DIY Photography Diffuser Cone<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nA diffuser is essential, especially when the product has shiny surfaces such as the metal on the watch or glass. Without a way to diffuse the light, you will end up with harsh highlights. Although you can purchase a diffuser specifically made for product photography, they are quite expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Years ago, I made my own cone-shaped diffuser. My homemade cone was fairly inexpensive to make and has lasted many years. I started with a piece of semi-transparent plastic which creates a nice diffused light. I used Translum and it is available in rolls that come in a variety of lengths and widths. While diffusion paper or fabric is nice to have in the studio, Translum has the advantage that it is stiff enough to hold its shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I started with a piece of irrigation hose to form the circle base and used gaffer tape to attach the Translum cone. The cone can completely surround the product, diffusing light on all sides. The hole in the top gives me room for the camera lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I use studio strobes for lighting. At the end of my reflectors, I use a grid to restrict the light and stop it from spreading too far. With a narrow range of light, I can highlight just the right spots on the product. You don’t have to have these but you’re going to get a better quality photo with some nice highlights if you do have these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also use a snoot with the grid on the end. These are really good to use when you want a very narrow beam of light and really want to control the light. The disadvantage of the snoot is it really does take a lot of the light power away so you will need to turn up the power to overcome that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cleaning the Watch for a Better Photo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Any product photography will come out better if you clean all the dust or other small particles before shooting. Yes, you can normally fix small blemishes by retouching but you\u2019ll save yourself a lot of time by starting with a clean product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Especially with something metal or smooth and shiny, you want some white gloves to wear so you don\u2019t leave fingerprints on the surface. No matter how careful you think you are being, it’s simpler to wear the gloves. Next, use a microfiber cleaning cloth to clean all the surfaces you can, making sure there are no fingerprints, scratches or dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n