Stupid reflector tricks... at DVinfo.net

Greg Quinn · December 15th, 2006, 03:27 PM

Can anyone assist me in pointing me to an explanation about how to fold a large reflector back into the case? I should have noted how it was folded up before opening it.

Emre Safak · December 15th, 2006, 07:10 PM

This one vexed me too! You need an assistant to hold one end still while you twist the other end, collapsing the reflector.

Glenn Chan · December 15th, 2006, 07:53 PM

You're talking about the disc-types that collapse and blow up right?

1- Use both hands and hold the reflector out in front of you.
2- Most people will naturally hold the reflector with both palms facing the same direction (i.e. everything is symmetrical). You need to take one hand off and put it back on the reflector, except with your palm facing away from your body.
3- Twist the reflector, sort of like how you'd wring a towel.
4- The reflector should start bending.
5- You want to keep twisting until you see three circles in the reflector.
6- Push the circles together.
7- Put the whole thing in the case.

I honestly hope that makes sense.

Josh Bass · December 15th, 2006, 08:19 PM

Not necessarily so. I have a 42" 5 in one deal. Both palms can be facing the same way, but it seems you have to hold your arms apart at the same vertical height, i.e. not have one arm higher on the reflector than the other. Then twist your hands in opposite directions. At a certain point, you'll want to move your arm to make the twisting easier. Don't! Force the reflector to twist upon itself using just your hands, and it'll form the right shape to collapse it.

Greg Quinn · December 15th, 2006, 10:42 PM

Thanks for the replies guys - this is a big sucker, a 6'x4' elliptical that I got from B&H a few days ago. I'll keep practicing. Maybe a good first project with this equipment will be to make a training video on how to fold one of these...! (I have seen a video to do this a while back, on a vendor site, but before I thought I was going to buy one of these things, and I don't remember its location).

Bill Davis · December 16th, 2006, 01:53 AM

My recipe for folding big uneven reflectors...

Start out by holding one corner at about waist height with the opposite diagonal corner away from you and resting on the floor.

Now think giant TACO! Fold the corner in your hand toward the far corner until you can bend over, match the corners, and gather them in one hand.

In this "taco" configuration, notice that the taco ends are looping down and inward. Encourage them. Use your free hand to overlap these two "end hoops" (up and under) as as you do this, you'll notice that with these two "hoops" overlapped, the original gathered edges can slide one over the other and the whole shebang should slide into the packable "3 hoops" configuration.

Just think lay it out diagonally, then THINK TACO.

Takes practice, but once mastered, you'll never forget.

Good luck.

Marcus Marchesseault · December 16th, 2006, 04:14 AM

Listen to Bill. He is wise. I fortunately found this method randomly while wrestling with my 4x5 reflector. His description is better than I could have written. It would probably take me three paragraphs to describe what Bill said in one word - "taco".

Wait, you know the ends of the hard-shell taco where the juices drip out? When you fold the reflector, those ends need to start moving toward each other. Think "fold the taco and spill the juices and ingredients out the ends"! :)

I fold mine lengthwise. I don't think you need to do it on a diagonal.

Dan Brockett · December 16th, 2006, 01:48 PM

Hi all:

Good thread, Bill is a wise man.

I have the ChromaFlex 8' x 8' green screen. It's square with rounded corners. It took me a while to figure out how to fold it up but they key for me was twisting it until I saw the mythical "3 rings". Once you see them, you just rotate them until they are all about the same size, then it fits into the case.

BTW, I have made $20.00 on a bet that someone inexperienced COULDN'T fold this thing up within 20 minutes. It is tricky until you have done it a few times.

Best,

Dan

December 15th, 2006, 03:27 PM	#1
Greg Quinn Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 505	Stupid reflector tricks... Can anyone assist me in pointing me to an explanation about how to fold a large reflector back into the case? I should have noted how it was folded up before opening it.

December 15th, 2006, 08:19 PM	#4
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Not necessarily so. I have a 42" 5 in one deal. Both palms can be facing the same way, but it seems you have to hold your arms apart at the same vertical height, i.e. not have one arm higher on the reflector than the other. Then twist your hands in opposite directions. At a certain point, you'll want to move your arm to make the twisting easier. Don't! Force the reflector to twist upon itself using just your hands, and it'll form the right shape to collapse it. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

December 16th, 2006, 01:53 AM	#6
Bill Davis Trustee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Posts: 1,538	Big Reflector folding issues My recipe for folding big uneven reflectors... Start out by holding one corner at about waist height with the opposite diagonal corner away from you and resting on the floor. Now think giant TACO! Fold the corner in your hand toward the far corner until you can bend over, match the corners, and gather them in one hand. In this "taco" configuration, notice that the taco ends are looping down and inward. Encourage them. Use your free hand to overlap these two "end hoops" (up and under) as as you do this, you'll notice that with these two "hoops" overlapped, the original gathered edges can slide one over the other and the whole shebang should slide into the packable "3 hoops" configuration. Just think lay it out diagonally, then THINK TACO. Takes practice, but once mastered, you'll never forget. Good luck.

December 16th, 2006, 01:48 PM	#8
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Reply Hi all: Good thread, Bill is a wise man. I have the ChromaFlex 8' x 8' green screen. It's square with rounded corners. It took me a while to figure out how to fold it up but they key for me was twisting it until I saw the mythical "3 rings". Once you see them, you just rotate them until they are all about the same size, then it fits into the case. BTW, I have made $20.00 on a bet that someone inexperienced COULDN'T fold this thing up within 20 minutes. It is tricky until you have done it a few times. Best, Dan

December 15th, 2006, 07:10 PM	#2
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	This one vexed me too! You need an assistant to hold one end still while you twist the other end, collapsing the reflector.

December 15th, 2006, 07:53 PM	#3
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	You're talking about the disc-types that collapse and blow up right? 1- Use both hands and hold the reflector out in front of you. 2- Most people will naturally hold the reflector with both palms facing the same direction (i.e. everything is symmetrical). You need to take one hand off and put it back on the reflector, except with your palm facing away from your body. 3- Twist the reflector, sort of like how you'd wring a towel. 4- The reflector should start bending. 5- You want to keep twisting until you see three circles in the reflector. 6- Push the circles together. 7- Put the whole thing in the case. I honestly hope that makes sense.

December 15th, 2006, 10:42 PM	#5
Greg Quinn Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 505	Thanks for the replies guys - this is a big sucker, a 6'x4' elliptical that I got from B&H a few days ago. I'll keep practicing. Maybe a good first project with this equipment will be to make a training video on how to fold one of these...! (I have seen a video to do this a while back, on a vendor site, but before I thought I was going to buy one of these things, and I don't remember its location).

December 16th, 2006, 04:14 AM	#7
Marcus Marchesseault Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,961	Listen to Bill. He is wise. I fortunately found this method randomly while wrestling with my 4x5 reflector. His description is better than I could have written. It would probably take me three paragraphs to describe what Bill said in one word - "taco". Wait, you know the ends of the hard-shell taco where the juices drip out? When you fold the reflector, those ends need to start moving toward each other. Think "fold the taco and spill the juices and ingredients out the ends"! :) I fold mine lengthwise. I don't think you need to do it on a diagonal.