Plasma TV's are awesome but extremely fragile. If all that happens when you turn your plasma set on is a blinking LED light or it works for a while then turns off, you may have a blown capacitor on your power supply board. This video will show you how to fix the problem yourse ...more
See how to install a HID Conversion Kit in a Honda Accord. Xenon Lights are better then Halogens. High intensity discharge bulbs are the best.
Remember the young Parker who taught us how to make fun things like the ghost trap from Ghostbusters and the cheap severed leg effect? Well, he's definitely grown since then, and in his latest video he takes a more practical approach to DIY with a cheap and easy soft box for y ...more
No light no movie. Indy Mogul teaches you how to create your own basic lighting kit for $25. Also covered are lighting basics, including three-point lighting.
See how to hack a two "D" cell Maglite to make it much brighter. This is a cheap but very power light of 700-800+ lumens, brighter than other hacks.
Mousey the junk bot is a light sensing robot made out of an old computer mouse. Bre Pettis of Make Magazine goes over how the pieces are installed and talks about some mistakes that he wishes he could have avoided. This project requires a drill, a dremel, and soldering skills.
Samimy is at it again. And this time, his ingenuity has tackled a clever way to take something old and broken and restore it to something new and useful. What are we talking about? Modding a broken hard drive and some busted cell phones into a useful rechargeable USB / solar-p ...more
Get started with the LilyPad Arduino! It's a sewable microcontroller that lets you embed lights, sounds, sensors, and much more into your wearables, perfect for clothing and accessories. In this Make Magazine video tutorial, you'll see how to attach the LilyPad and power suppl ...more
Learn three different studio portrait lighting techniques using just one light.
Remember the 1960's American television series Batman, with Adam West as Bruce Wayne? It was waaaaay before my time. The caped crusader that I'm more familiar with is actually this one... When I first heard of Adam West, it was him doing the Batusi on The Simpsons. I had no id ...more
Why settle for static lighting when you can bring on the big guns? Learn how to make a Christmas lights controller so your lights blink. Happy holidays!
A laser light show is possible to replicate with the diffraction grating effect. Different laser effects can be created using a variety of materials: small motors and diffraction grating pieces, and mirrors. It's possible to create searchlights, crystal balls, spring patterns, ...more
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make a guerilla spotlight using household items. Users will simply need a cardboard cylinder and a light source. Te materials used in this video were a toilet paper roll, piece of aluminum, gaff tape and a lamp. Begin by cutting a c ...more
Check out this clip, and learn how to light your Zippo in the fastest possible way by doing the "Lightspeed" trick. This trick requires a little practice but is a very impressive way to get your cigarette or candles lit. Follow along for a step by step and learn the little tri ...more
In this trick - which is perfect for any restaurant or bar - you will learn how to light a candle without actually ever touching a flame to the wick. Don't think it's possible? Think again! You will learn exactly how to do this illusion and amaze everyone around you. Score som ...more
Riding your bicycle at night is dangerous on busy streets, especially if you've got no bike lights. In most states, it's illegal to ride your bike at night without any lights because drivers on the road won't be able to see you until it's too late. Plus, how is anybody going t ...more
Have you become a Jedi in your Star Wars delusional mind? If so, break out of the the asylum with a Jedi lightsaber. Oh, but you don't have a lightsaber yet, okay. Well, this video tutorial will show you how to make a very inexpensive LED light saber with the most basic parts ...more
I've used the flashlight feature on my iPhone more times than I can count. It's an invaluable tool that's super easy to activate; just pull up the Control Center and hit the flashlight icon. However, turning it off isn't always as easy, especially when you're on the lock scree ...more
You can get an expensive ticket for driving with a busted tail light. But that's not all. Driving with a faulty brake light can be dangerous. Replacing the bulb is a simple task that takes only a few minutes. You Will Need *A screwdriver *A replacement bulb *A friend’s help ...more
You don't have to pay an expensive mechanic for something that you can do yourself! An experienced auto mechanic shows you the way to replace the brake lights and tail lights on a Honda Accord. You will need a flat head screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, a 10mm wrench (or so ...more
Kip "Kipkay" Kedersha is known for his intriguing and clever how-to and prank videos, even when he teams up with MAKE Magazine. He will show you how to tweak, hack, mod, and bend any technology to your hacking needs. No electronic device, gadget, or household item can stand th ...more
