Diffusing material at DVinfo.net

Kathy Smith · January 3rd, 2017, 01:32 PM

Hi,

I'm going to make my own softbox what what do you think would be the best diffusing material?

Doug Jensen · January 3rd, 2017, 02:06 PM

What kind of light? If it's LED you can use anything you want. If it's not LED . . . get an LED! :-)

Kathy Smith · January 3rd, 2017, 09:15 PM

yes, LED. I know I can use anything but what would be best?

Nate Haustein · January 3rd, 2017, 10:01 PM

I made a DIY 3x3 frame with 1" PVC and Ripstip nylon from Joann Fabrics. For $15 think it works great!

Kathy Smith · January 4th, 2017, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Haustein

I made a DIY 3x3 frame with 1" PVC and Ripstip nylon from Joann Fabrics. For $15 think it works great!

Thank you!

Jim Michael · January 4th, 2017, 11:32 AM

You should be able to get a Lee Filter swatch book from your local Barbizon Lighting or similar dealer, in which you'll find a variety of diffusion choices. Some are cloth and some polyester or similar material.

Doug Jensen · January 4th, 2017, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kathy Smith

know I can use anything but what would be best?

There are many factors to consider when determining the best material. How much diffusion do want? How powerful is the light? A lot of LED lights just don't have enough fire power to go through a softbox and still have anything left on the other side, so the thinnest material you can find is probably your best bet. Since fabric is cheap, go to a store and buy a yard each of several candidates and try them out.

Arthur Gannis · January 5th, 2017, 02:47 PM

I used to purchase a large sheet of acrylic of the transparent type at home depot and bought a 4 dollar scoring knife to get the exact size I needed. I then sprayed several coats of Krylon diffusing spray to get the effect or opacity I needed letting dry between coats. I did it outside as the fumes are strong. It drys very fast. Another one is ordering from TAP plastics http://www.tapplastics.com/product/p...o_size_plastic,

they will cut to size and they have diffusing material as well and in different thicknesses too. They deliver quick and very reasonable prices. I am positive that you will find exactly what you need here.

Arthur Gannis · January 5th, 2017, 02:57 PM

Kathy, if you are making the entire fixture LED's come in different color temperatures ( light color) from somewhat 2800K (warm or yellowish) to daylight blue 5200K-6500K (bluish) and everything in between.
Once you discover that the light color is not what you have expected, you can always, instead of changing the leds, use a color correcting gel under the diffuser. I have made several light boxes to view color transparencies and found that a neutral white leds like 4000K was perfect. It is difficult diffusing leds as they are an intense point light source and I found it best if they are not too close to the diffusing material. I also made several using fluorescent tubes and they are not only cheaper but tend to diffuse better.
If you could tell me what size is your softbox, have other suggestions depending on size. Sometimes flexible and thin diffusing material works best, sometimes a rigid acrylic sheet is better.

Kathy Smith · January 5th, 2017, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arthur Gannis

Kathy, if you are making the entire fixture LED's come in different color temperatures ( light color) from somewhat 2800K (warm or yellowish) to daylight blue 5200K-6500K (bluish) and everything in between.
Once you discover that the light color is not what you have expected, you can always, instead of changing the leds, use a color correcting gel under the diffuser. I have made several light boxes to view color transparencies and found that a neutral white leds like 4000K was perfect. It is difficult diffusing leds as they are an intense point light source and I found it best if they are not too close to the diffusing material. I also made several using fluorescent tubes and they are not only cheaper but tend to diffuse better.
If you could tell me what size is your softbox, have other suggestions depending on size. Sometimes flexible and thin diffusing material works best, sometimes a rigid acrylic sheet is better.

Hi Arthur, I'm building these

Arthur Gannis · January 5th, 2017, 10:00 PM

I see it is a project you are making from scratch. From experience with the strip leds array they tend to be already diffused because the leds are mounted very close to each other. At distance to subject of around 3 feet or more and adding a diffuser will, at those distances only serve to reduce the brightness level or the glare for the subject. If the panel is used for close-up tabletop work ( like around 1-3 feet) then without a diffuser will cause multiple shadows to appear behind the subject and therefore a diffuser would be needed to eliminate that effect.
There are flexible diffusing materials available than can be folded/rolled etc. Just be careful that the material is not touching the leds as leds do get hot at the die surface level. I am sure that those leds are of the low wattage types and should not be a problem with diffusers. I have seen studios use rice paper or drafting sheets as well as opaque shower curtain material cut to size. Check out B&H to see what they have to offer on flexible acetates. Good luck with your project and please post back with pictures.

Kathy Smith · January 7th, 2017, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arthur Gannis

I see it is a project you are making from scratch. From experience with the strip leds array they tend to be already diffused because the leds are mounted very close to each other. At distance to subject of around 3 feet or more and adding a diffuser will, at those distances only serve to reduce the brightness level or the glare for the subject. If the panel is used for close-up tabletop work ( like around 1-3 feet) then without a diffuser will cause multiple shadows to appear behind the subject and therefore a diffuser would be needed to eliminate that effect.
There are flexible diffusing materials available than can be folded/rolled etc. Just be careful that the material is not touching the leds as leds do get hot at the die surface level. I am sure that those leds are of the low wattage types and should not be a problem with diffusers. I have seen studios use rice paper or drafting sheets as well as opaque shower curtain material cut to size. Check out B&H to see what they have to offer on flexible acetates. Good luck with your project and please post back with pictures.

