Best diffusion or diffusion material.

Jimmy Moss

Jimmy Moss

Well-known member
What kind of diffusion material does everybody use. I'm trying to put togeter a lighting kit for my M2 and HVX. I know which lights I'm going to get and some of the accessories. Question is, what kinds of material do you use for diffeusion. There dosent seem to be much for sale in that area besides soft boxes.

I would consider a do it yourself solution. Looking for something that will mount to lights and also a larger one for outdoors sun diffusion.
 
There are many types of diffusion, check out Rosco Cinegel brand spun, grid cloth, silk, frost, about 20 + different types available.

I would [bare minimun] have three sheets of tough spun, lt looks a lot like a sheet of Bounty, the stuff you put into the dryer... it's high temp resistance and diffuses nicely & can be used for years, at around 6 bucks a sheet. You can also go to a fabric store and buy all sorts of material to diffuse light, i.e., muslin, etc., but you must be very mindful of heat temp resistance, fire hazards; choose wisely. Use wooden clothes pins to secure to the fixures barndoors.

You can also invest in scrims, nets and such. These are typically held in place with a C stand and the Gobo arm. Flags are also helpful for blocking out all sorts of unwanted light and reflections.
 
Does the Rosco Cinegel brand spun, grid cloth, silk, frost, have light loss ratings. Would I expect to lose 1 stop, 1/2 stop ect. (im sure they are all different).
 
Yes they incur different degrees of loss. You can also use dimmers. Spun and such can be doubled / tripled for further diffusion and light control.
 
I use DIY scrims made with PVC and white Rip-Stop cloth. They work great and I don't lose too much light. Total cost around 20 bucks each.
 
I like opal, 216 and 1/2 216

Outside for butterflies and overheads my fav. is Rosco Hilite (shower curtain material) for little light loss but great diffusion and silent in the wind but catches the wind like a sail too. I use it regularly clipped to a 4x4 frame on a combo stand to diffuse Sun or HMI (at a distance).

Grid cloth in fabric stores work well too. FYI dimmers will effect your color temp ... hence the scrim use. Have fun !
 
I love grid cloth, 1/4 is nice. :beer:

I would be very wary of purchasing a substitute for true diffusion cloth. Although much more expensive, it is designed with purpose in mind, as well as safety.

Some cloths you can find at stores which may be used as silks or diffusion are not properly constructed to withstand such intense heat, which a tungsten or HMI can give off.

Be safe. No reason to burn a house down because you didn't want to pay the 80$ for a large roll of diffusion.
 
No one has asked what kind of lights that he is using....
How big, open face or fresnels, what wattage,??? yadda,yadda..Different bulb types give different results with the same diffusion.
However, there are many fine examples of types of diffusion material suggested here, and many people have their favorites from past assignments they have worked on.
check out www.expendablesrecycler.com Perhaps they can put together a sampler pack of the most used /popular materials they have on hand for you.
 
This is what I'm getting so far, any advice is appreciated.

A 2k fresnel with bardoors / Cstand / bulb - $333:
http://www.pyramid-films.com/mole_richardson_2k_fresnel_.htm

3000W Blue Line kit from image west (3 1000w fresnels) with light stands, bag, barndoors and gel pack. $1064
http://imagewest.tv/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=65

Impact boom stand with reflector $90
http://imagewest.tv/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=65

4 impact gel holders that mount to stands - $160
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/359886-REG/Impact_3312_Universal_Filter_Holder_.html

Rosco 20x24 1/2 and 1/4 CTB - $26

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/44128-REG/Rosco_RS320811__3208_Filter_1_4.html

2 - 4 rosco diffuion kits - $60
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/44763-REG/Rosco_RS302010_Diffusion_Kit.html

Misc. clips and adapters - $50

Homemade dolly and diffusion with PVC pipe - $?

Total: aprox. $1800

What do you think? Most my indoor shots are during the night, but for those day interior shots i will balance with 1/2 ctb and let the windows go a little blue. No rooms will be bigger than 20x20. Only things I'm not sure about is the diffusion materials and which will be the best and most versitile.

I just got laid off from my job.. which is good becausae I can focus on the film but money is tight so if I can cut out the impact holders and maybe find less expensive diffuion or gels I will go that way.
 
Jimmy Moss said:
4 impact gel holders that mount to stands - $160
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/359886-REG/Impact_3312_Universal_Filter_Holder_.html
Click to expand...

I have one of those. Don't recall ever using it. Most people attach the gels to the lights barndoors with c47's.

You might want to search this site for imagewest and see what other DVXusers have to say about them.

You might also check out www.filmtools.com for gels and other interesting tools.

You might also check out The Grip Guide. You can watch online or download QT files. Some basic good info there you might find interesting.
 
I like the grip guide thanks for the link. Film Tools is cool too, but some of their stuff is a little pricey (in indie terms).

I might just try and use c47's for attaching the gels, but i thought it would put more wear and tear on them.

I have read some stuff about image west on here and its generally good, but I hear the service might is a little no existent. I did send them an e-mail and never heard back.... as long as they ship the product I'm good to go.
 
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