Diffusing some el cheapo lighting at DVinfo.net

John Lee · May 25th, 2003, 10:15 PM

I got a pair of 500W halogen bulbs, work lights I believe, and they provide excellent lighting considering I only spent $20 on them. However, I've had to bounce them off the ceilings and walls because they're way too bright to shine on anyone's face. I was wondering where I could purchase some sort of translucent white material to clip on in front of the bulbs, so that I could point them straight ahead. I would just clip a piece of paper in front of them, but obviously they get way too hot to do that. I'm just looking for something white and translucent to help soften and diffuse the light, that I can easily clip on. Any suggestions?

Bryan Beasleigh · May 25th, 2003, 10:22 PM

http://www.leefiltersusa.com/PDFs/Li...PdfIndex.html#

Here's a link to some literature about diffusion material. You could always lamp down. (put a lesser wattage bulb in)

Alex Knappenberger · May 25th, 2003, 10:27 PM

You are best off building a softbox, or bouncing them, like you said, check out this article:

http://dv.com/features/features_item...1/bjohnson0401

Adrian Douglas · May 26th, 2003, 10:45 AM

Mate go to the supermarket and get yourself some ovenproof baking paper. Remove the wire cages from the front of the lights and wrap them in the paper, a couple of layers should do the job, make sure you fill in the holes on the sides. Put the cages back on and your in business.

K. Forman · May 26th, 2003, 10:51 AM

Uh... I would disagree with Adrian- Do not remove the cages. They are there to keep you safe in case the bulb blows. As far as wrapping them with wax paper, just make sure you leave some room for them to breath. Wax paper will indeed make a good diffuser. Also, you might consider using umbrella reflectors. They make the light much broader and softer.

Bryan Beasleigh · May 26th, 2003, 11:20 AM

Adrian is speaking about bakers parchment, not waxed paper. Baking parchment can withstand a 450 degree oven without browning.It's also known as silicon paper. Comes in a wide roll for under $4.

I would also agree that it would be bad practice to remove the safety screens.

K. Forman · May 26th, 2003, 12:35 PM

My mistake, I meant the same thing <G>

Dylan Couper · May 26th, 2003, 01:39 PM

Adrian does say in his post that you have to put the cages back on.
I think Keith has a really good idea with the umbrellas. They are cheap and much more versitile than diffusion paper. I've seen them as cheap as $10-$20 on Ebay. Should be easy to clamp them to your light stands with about $3 of Home Depot parts.

K. Forman · May 26th, 2003, 02:30 PM

I got a pair of umbrellas off ebay for about $10 ea. And I must of missed where Adrian said to put the cages back... My bad :)

Bryan Beasleigh · May 26th, 2003, 04:44 PM

I know the idea is to save money and not spend it, but a lobo clamp or D200 grip head would really make things easier. the d200's are around 420 ans a lobo (wescott or lowel) around $25.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh2.sph/...ID=F59DBA14190

The lobo will clamp an umbrella to almost anything.

Adrian Douglas · May 27th, 2003, 05:35 AM

Thanks Dylan. Yes, don't leave the cages off, that would defeat the point of wrapping them in the baking paper, as well as create a safety issue.

As Bryan pointed out don't use the waxed stuff. I've used the baking paper on the same lights and it does a good job if you are totally strapped for cash. One problem with these lights is that the colour temp is very low, about 2800°K and result in a very warm light. It look nice if it is your only light source but it dosen't mix well with daylight. To correct this some blue gels clipped on to reshaped wire coat hangers will help cool the light a little.

Dylan Couper · May 27th, 2003, 09:17 AM

Any particular blue gel you can reccomend?

Adrian Douglas · May 27th, 2003, 10:49 AM

Lee are very good but expensive and only come in roll or large sheets. I used to get off cuts from a friend back in Australia who did stage lighting for bands but here in Japan gels are hard to get.

Do a search on Google and you should find some good stuff.

Wayne Orr · May 27th, 2003, 11:29 AM

Here is a link to Lee Filters available at Film Tools in Burbank, CA. You will see that a single sheet, which is all you need, is about $5.50. I recommend you use the 216 diffusion. You can also get "blue frost" for a diffusion with blue correction built in. http://store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/leedifsheetx.html

BTW, those wire frames around the lights are for keeping fingers out and other materials from touching the globe. They will provide very little protection if a globe pops, sending small pieces of hot glass flying, so be careful with those lights.

K. Forman · May 27th, 2003, 01:07 PM

Every little bit helps. Safety first.

