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Make a camera obscura

Make a camera obscura
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Build a simple camera obscura using a shoebox, pinhole, and tracing paper to project and trace upside down images while exploring light.

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Step-by-step guide to make a camera obscura

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How to make your own CAMERA OBSCURA | AT HOME science project & photography project

What you need
Adult supervision required, aluminum foil, black marker or black paper, pencil, pin or needle, scissors, shoebox, tape, tracing paper, white paper

Step 1

Gather all the materials and bring them to a table or flat workspace.

Step 2

Put the shoebox on the table and close the lid so you can work on the sides.

Step 3

Decide which opposite sides will be the pinhole side and the screen side.

Step 4

Mark the center of the screen side with your pencil.

Step 5

Cut a square window about 6 cm by 6 cm in the center of the screen side.

Step 6

Tape the tracing paper over the window and smooth out any wrinkles so it is flat.

Step 7

Mark the center of the pinhole side with your pencil.

Step 8

Cut a small square of aluminum foil about 3 cm by 3 cm and tape it over the center mark on the pinhole side.

Step 9

With adult supervision use the pin to poke a very tiny hole in the middle of the foil.

Step 10

Darken the inside of the box by coloring it with a black marker or lining it with black paper so stray light is reduced.

Step 11

Seal any gaps with tape and close the box so it is as light-tight as possible.

Step 12

Go outside and point the pinhole toward a bright scene like trees or a building.

Step 13

Look at the tracing paper inside the box and use your pencil to trace the upside-down image you see.

Step 14

Share your finished camera obscura and your traced pictures on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can I use if I don't have a shoebox, tracing paper, or aluminum foil?

Use any light-tight container like a cereal or pizza box instead of a shoebox, tape a piece of thin white paper or wax paper over the 6×6 cm window in place of tracing paper, and substitute a piece of thin metal from a soda can or extra-baking foil for the 3×3 cm aluminum foil.

My projected image is blurry or too faint — what should I check or fix?

Make sure the pinhole in the foil is a very tiny, single hole (re-poke with the pin if it's jagged or too large), smooth any wrinkles when you tape the tracing paper over the 6×6 cm window, darken the interior with the black marker or black paper, and seal gaps with tape so stray light is minimized.

How can I adapt the steps for younger children or challenge older kids?

For younger children have an adult pre-cut the square windows and pre-poke the foil pinhole and let the child do taping and tracing, while older kids can experiment by changing the box length, trying different pinhole sizes, or replacing the foil pinhole with a small magnifying lens to sharpen the image.

What are some ways to enhance or personalize our camera obscura project?

Decorate the outside of the shoebox before sealing, try adding a magnifying glass over the taped 3×3 cm foil instead of a pinhole, trace multiple upside-down scenes from different viewpoints, and photograph your traced pictures to share on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to make a camera obscura

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How to Turn a Room into a Camera Obscura

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Facts about light and optics for kids

☀️ You can safely view the sun during an eclipse by projecting its image with a shoebox camera — never look directly at the Sun.

🔦 A camera obscura projects a real, upside-down image because light travels in straight lines through the pinhole.

🕳️ A tiny pinhole acts like a lens — make it smaller for a sharper image but the picture will get dimmer.

🎨 Some art historians think painters like Johannes Vermeer used camera obscuras to help trace realistic scenes.

🧑‍🔬 Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen) described camera obscura experiments in his Book of Optics around 1000 AD.

How do I make a camera obscura with a shoebox?

To make a camera obscura, cut a small hole in one short end of a shoebox lid. Cover the hole with a tiny square of aluminum foil, poke a pin to make a pinhole, and tape it over the hole. On the opposite inside end, tape tracing paper to act as a screen. Close the box, darken the room, point the pinhole toward a bright scene, and look at the upside-down image on the tracing paper to trace.

What materials do I need to build a shoebox camera obscura?

You'll need a sturdy shoebox with a lid, a piece of tracing paper or wax paper, aluminum foil or thin cardboard, a sewing needle or pin to make the pinhole, tape, scissors or a craft knife (for adult use), a ruler and pencil for measuring and tracing, and a cloth to block out extra light. Optional: cardstock to make a stand, rubber bands, and a small clamp to steady the box.

What ages is this camera obscura activity suitable for?

This activity suits children aged about 6 and up with close adult supervision. Ages 6–9 enjoy tracing and basic setup while adults handle sharp tools and pinhole creation. Ages 10–14 can build more independently, adjust pinhole size, and explore optics. Preschoolers can observe and trace with heavy guidance, but keep scissors, needles, and knives away from young children. Adapt complexity to attention span and fine-motor skill level.

What are the benefits of building a camera obscura?

Building a camera obscura teaches kids about light, optics, and scientific observation through hands-on play. It develops fine motor skills, patience, and spatial thinking as children assemble the box and trace inverted images. The activity sparks curiosity about how cameras work, encourages careful observation of contrast and detail, and supports art skills by practicing tracing and drawing. It's low-cost, portable, and easily adapted to classroom or home learning.
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