BlackWrap / Cinefoil alternative?

OutlawsDelejos

OutlawsDelejos

Active member
Anybody know a quick, cheap alternative for blocking out unwanted lights. Got a shoot coming up very fast and no local suppliers, just looking for any better tips to blocking location lights.
 
Does it have to withstand heat? Aluminum foil. comes in wide rolls. Maybe wider at restaurant supply.
Does it have to be black? Aluminum foil with high-temperature paint - available in flat black spray at any store with spray paint cans. Withstands the temperatures of engine headers.
Does it have to be thicker than regular aluminum foil for stiffness? - use multiple layers.
 
Uh, yeah... Visqueen isn't so good for heat... more for blocking windows, stuff like that. If you need to withstand heat, blackwrap is the best.
 
Paul F said:
Does it have to withstand heat? Aluminum foil. comes in wide rolls. Maybe wider at restaurant supply.
Does it have to be black? Aluminum foil with high-temperature paint - available in flat black spray at any store with spray paint cans. Withstands the temperatures of engine headers.
Does it have to be thicker than regular aluminum foil for stiffness? - use multiple layers.
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This is what I was going to say, aluminum foil with high temp heat flat black. I'd worry about it flaking off, but you'll get by.

Or, instead...just use flags. You don't really need black wrap. It's just easier than setting a small flag.
 
RyanT said:
This is what I was going to say, aluminum foil with high temp heat flat black. I'd worry about it flaking off, but you'll get by.

....
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Yes, use the non-shiny side of the foil for better stick.
 
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I received some kit from a friend and inside was some tin foil painted black. Now I could be mistaken and it could be an older form of black wrap, as it does not flake or anything so if anyone knows this process or what if any paint to use I would love to know. other than that Visqueen sounds great for using with LED lights I'm going to have to try some out.
 
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OutlawsDelejos said:
Anybody know a quick, cheap alternative for blocking out unwanted lights. Got a shoot coming up very fast and no local suppliers, just looking for any better tips to blocking location lights.
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Can you explain a little more? I don't quite get what you're asking.

Decent flags can be made from black 2'X3' foam core. In one of the short ends cut a slot 2"X1/4" you can slide into a gobo head. Don't overtighten. Works great. I started that way a long time ago.
 
Many excellent suggestions here.

For blocking a big area, Duvetyne is perfect.
For blocking a big area on the cheap, Visqueen (as long as it doesn't have to be blocking something hot).
For flagging light off, black foam core is excellent and readily available at any craft or Office Depot/OfficeMax type of store.
For blocking off of a hot source, blackwrap or painted aluminum foil could work.
 
Paul F said:
Yes, use the non-shiny side of the foil for better stick.
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FWIW,

If you prime any clean aluminum with zinc chromate first, and then top with lacquer, you should get good adhesion. The X factor on foil is that it is flexible, so I wouldn't think that any coating would adhere without flaking. I have used thin aluminum sheet metal for flags with zinc chromate and lacquer and it works great. It holds up better than foam core and can be gripped with superclamps. This material is common at any metals supply house, isn't very expensive, most companies will shear it for you for nominal charges, and if you get something around 28gauge, can be easily worked by hand with tin snips.

Foam core is great, but this will work near heat, better in wind, can be effectively screwed to things, endures hard clamping, and is much more durable than foam core. Not the choice for every circumstance, but is a good alternative when foam core won't do.

Grant
 
would paint over the zinc chromate work as well? or would it most likely flake much more? and what kind would you recommend? any specific lacquer you would recommend?

thanks for pointing out the zinc chromate that seems to be one of the key elements to doing this (if it is possible/useful), though it gets to a point of effort and materials when it just makes more sense to just buy some black wrap.

thanks for the tips.

have a good one!
 
As long as it is true lacquer and not enamel, you should be fine. Enamel or acrylics won't work well on aluminum or over a zinc chromate primer. Seems to me, many of the labels are changing, so they don't always specify what type of paint is in the can. I had this problem recently at a box store so you might want to try a hardware store or industrial supplier, and zinc chromate is becomming less common due to enviro concerns. I have been using Orr-Laq for years, always a good product.

Grant
 
I should mention that you can make a very serviceable cuculoris from a 2'X3' piece of foam core. Take a look at commercial ones then sketch out some random shapes or leaf-looking patterns or strips like blinds and cut them out with an Xacto knife. You get different effects depending on the density of your pattern: how much you cut away versus how much you leave behind. You can get mostly dapples of light or mostly shadow. Cookies are not to be overused but in the right circumstance they provide light and shadow texture where there isn't any.
 
A roll of blackwrap only costs $25 and will last many years because the stuff can be reused over and over. You won't save much painting your own heavy weight foil for uncertain results.
 
thanks grant that is very helpful, and even if I don't use the knowledge to make black wrap it could end up being very useful information to have.

Slondon you are right I had not priced out black wrap in a while and I found a local dealer selling rolls for around 30-40$... so I think I'll just pick one up.

Thanks and have a wonderful saint patty's day!
 
slondon said:
A roll of blackwrap only costs $25 and will last many years because the stuff can be reused over and over. You won't save much painting your own heavy weight foil for uncertain results.
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The results I mention using light sheet aluminum are not uncertain, they work and work well. And in fact, sheet metal flags will "work well for years because they can be used over and over". Question: Will blackwrap stand up by itself? My point was to inform about a possibly useful alternative to other materials. I am not suggesting that sheet metal replace duve or foam core, but it has a place.

Grant

Grant
 
Wow, got a lot of replies! Thanks guys, I ended up sourcing some Black Wrap locally but there is some really great ideas in here that I'll definitely employ.
I wouldn't put painted alfoil near hot lights though, the paint burns off. Lots of smoke, smells bad.
That said I might try and experiment using 'Exhaust Paint' comes Matte Black in a spray can, some varieties are rated for between 700-800 deg celsius.
 
FWIW my fresnels have SDC painted on the barns in RED / Maroon engine paint. Just used a spray can and have been using them without issue like this for a number of years.
 
ggrantly said:
The results I mention using light sheet aluminum are not uncertain, they work and work well. And in fact, sheet metal flags will "work well for years because they can be used over and over". Question: Will blackwrap stand up by itself? My point was to inform about a possibly useful alternative to other materials. I am not suggesting that sheet metal replace duve or foam core, but it has a place.

Grant

Grant
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Hi Grant, no offense intended, man. Foil is all I addressed and sure enough it is expendable, light in weight, bendy and while durable, won't last indefinitely. Painted light gauge sheet aluminum sounds like a good idea and I haven't tried it but will have to. OTOH, blackwrap is great for an ad hoc snoot, to wrap around lamps that are spilling light from their housings, for a quick cookie, etc.
 
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