Square Perfect SP500 User Manual

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REPLACE PHOTO

SP500 Platinum

Studio Kit

Model: 1050 SP500 Platinum Kit

ASSEMBLY AND USER MANUAL

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SP500 Platinum Kit

2 Light Cubes Convenient Carry Case 2 High Quality Lights Includes Camera Tripod

Congratulations on purchasing the best solution for photographing small products or keepsakes. This kit is perfect for online sellers and folds down and packs away, making it a breeze to transport or store.

Our 30 inch cube with its large front opening makes taking studio-like images simple and makes loading slightly larger pieces a bit easier, while the smaller 12 inch is perfect for those on-the-road jobs or those smaller items that would be lost in a larger cube.

Easy Setup & Easy Breakdown Handiest Kit for Small Product Shots Durable, Best Quality Fabric Sets Up in Just minutes

REPLACE PHOTO

The camera tripod is fully adjustable and will help to keep your camera still. The 4 colored backgrounds will give you plenty of variation in your photography. Two high output lights make it possible to light from a stationary position and the stands make it easy to move them about

Velcro fastenings make this kit so easy to set up and take down that you’ll be shooting in seconds.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

freely as a hand held light source.

retractable

• (1) Fully Adjustable Camera Tripod

• (8) Color Backgrounds: Red, White, Blue, Black

• (2) Top Quality Lights with Folding Stands

• (2) 30 Watt/5400K Daylight Fluorescent Spiral Bulbs

• (2) High Quality Photo Cubes (12” & 30”)

• (1) Canvas Carrying Case

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SP500 Platinum Kit Setup

1. First, open the case and remove all of the components. Then remove the components from their boxes and bags.

2. The Tripod is fully assembled and ready to unfold and use.

3. Locate the two light stands and remove the little black cap on the ends of each (See figure 2a).

4. Slide the light fixture onto the stand until it stops (Figure

Figure 2

5. Loosen the locking nut that secures the legs on the light stand and slide the base ring downwards to spread the legs outward. This will allow the light stand to stand upright.

6. Install the (2) 30 Watt light bulbs into the (2) light fixture sockets (Figure 4). Do not over-tighten the light bulbs. The light stands are now ready to use.

Figure 5

holding the rest with the other hand, let go of the bulk of the cube and allow it to spring into shape.

2b). You may need to back the wingnut most of the way out to allow the stand to slide into the fixture all the way. You can now tighten the securing wingnut to lock the light fixture onto the stand (Figure 3).

7. Remove the 30 inch cube from its bag, taking care to hold it firmly. It is wrapped around itself, and will spring open if one doesn’t take care to contain it. Grasping one of the metal bands with one hand and

Figure 1

Figure 3

Figure 4

8. This step applies to both the 12” cube and the 30” cube. You will now have a flat sheet that opens like a clam (Figure 5). Open the “clam” and reach into the center.

Grasping the metal

Figure 7

bands in the center, pull towards you to invert the other two sides that are folded into the cube. Your light cube should pop into shape (Figure 6).

9. Complete your cube(s) by inserting a colored background of your choice onto the hook & loop tabs in the back and base of the cube(s) (Figure 7).

Figure 6

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10. For added control over your lighting you can utilize the front cover with camera slit (Figure 8). This cover attaches to the cube with hook and loop fasteners and gives you ultimate control over lighting.

HELPFUL TIPS

Figure 8

Here are a few pointers that will help you to get the best photographs possible with your Square Perfect Photo Tent.

General Tips for all Camera Types

1. Be sure to light your subject by placing light(s) on each side of the tent, facing inward, toward the object.

2. Align lights evenly with the subject or with the subject a bit forward of the lights, not behind (this will cause your subject to be too dark) and not too far in front of it (this will cause your subject to wash out and be overexposed).

3. Choose a background color or cloth that will provide the optimal contrast for your subject but will not match or blend too well with any predominant color on your object. For instance, choosing a white background for an object with a significant amount of white may cause those areas to wash out.

4. To achieve a better white balance and a warmer light effect, turn off any external room or studio lighting and use the lights provided.

Do not use a flash.

6. Avoid placing the lights too close to the tent sides...if you are experiencing hot spots or glare, adjust the lights further away from the tent to compensate. If your subject seems too dark, be sure that your lights are not pointing behind the subject, or move them closer to the tent sides and test. You can also “bounce” light toward the front of the subject by using a white reflector or card positioned at the bottom right or left of the tent opening out of camera range.

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Adjusting White Balance

If you are experiencing yellowing or graying of your photo, you may need to adjust your white balance settings.

Note:

For best results, you should adjust white balance before each shoot, or more occasionally if

you are not taking photos that often.

To do this:

1. Turn on the lights for your photo tent and place a piece of white poster board or a sheet of white paper into the spot where your subject will sit (upright).

2. Next, take a photo of this board or sheet, making sure that the lens/frame is filled completely with this white.

3. Consult your particular camera settings/menu to find the custom white balance settings that will apply, then select the photo you have just taken as the new white sample/setting. We recommend trying numerous settings with a test object to determine which “solution” yields the best results.

Tips for Point & Shoot Cameras

1. Place your camera on a tripod for better stability and set your camera to a 2 second delay to avoid movement/blur.

2. Most point and shoot cameras' white balance can safely be set to the “Daylight” setting when using full spectrum bulbs. NOTE: You may still need to adjust the white balance as shown above.

3. Choose Aperture Priority mode, f-stop set to f/5.6-f/11.

4. Set ISO sensitivity to manual. Use the lowest possible setting (80-120).

5. In general, place camera approximately 24” away from your subject. Use the zoom feature on your camera to frame your photos.

6. If the above settings result in dark or underexposed pictures, adjust the F-Stop below 5.6 and/or increase the ISO sensitivity to a higher value.

Tips for D/SLR ( Cameras

single-lens reflex)

1. In general, place camera approximately 24” away from your subject. Place your camera on a tripod for best stability and set your camera to a 2 second delay to avoid movement or use a remote trigger.

2. Set your white balance to approximately 5000-5400k, but you may still need to adjust the white balance as shown above.

3. Save in large jpeg format for better manipulation and adjustment later and use extra sharpness to improve quality.

4. Focal length: 50mm

5. Use Manual Exposure mode, f-stop set to f/16, 1/60th of a second.

6. Set Auto ISO to off and then set ISO 120.

Please Note:

These are general settings and tips...since cameras and settings vary greatly, experiment with your equipment until you find the optimum settings for your subjects, camera and environment. Happy shooting!