What could I use as a diffusion filter?

Pettersen

Pettersen

Well-known member
What could I use as a diffusion filter, instead of buying one? I've heard shower curtains will do the trick, anyone tried this?
 
You could use white showere curtains, or tracing paper. You have to bring it far enough away from the lamp so as not to be a fire hazzard.

Why do you not want to use diffusion? (rosco or lee)

-j
 
Luis Caffesse said:
I've never tried it myself, but I've heard dryer sheets can work pretty well in a pinch.
And they can take some heat...
Click to expand...

They're almost identical to tough spun. In fact, the first time I saw tough spun, that's what I thought it was.:laugh:
 
White rip-stop nylon is great. Most fabric stores have it. It's usually used for tents and windbreakers... very tough and very translucent. It will melt before it will burn but I've used it within a foot and a half of my 1000w lights with no problem.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Okay, if I use a shower curtain, how far must the curtain be from my 500w worklights without catching fire? Another thing, how can I attach the curtain to the light? Any DIY ideas here?
 
Sirius_Doggy said:
Rice Paper + Hot Lights = FIRE.

http://www.rosco.com/us/filters/cinegel.asp

Here's a good article on diffusion.
http://www.rosco.com/us/technotes/filters/diff_conf.asp
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Not on the light. Rigged in front of the light. Same deal as the shower cutain. Both are dangerous if rigged to the light, but if rigged in front (via c-stand or broom taped to a light stand or what ever), they can be effective. Watch the rig and check the temp of the diff and things should be fine.
I'll make sure to explain myself better in the future. I made the mistake of asuming that those reading this already had a working knowledge.
 
Sirius_Doggy said:
Rice Paper + Hot Lights = FIRE.

http://www.rosco.com/us/filters/cinegel.asp

Here's a good article on diffusion.
http://www.rosco.com/us/technotes/filters/diff_conf.asp
Click to expand...


hmm I guess the asians got it wrong for those thousands of years with paper lanterns and house with rice paper. could have fooled i guess they got it wrong when it came to it though. no wonder, hmm guess they know nothing about lighting utilities. oh well. you could always use wax paper instead or go old flash lights and candles.
 
Again, just get yourself a sheet of rosco 216 or any other real diffusion, you can then just attach it directly to the light, and not have to keep looking over your shoulder or sniffing the air to see if it burning.

This is just something worth doing right.

-j
 
I tried with ricepaper. Worked great, but I had to use some string to get the paper at an apropriate distance to the bulb.

Here's a picture of the setup.

7d080928456979612628197b2cbf9ec9.jpg
 
j said:
Perhaps you can make some barn doors out of paper or plastic too...
Click to expand...
I'm going to call you out on this one. I guess you've never had to make some thing on a "nothing" budget. There is no need to be an ass. Some of these solutions may be a bit wanky, I'll give them that, but they are ones that worked(in one way or another).
I agree with you 100% that one should use Lee or Rosco filters. That is all I use, but when I didn't have them or the cash to buy them, I had to search for solutions. Solutions that did the trick, not just passed as diffusion. I used rice paper, with the idea that, if I'm not careful, it could burn. It's not hard to figure. Take into consideration, that people (much dumber than you) know when some thing has the potential to burn and what to do about it.

Quit being such a snob.
 
Ok, I'll take that. That was a bit rude of me, especially when considering the "open and creative" atmosphere of this forum. I apologize.

I don't however think that this is something worth doing DIY. Diffusion is available *Cheap*, and if taken care of, will last forever. I still have my first piece of diffusion, a 2'x2' piece of 216 that a DP kicked down to me in film school in 1999. I still keep it in my kit for good luck and use it often.

Here is a link for buying diffusion:

http://store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/leedifsheetx.html

They sell 2'x2' sheets for $6 ea. If I could only afford 2, I would get a sheet of opal and a sheet of 216.

-j
 
Oh yeah, also ask for a "swatch book" when you buy, they should throw one in for free. It has 2" samples of every gel available.

-j
 
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