Going towards the infinite white light means something totally different these days. When we talk about the infinite white light, we're thinking less spiritual and more aesthetically pleasing. That's because a background consisting of a blurry, infinite white light is one of t ...more
Want to liven up your game of beer pong? You could always add more cups or play with paddles, or you could make your own custom table with 500 LED lights that flash in sync with your favorite tunes like Redditor did. Video: . First come the lights. This one was done by hand, b ...more
A common misconception is that all car batteries die. This, in fact, isn't true—the majority of "dead" car batteries just don't contain enough juice to power a car, but they can still provide enough watts to keep emergency fans and lighting running, which is great when a power ...more
Here we assemble the RED ONE camera into a 22 lbs ultra light hand-held version, perfect for documentary filmmakers and ENG crews. Thanks to Indie Rentals - http://indierentals.com/
Do-it-yourselfer Kipkay salvaged parts from an old parallel port scanner and made a flexible, super-bright light in this how-to video. The modification is done by extracting the lamp and running it through clear tubing. He mounted the new lamp above his keyboard for night typi ...more
Did you know it's possible to light a match simply by using your teeth? You can look like a total badass if you learn how to do this trick properly, although you might get burned in the process. From Revision3: Warning: This week, we're playing with matches again. We shouldn ...more
Check out this instructional lighting video that explains how to make cheap barn doors for your lights. For this project, you will need a total of 4 hinges, 12 nuts and bults, a screwdriver, cardboard, scissors, and a lighting fixture. This is a simple guerrilla filmmaking tut ...more
This video compilation shows you how to create various LED and fiber optic hacks and projects the average Joe can assemble to create one hell of an awesome, wild party.
Artist Matt Busch shows how to render a full value monotone comp for his STAR WARS 30th Anniversary movie poster. In addition to getting into the nitty gritty of light and shadow in sketches, see Matt show you how to draw Stormtroopers, as well as busting out his killer happy ...more
In this video you will be shown an interesting method of recycling old CDs. The creator suggests using old CDs to make wall mountings for circular dimmer switches. He starts be using his router to create a circular indent in a piece of redwood this if for the CD. He then cuts ...more
When I was attending college, my friends had a phantom thief in their dormitory. Almost every night, a different item of food would go missing, never to be seen again. There was constant speculation as to whom the thief was and how to catch them. Security cameras were deemed t ...more
If you're having a hard time using any of the ranges or the oven on your stove, it may be because of the pilot light. This is an important part of the appliance that allows it to work correctly. No pilot light, then you'll have a hard time cooking anything. In this tutorial, ...more
Some apps look great with Dark Mode, and some do not. So when you have system-wide Dark Mode enabled on your iPhone and are using an app that only looks good in Light Mode, you'd normally have to turn the dark appearance off manually, then switch it back on when you leave. But ...more
Light switch wiring can be a do-it-yourself project with this instruction from Tim Carter. You'll have no trouble wiring a light switch with his simple tips and doing light switch wiring yourself will save you lots of money.
Unless you're living in some weird parallel universe where plug-in light bulbs are the norm for household lighting, chances are you've had to unscrew a light bulb every now and then. Sometimes, replacing those burnt out Edison-based bulbs can be tricky, particularly in high c ...more
Most coin vanishing tricks rely on sleights of hand and some skill; this easy magic trick just uses the physical laws of light refraction, and is much easier than that makes it sound. Learn how to perform this disappearing coin trick, great for a night out at a bar, by watchin ...more
The guys at PoorManMods show you how to smoke or tint your taillights using a spray tint by VHT. Simply clean off the taillight to prep it. Spray one to three even coats of tint on the taillight for your desired result. Let them dry, put them on the car, and the stand back and ...more
Blue light (like that from our smartphone) tricks the human brain into thinking it's still daytime, even if it's coming from something as small as a screen. So while you're playing around with your new Pixel or Pixel XL after dark, subconscious signals to be awake are preventi ...more
In this video, we learn how to make lightning with a spoon and a balloon. First, you will need to gather a spoon and a balloon. Once you have these, blow up the balloon then tie it on the end so it's sealed. After this, rub the balloon on your hair and then slowly move the spo ...more
If you want an electrical circuit to send power to an object, like a light, you're going to need resistors. This video, part of an excellent series on basic electronics by Scotty, will teach you how to make a circuit with resistors and an LED light, a real function piece of el ...more
