Softbox modified for softer light and ROUND catchlights

[Dick Sanders]

How many of you have a square or rectangular softbox and have been living with squarish catchlights? Well, suffer no more. A small can of black fabric paint can give you ROUND catchlights for a more pleasing look.

All you have to do is paint the translucent white fabric on the front of your softbox, as I have done here, creating a circle through which the light passes. Note here the extra diffusion fabric hanging from the bottom that I clip over the front when even softer light is needed.

In the next picture, you'll see the inside of the softbox (a Westcott Apollo Mono, based on an umbrella frame). The white fabric at left is the translucent front. The sides and back are reflective silver. Note the direction of the strobe head, aimed toward the back, so that the light first bounces off the silver reflective material, before punching through the white translucent fabric on the front.

In the final picture you can see the extra diffusion material clipped over the front of the softbox. This gives me one bounce and two diffusion (3 layer modification), for a very pleasing soft light with round catchlights. Yes, those are wooden clothespins.

Comments welcome. Thanks for looking.

 

[250Gimp]

Just out of curiosity....what are you using for the second layer of diffusion material?

 

[Big Mike]

Do you really need the 3rd layer of material? It's not really making the light source any bigger, so therefore isn't really making the light any softer. The only benefit I can see, is that might lessen a hot spot in the centre that some lights/softboxes give you...but you won't have the problem anyway because the light is reflecting out off the back of the softbox anyway.

 

[Dick Sanders]

Big Mike: Yes, I've tested adding the second layer of diffusion and the light quality is made a little softer. But this may just be my box. Others with a little different type of material might behave differently. I shoot it with or without the 2nd layer, depending on the kind of light I want. But you're right -- the biggest benefit is the bounce with diffusion. Much better than straight shoot-thru, imo.

 

[K_Pugh]

Feck painting my softbox material.. bit of cardboard with a circle cutout, job done! just seems a bit extreme unless you want it permanent of course.

 

[Dick Sanders]

Just out of curiosity....what are you using for the second layer of diffusion material?

I went to the fabric store and bought a couple of yards of a warm-white
nylon sheer material. It's doubled here.

K-Pugh: I did want it permanent on this box, ready to use as I prefer. But your method is certainly practical.

 

[Big Mike]

Or you could have got black material and cut a circle into it. Actually, you could cut any shape into it and thus give any shape to your catch lights. I seem to remember an instructor calling them cookie cutters or just cookies...something like that. Same idea applies to putting the shapes over your background lights to put shapes onto your background....or over your lens to shape your bokeh.

 

[Dick Sanders]

Feck painting my softbox material.

Now, that you've said that, I'm going to find out where your studio is, and I'm going to sneak in at night and paint all the fronts of your softboxes, leaving just tiny 3 inch square openings!


Just kidding... :lmao:

 

[K_Pugh]

I wish I had studio space

You'll never get to my softboxes with your evil black fabric paint, never! - If you do I'll have to paint yours with my tartan paint

 

[Dick Sanders]

I've already bought a fresh gallon of black gloss fabric paint.

Even got a new 4 inch brush.

And new black sneakers...

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: