sandyfootfarm
Well-Known Member
I've learned so much from this forum that I'd like to help others, so I'm sharing things I've found to make soaping easier and cheaper.
First up is the wooden moulds I have started using. One is just a wine box from a cheap shop with the lid taken off. The other two that are two thirds are little drawers I had for years laying around that have been modified. I took out the glued in partitions and I can slot them back in to make a small loaf, medium or full size. The pink ribbon in the middle box is what I use to lift the soap out of the box. It is put in under the lining which I'll show next.
The lining I am using is just cut up think plastic cutting boards, again from the cheap shop. I tape it all together and just sit it in the mould. So far no leaking and it peels right off the soap very easily.
My cutting skills sucked and it would a while before I could order a ready made mitre box and cutter so I made one. I've just used pine scraps, measured and cut on my table saw and assembled. I've got a groove for the cutter to slide down into after going through the soap. The cutter is a piece of galvanised tin from a sheet metal shop. I went in and asked for some scrap and the nice man not only gave it to me he insisted on bending the top into a handle!
The last is my light tent. If you google light tent you'll find plenty of guides on how to make one, but the principle is that it is covered in white material and you have a white cardboard background that curves forward. Make sure you use white or daylight bulbs, if not you can end up with a yellow glow if you use incandescent type or shaped bulbs. White sheet cost me $2 at an op shop and frame was made out of scrap wire I had.
You just move the lamps around till the object is lit well and take your pics. I was a photographer so I do have photoshop and some skills to edit my pics. But you can get good quality pictures with a little help. I'm using the cheapest point and shoot I could find as I haven't been able to replace my good gear that was stolen.
The main thing is set your camera to meter off the whole scene, not just spot metering. If you have a tripod use it too! Also, if you have a macro setting use that as well. The other editing is just cropping and adjusting for colours and contrast etc. I can tell anyone who wants to know how to do this in PS but not sure in other programs. Feel free to ask me any questions.
First up is the wooden moulds I have started using. One is just a wine box from a cheap shop with the lid taken off. The other two that are two thirds are little drawers I had for years laying around that have been modified. I took out the glued in partitions and I can slot them back in to make a small loaf, medium or full size. The pink ribbon in the middle box is what I use to lift the soap out of the box. It is put in under the lining which I'll show next.
The lining I am using is just cut up think plastic cutting boards, again from the cheap shop. I tape it all together and just sit it in the mould. So far no leaking and it peels right off the soap very easily.
My cutting skills sucked and it would a while before I could order a ready made mitre box and cutter so I made one. I've just used pine scraps, measured and cut on my table saw and assembled. I've got a groove for the cutter to slide down into after going through the soap. The cutter is a piece of galvanised tin from a sheet metal shop. I went in and asked for some scrap and the nice man not only gave it to me he insisted on bending the top into a handle!
The last is my light tent. If you google light tent you'll find plenty of guides on how to make one, but the principle is that it is covered in white material and you have a white cardboard background that curves forward. Make sure you use white or daylight bulbs, if not you can end up with a yellow glow if you use incandescent type or shaped bulbs. White sheet cost me $2 at an op shop and frame was made out of scrap wire I had.
You just move the lamps around till the object is lit well and take your pics. I was a photographer so I do have photoshop and some skills to edit my pics. But you can get good quality pictures with a little help. I'm using the cheapest point and shoot I could find as I haven't been able to replace my good gear that was stolen.
The main thing is set your camera to meter off the whole scene, not just spot metering. If you have a tripod use it too! Also, if you have a macro setting use that as well. The other editing is just cropping and adjusting for colours and contrast etc. I can tell anyone who wants to know how to do this in PS but not sure in other programs. Feel free to ask me any questions.
