray gradient background (it comes with the setup - although I'm on my second one now!), and it is the best!

Sometimes I take pics with the beads laying flat, sometimes standing up - depends on my whim. The single beads I shoot upright using an acrylic bead stand to hold them. It's nice and unobtrusive. The sets I either wire to keep them in place, or hang them from the "ceiling" of the cube (like in the top pic I showed) with the long end of the ribbon on which they're strung.

Ahhh - giving away all my secrets now!


Aimee
Those artichoke type beads are drop dead gorgeous!

Anne
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  #13  
Old 2008-05-29, 5:32pm
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Thanks Anne!


Aimee
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  #14  
Old 2008-05-29, 8:24pm
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I have an assistant to hold up the backround sweep - This seems to work well for me.............. LOL Just kidding. This is an old pic - I have the tabletop studio and bought a nylon sweep. I use different colored backrounds for some of the photos of jewelry but usually the back to white gradient sweep for beads. You can see my photos on my website or ETSY. My kids gave me proper lights (for my bday ) on mini tripods with the correct halogen daylight bulbs and I think it is worth the money.

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Old 2008-06-04, 10:11am
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I have the same photo set up as Ellen and I really like the floor lights.
I did get two bases though and they arrived all scratched up so I couldn't use them.
Take a look at B&H Photo too before you buy.
Paula
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  #16  
Old 2008-06-12, 4:04am
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Default Ott Light

Hi all: Working on my photog skills (or lack thereof, haha) so thought this would be the place for tips!

These I took inside cube and under Ott light -- what do you think?





Let me know, ok?

Thanks,
Lea
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Old 2008-06-12, 4:22am
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I think those bracelets ROCK!!!! What color backround did you use? If you are looking for an inexpensive gradient backround here is where you can find them to print on paper......plus a nice little tutorial. http://www.dawnandevan.com/photo_tutorial.htm
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Old 2008-06-12, 4:38am
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Default I'll go read that, thanks...

I had purchased a cheap (under $50) Portable Photo Studio setup from Walmart (pretty cool, has its own cube, tripod lights, camera tripod, reversible background, plus foldup carrying case, so the background I used is just the gray side of the one that came with it. I have to admit to not wanting to invest thousand$ for setup that has to remain setup...would rather be able to just shoot decent pics but be able to pack up afterwards and not have it sitting out all the time.

Thanks for tips, I'll go ck out the tutorial! Glad you liked the bracelets...

Best,
Lea
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Old 2008-06-20, 11:46am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lea Zinke View Post
I had purchased a cheap (under $50) Portable Photo Studio setup from Walmart (pretty cool, has its own cube, tripod lights, camera tripod, reversible background, plus foldup carrying case, so the background I used is just the gray side of the one that came with it. I have to admit to not wanting to invest thousand$ for setup that has to remain setup...would rather be able to just shoot decent pics but be able to pack up afterwards and not have it sitting out all the time.

Thanks for tips, I'll go ck out the tutorial! Glad you liked the bracelets...

Best,
Lea
My hubby got me one of these portable sets ON SALE...$15.00!
Now if I can only figure out the camera I have..... which is HOW I found this thread,lol!
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Old 2008-06-26, 6:47pm
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Lea,
How do you set up your lights with the cube? I pick a portable studio up and played with it a little bit tonight with some OK results. Having problems figuring out the lighting so that it does cast to much of a shadow. Your bracelet pics are just what I'm trying to achieve. Any in put would be greatly appreciated.
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Old 2008-08-11, 2:39pm
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OK - I got the EZCube Bead set for my birthday, and got it today!
The first two photos are with the EZCube, and the last one was just taken on my deck. I think I like the deck photo better, so I guess I still need to play with the camera settings more.



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Old 2008-08-12, 7:20am
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This is mine -- I think I got it on ebay and it folds up into a black carrying case. Not shown are two cheap clamp on shop lights I got and they shine through the sides of the box. I like them much better than the smoking halogens that came with the kit. (you can see the original halogen on the left) I also got a gradient background which I love!



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Old 2008-08-12, 7:27am
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BTW I think Shari has the absolute best photos, and I hope she doesn't mind me posting one! Maybe she will share her setup and camera settings. I love the reflection . . .

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Old 2008-09-28, 2:18pm
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I am trying to get used to taking indoor photos for the season, Love out doors photos but not willing to freeze this year like I did lastHave been looking into photo boxes and kits, DH built me a temp out of cardboard and tracing paper, but it's just not cutting it.

I have my eye set on this one, an investment to be sure, and want to know if there is anyone hanging about the forum that uses it already and can vouch for it?

It has a flat panel with under lighting, which is what has me drooling over it...


http://store.tabletopstudio-store.com/glphkit.html



comments, pictures, suggestions all welcome
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Old 2008-09-28, 3:23pm
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Here's my set up and some more infos --> http://www.beadsbybabe.com/phototut.htm
I got the cube on Ebay for 30 bucks.

I just moved to a new house, so I will update this someday with the new set up.
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