Reflectors to bounce light...

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DVX100Shooter

Veteran
I am looking for some ideas on how to make my own gold/silver reflector to bounce light. This would be for fashion photography. I want to make something very similar to the popular "California Sunbounce". The cheapest thing I saw was someone glued some foil to a piece of cardboard and that was about it! LOL! I am looking for other ideas perhaps using a nylon fabric so the device could be folded or can be used while traveling, etc.

thanks!

I just came across an idea of using "Emergency Space Blankets" or a Car window sun reflector to bounce the light.
 
Home improvement stores (Lowe's etc) will have a material called reflectix. Its like thin sturdy bubblewrap with reflective silver material on both side. Its used as attic insulation from what I can tell.

The downside is that it's usually only sold by the roll for $40ish. Gets you a lot of material though. You will also need something to keep it flat. Likes to curl a bit from being in a roll. Clamps, a frame, an assistant would all fix this. The curl can be used to positive effect though when getting light to wrap around a subject a bit.

Have had good luck with auto sunshades as well.
 
They'll also have beadboard, which is a sheet of styrofoam insulation that has silver on one side.

Getting a gold reflector isn't as easy, but you could always get a silver one and spray-paint it gold.
 
I've heard of people using compressed foam, the type that they ship ac units and other appliances in, maybe you can hit up a store like Conn's or Sears and see if they have any left over or after deliveries.
Also tri fold posterboards that are often used for science fairs. Also insulation tape looks like wide tape made of aluminum but is sturdier then foil as it's used for the gaps in large ac units when they run the ducts. If you need other colors other then white I suppose you may be able to use the reflective pages intended for scrapbooking in the arts and craft section of office supply stores.
Just suggestions, good luck man.
 
happnin' mojo said:
I've heard of people using compressed foam, the type that they ship ac units and other appliances in,
Click to expand...

It's too flimsy. You can get away with once or twice if there's no other choice, and you're really careful with it, but it just doesn't have the rigor to be of much use.
 
happnin' mojo said:
I've heard of people using compressed foam, the type that they ship ac units and other appliances in, maybe you can hit up a store like Conn's or Sears and see if they have any left over or after deliveries.
Click to expand...

The compressed foam people use is beadboard. Most cover one side with Roscoe 3902 reflective media. You can buy one inch sheet of this at Home Depot. The packing foam will break very easily and I would not recommend it.
 
DVX100Shooter, survival blankets are sold with one side silver and the other side gold. Those blankets are pretty cheap. (I have a few of them in my mountaineering stuff.) Could that be usefull? Incorporated into a DIY project I mean, not stand-alone of course.
 
Anyone know what kind of wire they use in those foldable reflectors? Digital Juice has a nice foldable green/blue screen but they want a ton of money for it.

I've got a couple extra green muslins and I'd like to convert one into being foldable like that.
 
I cut some reflectix into sheets that are the same size as a piece of white foamcore.

Use gaff tape to tape the edges, and yo have a reflector on one side and a white board on the other.
 
Embroidery hoops make fantastic small reflector frames when using sheets of Rosco or other flexible reflective media. Takes just minutes to put together. Sometimes they come as large as 14 inches in diameter, as well as square frames. I use them all the time when the talent wears a baseball cap outdoors, and their eyes are shadowed by the brim of the hat.

Also, there is a style of Yard Sign (political signs ETC) holder, designed for the slip-over printed-plastic-bag-style signs, out there that is hollow tubing for the top and bottom, and the sides are made of rigid wire. You can cut these to length, assemble them, wrap some reflective media (or even black felt for flagging), and you have a fantastic, hearty, inexpensive disposable frame. Use Snot-Tape to affix your fabric/gell/felt/reflective rosco media to the frame. I have even stapled the fabric around the frame when in a rush. It all works!!

I have made up several Black Felt Flags using these. If you want to make it permanent, get some hem or seaming tape, fold the felt over the edges of the frame and Iron it. It works kind of like hot glue. Some of mine have been around for a couple years, and did not fall apart.
 
You can make some PVC frames (with feet even) and get some gold and silver lame (la-mae) fabric at a fabric store. Cut the PVC into sections (say 3-feet) and use union pieces, corners and T's to put it together (don't glue any of it!) so it will pack and store easily. Put some Velcro pieces on the PVC (peel 'n' stick - in rolls, sold by the foot, at the fabric store) and the fabric (sew, staple, Stitch Witchery iron on tape or fabric glue) and attach the fabric that way or sew elastic corners on the fabric and slide them on the PVC corners. Make a few black, white and transparent fabric panels and you'll be able to reflect, diffuse, and block light.

Hmm. Just noticed this sticky thread which may be of help, too.
 
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