How were the lights setup, one light on each side? You shouldn't get shadows with a light box. To be clear--for my lightbox, I put one light on the left side (outside the fabric) and one light on the right side (outside the fabric). I put them towards the front of the box pointed at the minis.

Grainy digital pictures usually means not enough light. You can try a tripod with a higher f-stop, which should also help with the focus.

Try to pick a background without any highlights. The light box I purchased came with 4 different colors velvet-like backgrounds. You can also play with the contrast and shadows in an editor. I also found with a light background I needed to increase the exposure, since the minis came out too dark. With a black background, I needed to decrease the exposure, since the minis came out too bright.

I used 1 light on each side, but they're not the same brightness.
They were outside pointing at the box.
I used flashlights because that's what I had, they create a good shadow
I'll try again when there is sun.

Unless they are the uber tactical flashlights (hundreds of lumens) they probably aren't bright enough. "Enough" light means no shadows (I think), which is part of what the light tent is supposed to do.

There are non tactical flashlights?

I think I got this.
Black background is very nice and vibrant but white background looks more representative of the actual miniature.
Taken outside without additional lighting.
Indoor ambient light is too dark so any light I shine on the box cast a shadow.
Used fantasy minis because they have more colors.

Those came out [glow]awesome[/glow]! You just need to say something about how "natural" light is so superior to weak, pathetic, superficial synthetic light. Those are 6mm, right? Do you paint, wash, and repaint or paint, wash, and drybrush, or just paint and wash? (Or some other sequence?)

The stripes on the blonde figure's clothing are awesome.

On the indoor light, what are you using for the fabric of the light tent? The fabric should diffuse the light source(s) enough to not create shadows. At least, that's how it is described when I read about it online. I've used my light tent in the daytime and at night with little inside ambient light, with no difference in the results. Maybe the flashlights are too focused and need more diffusion?

I use tissue for the transparent part.
I have some transparent plastic but they're too transparent.
I think it's the flashlights being too focused it shines through the tissue.
I'll experiment but natural light beats battery power.

I paint then wash then repaint several more times with the same colors but watered down.
I just keep on going and mixing lighter colors until I screw up or out of luck it looks good.
Yep they're 6mm.

Try some cloth outside the tissue, maybe? Maybe t-shirts or sheets?
Or like you said, save your picture taking for nice days, which is probably OK if you're not in someplace like Seattle . :-)

As a mossback I can attest to the infrequent natural sun there. Thankfully most of the planet does not suffer the same. Lightbulbs and a light tent are perquisites there

White t-shirt over a lamp is effective (surprisingly so) though you can get some pretty cool stuff off ebay for cheap. I've got a setup like this one here for like 30USD off ebay=>
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lusana-Studio-1 ... SwOgdY0ZDK

You're not going to be taking award winning photos but with an ok camera phone with say HDR and 16megapixels you're in more than enough goodness for typical needs.

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White t-shirt over a lamp you say?

From the homemade one I tested I'm not sure about light tent for my use specifically. My indoor lighting is pretty dim so lamp/flashlight becomes the dominant light source.
I'm tempted to get one but it might be the indoor lighting that is the issue.

They come with daylight lamps if you buy the set I linked above

_________________
He's a lawyer and a super-villian. That's like having a shark with a bazooka!

-I HAVE NO POINT
-Penal Legion-Fan list
-Help me make Whitescars not suck!

Some 6mm "red lizards"--I decided to feature these in the sci-fi RPG I'm running. The lizards with the mounts are from Microworld. F-stops around 5 or so worked pretty well. The lizards with sci-fi guns are from CinC PFC. 6mm paints from Perfect 6 (barriers) and Ground Zero Games (skimmers) and Onslaught (motorcycles). GZG pictures with camera set on f/5.6 ev-2 and taken on 2 second timer with a mini tripod. I like how these come out. (P6 picture done with my brother's camera, but I could not reproduce a decent shot.)











ETA: fix motorcycle manufacturer. Thanks Sawbones!

Normally, I wouldn't doubt you but those are Onslaught Miniatures Sisterhood motorcycles/bikes...

LOL Doh! You are so right. I have a horrible memory.