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If you're not ready to fully commit to the whole ordeal, a clip on ring lite will suffice for your tablet, laptop, or phone. Once reserved for the likes of Instagram celebs at TikTok teens, the ring light may just be the essential item we need to invest in for our makeshift offices. Because as any star will tell you, good light can make or break your look. Whether you work from home or you need to nail a job interview via Skype, these are Wirecutter’s tips for looking and sounding like a pro on video calls. At time of writing, you can expect to pay between $50 and $100 for a good ring light that has all of the features we mention above. Paying any more than that is likely throwing money away.

Meant more for serious photographers, the light itself is hard to set up, uses a proprietary charger as opposed to a standard USB charger, is overwhelmingly bright and is expensive to boot. One thing I'd like to see added is an option to choose the brightness level for scheduled lighting that is separate from the motion brightness. Living in the country with no street lights, I'd like to leave my spotlight on low light from dusk to dawn with it going full brightness when motion is detected. Then, of course, returning to low light once motion is no longer detected. When you are in a dimly lit space - or one without light at all - it can feel impossible to take a proper photo or video.
The best ring lights of 2022
The hole should be large enough for four wires, so a 7/16” bit is ideal. Fold the LED strip back on itself, so it has lights on both sides. If the strip doesn’t have its own adhesive backing, scotch tape will hold it in place.

If you have the majority of these materials on hand, then you are good to go. You can use this ring light for makeup and also TikTok or Youtube videos. It might not produce enough lighting for photography, but you can give it a shot. Use a ring light when participating in a video call, virtual meeting or livestream to ensure the people you’re communicating with will see you clearly. The same ring light can also be used when taking portraits or shooting video.
How To Make A Ring Light For Youtube
CRI is one measure of light quality; the higher the CRI , the more colors the light can render and the more precise the image is color-wise. Ring lights with a CRI of 90 or above are considered excellent, whereas those with a CRI between 80 and 90 are thought of as good, according to Westinghouse Lighting. After researching and testing more than a dozen ring lights, we’ve learned that the best ones are hard to get your hands on—even more so than webcams were at the start of the pandemic. Maybe that’s a result of the current supply-chain issues, or perhaps this is just a fickle category. Either way, the best ring lights we’ve tested this year are either discontinued or have recurring stock issues.
The light was almost blindingly bright, in fact, but the brightness could be adjusted using the plus and minus buttons on the top of the light. It charged really quickly, with the battery lasting almost two hours. The light looked great in photos and worked really well for video calls, but overall was overly bright and distracting during use.
Best portable ring light: Whellen Selfie Ring Light
In this project, the frame was made using plywood, and after that, the LEDs were attached to it using wire clamps. The tutorial covers all stages of how the frame was built and how it should look when finished. Many of the latest ring light models also have a Wi-Fi remote to power the light and adjust the color temperature or brightness.
Commercial ring lights can be expensive, but DIY solutions are a fraction of the price. The items used to make DIY ring lights are readily available at hardware stores or even already at home. While there are some complex lighting projects, there are many methods that don’t require any tools or specialized knowledge at all. That makes them a great option for people without a lot of DIY experience.
This light can be powered using its own rechargeable battery or be plugged into the USB port of your computer. The dimensions of the light are small , so it’s easy to transport with your laptop computer. The best phone ring lights can instantly provide full illumination for your videos and pictures, usually offering variable brightness that you can control for just the right lighting. Because phone ring lights use lighting centered on your phone, there is typically shadowless imaging that skips the darkness usually present in photos. This DIY LED ring light for Youtube videos is made from different materials, including a circular frame, 5m RGB LED strip kit, and a clamp. The materials are used to create a lamp that is placed around your camera for perfect lighting effects for videos.

It allows for easy, excellent selfies right within your palm, giving you better lighting for your photos and videos. Use the variable dimmer to get the perfect lighting, then take your photos using the 30-minute battery life. This phone ring light and case is compatible with iPhone, depending on the size you choose. You’re able to easily adjust the light’s brightness and temperature to complement your skin tone. The mount for attaching the light to the back of your monitor is included.
And the next step is to diffuse the harsh light using the butter paper. So, you trace the ring on the butter paper and cut it out. Once that is done, take the butter paper ring that you have cut out and stick it on the ring over the area where you have stuck the lights. Finally, stick the adapter on the back of your ring lightand connect the wires to light it up! Nothing can stop you from being a cool content creator now.

Enjoy huge, limited-time deals on select Ring devices so you'll never miss a moment this holiday season and beyond. This will create a flat edge for your mounting bracket. Once you know your wiring works, unplug your light and zip-tie the wires in place. You can drill small holes in your shape for your zip ties. Take the leftover white and black wire and wire them into your switch.
Allow between one and three hours, depending on your skill set. Since this DIY job requires working with electricity, Russell recommends hiring an electrician for the build or at least getting their advice for the project. Their professional services will of course add to the overall cost. Having a ring light at home can really help you take pictures and make videos. It adds a unique touch to your photos, videos, and selfies. With that being said, we have compiled a list of unique DIY ring light projects that will help you get one.
Add Smart Lighting around your home and control them from the Ring App. Link your lights to select Ring Video Doorbells and Security Cameras, so they shine when motion is detected. And best of all, choose from new solar-powered options for added flexibility.
Obviously, the larger the ring light the wider area the light will cover. The brightness, intensity and temperature of the light will also impact how you look on camera. It’s always nice to encounter a lighting kit that’s designed from the ground up for desktop video applications, like participating in video calls, vlogging or video streaming. The Elgato Key Light is a compact lighting panel with a desk clamp. The light puts out a substantial 2800 lumens via 160 OSRAM LEDs. This is more than enough to provide bright light to a subject that’s between three and five feet away.