Thank you. I will first build the panel and then experiment.

John C. Chu · January 7th, 2017, 12:52 PM

You might check out BLICK art materials. I bought a sheet of Canson Opalux 19"x25" for I think $5-6. Seems like it would work as a diffusing material.

Jim Michael · January 8th, 2017, 11:48 AM

That's interesting. There are some materials intended for printing backlit photographs, so they are white/translucent and available on a roll (e.g. Pictorico), however the price for a roll is probably comparable to products made for lighting like Lee and Rosco.

January 3rd, 2017, 01:32 PM	#1
Kathy Smith Major Player Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NY, NY USA Posts: 519	Diffusing material Hi, I'm going to make my own softbox what what do you think would be the best diffusing material?

January 3rd, 2017, 02:06 PM	#2
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,450	Re: Diffusing material What kind of light? If it's LED you can use anything you want. If it's not LED . . . get an LED! :-) __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

January 3rd, 2017, 09:15 PM	#3
Kathy Smith Major Player Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NY, NY USA Posts: 519	Re: Diffusing material yes, LED. I know I can use anything but what would be best?

January 3rd, 2017, 10:01 PM	#4
Nate Haustein Trustee Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,313	Re: Diffusing material I made a DIY 3x3 frame with 1" PVC and Ripstip nylon from Joann Fabrics. For $15 think it works great! __________________ Nate Haustein PXW-FX9 / FCPX www.flightcreativemedia.com

January 4th, 2017, 11:32 AM	#6
Jim Michael Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 895	Re: Diffusing material You should be able to get a Lee Filter swatch book from your local Barbizon Lighting or similar dealer, in which you'll find a variety of diffusion choices. Some are cloth and some polyester or similar material.

January 5th, 2017, 02:47 PM	#8
Arthur Gannis Major Player Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New Jersey USA Posts: 504	Re: Diffusing material I used to purchase a large sheet of acrylic of the transparent type at home depot and bought a 4 dollar scoring knife to get the exact size I needed. I then sprayed several coats of Krylon diffusing spray to get the effect or opacity I needed letting dry between coats. I did it outside as the fumes are strong. It drys very fast. Another one is ordering from TAP plastics http://www.tapplastics.com/product/p...o_size_plastic, they will cut to size and they have diffusing material as well and in different thicknesses too. They deliver quick and very reasonable prices. I am positive that you will find exactly what you need here.

January 5th, 2017, 02:57 PM	#9
Arthur Gannis Major Player Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New Jersey USA Posts: 504	Re: Diffusing material Kathy, if you are making the entire fixture LED's come in different color temperatures ( light color) from somewhat 2800K (warm or yellowish) to daylight blue 5200K-6500K (bluish) and everything in between. Once you discover that the light color is not what you have expected, you can always, instead of changing the leds, use a color correcting gel under the diffuser. I have made several light boxes to view color transparencies and found that a neutral white leds like 4000K was perfect. It is difficult diffusing leds as they are an intense point light source and I found it best if they are not too close to the diffusing material. I also made several using fluorescent tubes and they are not only cheaper but tend to diffuse better. If you could tell me what size is your softbox, have other suggestions depending on size. Sometimes flexible and thin diffusing material works best, sometimes a rigid acrylic sheet is better.

January 5th, 2017, 10:00 PM	#11
Arthur Gannis Major Player Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New Jersey USA Posts: 504	Re: Diffusing material I see it is a project you are making from scratch. From experience with the strip leds array they tend to be already diffused because the leds are mounted very close to each other. At distance to subject of around 3 feet or more and adding a diffuser will, at those distances only serve to reduce the brightness level or the glare for the subject. If the panel is used for close-up tabletop work ( like around 1-3 feet) then without a diffuser will cause multiple shadows to appear behind the subject and therefore a diffuser would be needed to eliminate that effect. There are flexible diffusing materials available than can be folded/rolled etc. Just be careful that the material is not touching the leds as leds do get hot at the die surface level. I am sure that those leds are of the low wattage types and should not be a problem with diffusers. I have seen studios use rice paper or drafting sheets as well as opaque shower curtain material cut to size. Check out B&H to see what they have to offer on flexible acetates. Good luck with your project and please post back with pictures.

January 7th, 2017, 12:52 PM	#13
John C. Chu Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Rego Park , NYC Posts: 665	Re: Diffusing material You might check out BLICK art materials. I bought a sheet of Canson Opalux 19"x25" for I think $5-6. Seems like it would work as a diffusing material. Attached Thumbnails

January 8th, 2017, 11:48 AM	#14
Jim Michael Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 895	Re: Diffusing material That's interesting. There are some materials intended for printing backlit photographs, so they are white/translucent and available on a roll (e.g. Pictorico), however the price for a roll is probably comparable to products made for lighting like Lee and Rosco.