Setting up a cheap table top digital photo studio
I didn't have my table top set up for these three shots. I just wanted you to see the difference the lighting makes in color accuracy.

Fluorescent 2500K Yellow Cast

Chromalux full spectrum Orange Cast

Fluorescent 6500K Natural Color

For years, I have had to depend on natural daylight to take decent digital photos of my work since I wouldn't even think of buying two or three photo lights at a camera store which would cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars. I would much rather spend that kind of money at Chico's!
While eating a box of Fiddle-Faddle, I figured out an inexpensive way to illuminate my artwork for digital photography. I learned about color temperature, color rendering, lumens and what that all means to a digital image. Anyhoo, I thought I would share only the stuff you will need to photograph your artwork or small objects more successfully.

Supplies:
3 aluminum clamp lamp fixtures 8-10 inches. You know, those ugly aluminum ones with the black vinyl covered clamps.

Three 18 watt(75watt light output) daylight fluorescent bulbs (they cost 8 bucks at Home Depot) Make sure they are 6500K (That's the color temperature. The higher the number, the whiter the light.) For some reason, these bulbs work great.
(The Daylight Company makes 20 watt color correct bulbs and they are perfect for digital photography. They are a little more expensive but well worth the price.) Find out about this company on my resource page.
1 sheet of cardboard cut 14"x18" or so. Cover it with cake decorating foil. Regular foil is too reflective.

1 sheet of white or gray mat board for the seamless background.

Set up your table so that you can lay the mat board down, lift it up on one end and lean it against a wall so that you can create a curved seamleass background.
Set up your lights at different heights, two on either side of the object and one behind or slightly above. I use the backs of chairs to clamp my lights on. Adjust your lights to take out shadows and bright spots.
Use your cake foil board to highlight areas or dark spots if needed.

Take your pictures without the flash as it will only flatten the object and make awful shadows where you don't want them.

Just remember that the light is the most important ingredient in taking a photograph.

Coming soon......
A picture of my table top studio!