how to fold a light tent?

December 13, 2005 3:11 PM

How do you fold a photographer's light tent? I bought a light tent as a gift for someone using ebay as a part-time living and wanting to take better photographs of items for sale. i opened it to check it when it was delivered but now i have no idea how to get it back in the carry bag - it popped right open the first time i unwrapped it so i have nothing to compare it to

can anyone help?

i have found 2 pages online

http://www.stevesphotoshop.co.uk/folding_instructions.html
&
http://www.david-mills.com/html/light-tent-inst.htm

but neither seem to work or be particularly clear as to what each picture is actually showing - i suppose a video would be most helpful or a demonstration

hope you can help

posted by Svea to sports, hobbies, & recreation (4 comments total)

I assume you can fold it flat already, and the second step is what's giving you trouble.

Basically, you take two opposite edges and bring them together so it looks like a saddle shape (or a pringle, if you're so inclined). This will cause the two edges you didn't bring together to loop out. Grab one of them, and fold it in towards the center while still holding the first two. The other will fold in on top of that, and the original two edges you started with will settle out and you'll have a small ring you should be able to fit in the case. If that description doesn't help, then yes, I think you may need a demonstration or a video.
posted by Caviar at 3:18 PM on December 13, 2005

ya that pretty much describes the pictures

it is indeed the second stage i struggle with

i push the leading edge down to the bottom and all i have is a tight bend where i hold it and two pretty stubborn large loops either side
posted by Svea at 3:42 PM on December 13, 2005

Picture four in your second link shows what I find to be the key action: twisting one side of the wire frame to rotate it in respect to the other side. This kind of corkscrews the thing into a smaller loop.
posted by StickyCarpet at 3:46 PM on December 13, 2005

I suggest you go to a camera store and ask them to demo one of the ones in the store for you.
posted by Caviar at 6:50 AM on December 14, 2005