Diffusion

Gohanto

Gohanto

Veteran
I'm looking at getting a 2.4kW Fresnel soon for several purposes. One of them being to punch through a large scrim to get a large soft source for the purpose of having it placed far enough back that characters can move around in the frame a bit without the light falloff changing drastically when the just move their head a few inches. Problem I'm running into is I'm not quite sure what scrim to get, I think 48x48" will fit my goals but I wanted a second opinion. Also, on b&h I was very confused about the differences between two materials...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/32812-REG/Matthews_159015_Solid_Frame_Scrim_.html

and

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/32816-REG/Matthews_159022_Solid_Frame_Scrim_.html

The fabric is the only difference I've seen but I'm lost as to the benefit the more expensive one gives.

Any help is appreciated.
 
Unless I'm mistaken, I believe scrims are used to cut the intensity of light, not necessarily soften it.

I would get a 4'x4' open frame and put a 4'x4' piece of 216 diffusion on it.
 
Haha. Drew you are not mistaken, scrims are made to cut down the intensity of the source, and are specific to the diameter of the lamp, made to fit between the lens and the barndoors.

I would recommend getting a few rolls of Opal, 250, and 216 diffusion. These can work for a variety of situations, and you can use each density for specific effects.
 
Hmm, any guess why they call them scrims on b&h?

More importantly though, is there any place to buy just a 4x4 sheet of 216, 250, or opal? All I can find are rolls (and smaller sheets), however those are notably expensive and I've never quite understood why I'd need an entire roll of one type of diffusion especially if all I have is 1 frame to put it on.
 
I do not know why they call them scrims... from what it looks like, B and H calls scrims, what would be considered a butterfly or something from a flag kit.

Perhaps it might be a photography thing? If not, I'm not sure, but 99% of people refer to scrims as the metal wire objects which are slid in front of a lamp to reduce intensity, not to change quality.

No there is not a place to buy 4x4 sheets, that I know of. You should buy a roll anyhow. Diffusion is not a long lasting film tool. Usually, it will accidentally tear or rip and will need replaced. Buying an entire roll of diffusion is helpful because you will have extra in case you need it or extra to replace the 4x4 sheet that will inevitably need replacing.

You can buy diffusion in smaller sheets but usually those are usually much smaller then 4'x4'
 
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I bought a 4x4 roll of 216 for something like $28 dollars.

I can't find the site right now but I'll check the package it came in for the company tomorrow and get back to this.

If I forget by the end of tomorrow, somebody PM me.
 
Andrew Brinkhaus said:
I would recommend getting a few rolls of Opal, 250, and 216 diffusion. These can work for a variety of situations, and you can use each density for specific effects.
Click to expand...

Just curious, but I own all of those diffusion types in 12x12" sheets for clipping onto barn doors. Honestly I've never noticed much difference between them however that may just be because they're small?

I'm still a student (super limited budget) and I only DP with my own equipment out of nessesity as our school doesn't have much and I don't live near a city that rents grip equipment. I don't plan on becoming a DP, but focus most of my effort on writing and directing.

Current lighting equipment I work from is a 650W Fresnel, 250W Pro-light, 2x2' flag, 2 C-stands, several lights stands, reflectors, clamps, basic pack of gels, and 2 300W Smith-Victor practicles on stands with blackwrap. (And getting the 2.4kW Fresnel soon)

So that said, do you believe I would benefit from paying several hundred on a few rolls of diffusion for a 4x4' frame, or would the white artifical silk on a 4x4 I mentioned in the original post for ~$80 likely be sufficient for my needs? (Shooting small student narrative films)
 
Bounce it off a white wall or a piece of foam core on a c-stand. That'll light up your whole room.
 
So, I keep most of my film gear in the guest bedroom closet.

Right now the guest bedroom is being occupied by my sleeping grandparents.

I'll check it out tomorrow. Sorry.

It's not expendables recycler.
 
Try ebay!.
there are lots of new and used diffusers (12 x 12'' and rolls) under 80 Us$.
Or you can use large wet (in oil-coconut) Tissues.( but ,you got to be carefull, if tissues too close (10'' or closer) they might start a fire!!.

good luck!...
 
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