A light meter can prove to be an invaluable tool on any film set, allowing you to quickly and efficiently set lights and know the correct exposure values of those lights. Light meters were initially designed for still photographers and cinematographers can easily calibrate the ...more
Rave light shows are one of the most intimate and enjoyable experiences that people can share at a rave, but getting started when you don't know what you're doing can be a scary thought. Watch this video to learn how you can perform some basic glove lighshow moves like the fig ...more
Give yourself the hottest PS3 controller out there by modding it and adding some sweet LED flashlights. The LEDs will light up in accordance with your game play for a whole new level of enjoyment. This three part video series will take you through the whole process every step ...more
Don't drive in the dark. Learn how to remove burned out dashboard lights and replace them with new bulbs in this free car maintenance video from Part 1 of 17 - How to Replace dashboard lights. Replace dashboard lights - Part 2 of 17. Click through to watch this video on expert ...more
In this video tutorial, learn how to create a really beautiful, eye popping, neon light "magic effect". Brighten up your asthetic presentation with this cool Photoshop trick, originally found on this blog. This tutorial is constructed using Adobe Photoshop CS3, but please note ...more
Want to put some electronics into your terrain piece or diorama? LED lights are great. You can use tiny watch batteries, which are small and efficient. LED lights are cheap, they come in colours, and you can find them in all kinds of broken gadgets. Watch this instructional vi ...more
Not many people fly kites anymore. Most of us don't have the patience or attention span because, let's face it, we're used to smartphones and other gadgets that have games and apps galore to entertain us. Heck, you can even fly a kite on them if you really want. Though, there ...more
Magic is a wonderful thing. But so is science. So, which category does this mystifying candle trick fall in? Perhaps both. You only need three items to perform this magic trick: a lighter (or matches), a candle, and a candle holder (if your candle is not already in a containe ...more
As far as logos go, few are as iconic and instantly recognizable as Apple's old-school rainbow emblem. No matter how sleek their products get, people are still nostalgic for the old, colorful logo, and this mod from Adafruit basically proves it. If you have some pretty decent ...more
Make a $100 super bright cop flashlight for less than $10, as shown in the steps of this how-to video. This flashlight is brighter than a Surefire and is so easy to do. You will need a compact flashlight, a Krypton flashlight lamp, a file or drill bit, and 3 volt batteries. Wa ...more
Using my Nexus 7 tablet as a flashlight to light my path on the way to my room late at night is difficult, and honestly, useless. It doesn't have an LED flash for pictures, so using it as a flashlight is essentially just me brightening the display as high as it can go. If you ...more
Matt, the Shirtless Apprentice, demonstrates how to create dramatic lighting effects on a budget. This episode will help you to develop control of your audiences attention.
In this clip, learn how to make super powerful 9 volt LED flashlights using things you most likely already have around the house. You will make these mini-lights out of things like batteries and scrap wires. So, dig around in your garage and see what you can find to get starte ...more
This a video tutorial that is showing its audience how to mix liquid glow stick colors in order to make a white light. The first step is to gather your supplies. To complete this scientific experiment you will need to get a few different glow sticks, preferably red, blue, and ...more
This tutorial shows you how to replace a rear light on a 2003 Ford Focus. Specifically, the video shows fixing the rear brake light, but this tutorial shows how to fix any rear light (including brake/tail, reverse, and turn signal lights). It is very simple and does not necess ...more
In this video clip series our expert, Kyle Saylors, will walk you through all the aspects, parts and options for LED lights and how to use them. He will offer tips on how to work around damaged lights and how to fix them as well as how to set up preset patterns for a light sho ...more
Yes, this 3ds Max video tutorial will show you modelers and digital animators how to add more believability to your lighting with physically accurate lights, as in photometric lights, so enjoy. Autodesk's 3D Studio Max is a customizable and scalable 3D modeling and rendering ...more
As dedicated bicyclists are well aware, riding can be very dangerous. Now that daylights savings time has ended in the United States, darkness appears quicker, and the night is especially dangerous for cyclists because of the low visibility that drivers have. Not only is darkn ...more
This isn't looking good at all. What was supposed to be an easy day hike is quickly turning into a life-threatening situation. Your highest priority is to get a fire going before nightfall. But you can't use your water bottle because all of your clean water is gone. This is a ...more