May 25th, 2003, 10:15 PM	#1
John Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 152	Diffusing some el cheapo lighting I got a pair of 500W halogen bulbs, work lights I believe, and they provide excellent lighting considering I only spent $20 on them. However, I've had to bounce them off the ceilings and walls because they're way too bright to shine on anyone's face. I was wondering where I could purchase some sort of translucent white material to clip on in front of the bulbs, so that I could point them straight ahead. I would just clip a piece of paper in front of them, but obviously they get way too hot to do that. I'm just looking for something white and translucent to help soften and diffuse the light, that I can easily clip on. Any suggestions? __________________ John Lee Levelse7en@gmail.com

May 26th, 2003, 10:45 AM	#4
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Mate go to the supermarket and get yourself some ovenproof baking paper. Remove the wire cages from the front of the lights and wrap them in the paper, a couple of layers should do the job, make sure you fill in the holes on the sides. Put the cages back on and your in business. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

May 26th, 2003, 01:39 PM	#8
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Adrian does say in his post that you have to put the cages back on. I think Keith has a really good idea with the umbrellas. They are cheap and much more versitile than diffusion paper. I've seen them as cheap as $10-$20 on Ebay. Should be easy to clamp them to your light stands with about $3 of Home Depot parts. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

May 27th, 2003, 05:35 AM	#11
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Thanks Dylan. Yes, don't leave the cages off, that would defeat the point of wrapping them in the baking paper, as well as create a safety issue. As Bryan pointed out don't use the waxed stuff. I've used the baking paper on the same lights and it does a good job if you are totally strapped for cash. One problem with these lights is that the colour temp is very low, about 2800°K and result in a very warm light. It look nice if it is your only light source but it dosen't mix well with daylight. To correct this some blue gels clipped on to reshaped wire coat hangers will help cool the light a little. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

May 27th, 2003, 09:17 AM	#12
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Any particular blue gel you can reccomend? __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

May 25th, 2003, 10:22 PM	#2
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	http://www.leefiltersusa.com/PDFs/Li...PdfIndex.html# Here's a link to some literature about diffusion material. You could always lamp down. (put a lesser wattage bulb in)

May 25th, 2003, 10:27 PM	#3
Alex Knappenberger High School Student Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canton, Ohio, USA Posts: 609	You are best off building a softbox, or bouncing them, like you said, check out this article: http://dv.com/features/features_item...1/bjohnson0401

May 26th, 2003, 10:51 AM	#5
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Uh... I would disagree with Adrian- Do not remove the cages. They are there to keep you safe in case the bulb blows. As far as wrapping them with wax paper, just make sure you leave some room for them to breath. Wax paper will indeed make a good diffuser. Also, you might consider using umbrella reflectors. They make the light much broader and softer.

May 26th, 2003, 11:20 AM	#6
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	Adrian is speaking about bakers parchment, not waxed paper. Baking parchment can withstand a 450 degree oven without browning.It's also known as silicon paper. Comes in a wide roll for under $4. I would also agree that it would be bad practice to remove the safety screens.

May 26th, 2003, 12:35 PM	#7
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	My mistake, I meant the same thing <G>

May 26th, 2003, 02:30 PM	#9
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	I got a pair of umbrellas off ebay for about $10 ea. And I must of missed where Adrian said to put the cages back... My bad :)

May 26th, 2003, 04:44 PM	#10
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	I know the idea is to save money and not spend it, but a lobo clamp or D200 grip head would really make things easier. the d200's are around 420 ans a lobo (wescott or lowel) around $25. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh2.sph/...ID=F59DBA14190 The lobo will clamp an umbrella to almost anything.

May 27th, 2003, 10:49 AM	#13
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Lee are very good but expensive and only come in roll or large sheets. I used to get off cuts from a friend back in Australia who did stage lighting for bands but here in Japan gels are hard to get. Do a search on Google and you should find some good stuff. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

May 27th, 2003, 11:29 AM	#14
Wayne Orr Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Northridge Ca Posts: 734	Here is a link to Lee Filters available at Film Tools in Burbank, CA. You will see that a single sheet, which is all you need, is about $5.50. I recommend you use the 216 diffusion. You can also get "blue frost" for a diffusion with blue correction built in. http://store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/leedifsheetx.html BTW, those wire frames around the lights are for keeping fingers out and other materials from touching the globe. They will provide very little protection if a globe pops, sending small pieces of hot glass flying, so be careful with those lights. __________________ Wayne If it was easy, they'd get a relative to do it.

May 27th, 2003, 01:07 PM	#15
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Every little bit helps. Safety first.