Lightbox for under $20

[Scotvs Capitis]

Just sharing the find for those considering buying an expensive set up.

http://www.beyondmegapixels.com/2008/05/how-we-made-light-box-and-macro-studio.html

[Heliodromus]

You can't beat the price of those $6.99 500W halogen lights they link to, but they run very hot and are not going to be very comfortable (or totally safe) to work with. I would suggest instead going with high output compact fluorescent bulbs such as these 250W equivalent (4600 lumens) ones - they will run much cooler and be much more comfortable to work with.

http://www.1000bulbs.com/55-Watt-Compact-Fluorescents/

The rounded top type will give more light in a forward direction, which is useful if you are going to use them without a reflector.

You could use these bulbs in a suitable desktop lamp (with enough clearance for the bulb), a clamp-on worklight from a DIY store, or a light stand AC swivel adaptor like these (~ $20/pair shipped):

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=AC+Swivel+Adapters

Ben