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Diffuser to sew

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Dervast

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Hi,

I bought a softbox with a single diffusion panel and I am how thinking of the lastoslite softbox that have double diffusion panels.

It looks like that is possible to sew an extra diffuser inside it and I wouldl ike to know where I can find diffusion material that I can try to patch and sew as needed.

Buying a diffuser is an option although I guess it would be easier if I can find the raw material directly

Regards

Alex
 
Go to a fabric store and ask for white rip-stop nylon.
 
You can use Velcro strips to hold it on the soft box you are using. I also believe I did see Amazon selling some new diffusion panels at one time for Photoflex softboxes. You might try looking there or even adorama if you want pre made.

--
Jason S
We are just Beta Testers who pay the Camera Companies to test their new products!
 
Last edited:
john isaacs said:
Ellis Vener said:
john isaacs said:
Go to a fabric store and ask for white rip-stop nylon.
Click to expand...
But make it to go over the front of the softbox, not inside it.

--
Ellis Vener
http://www.ellisvener.com
Most photography is not rocket science, just snapshot keepsakes. The fun is found in just being there, not minding equipment.
Click to expand...
The soft box already has a diffusion panel. You want the second panel on the inside; there might already be mounting loops for hooking it on. You don't want it on the outside; you want a lot of space between the panels for optimal diffusion. Plus, if the current panel is recessed, that helps avoid light spill; putting the second panel on the front would increase light spill.
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I agree with John here in regard to the light spill. There may be loops inside already. Many of the soft boxes come with Velcro loops sewn inside or places where little hooks fit to hold the diffusion panels. When I look at the various soft boxes I own and even the one I just received that will work with my hot shoe flash they all have the Velcro on the inside of the front lip of the box for the front diffusion panel. My front diffusion panels all attach with Velcro which is a very common way to attach them.

So there would be one recessed inside the box closer to the strobe itself, and the second diffusion panel toward the front but recessed inside the front of the box itself. The only exception I have noticed to this would be on a soft box that goes on a continuous lighting kit and that will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

--
Jason S
We are just Beta Testers who pay the Camera Companies to test their new products!
 
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What’s the purpose of the second layer of diffusion? I guess to get an as even as possible light distribution at the front of the softbox. That surface that ultimately emits the light.

Try an experiment: take pictures of the softbox, straight onto the front. Low output on the speedlight and try different zoom positions of the head. Especially wide angle and with the wide angle panel, that your speedlight might have. You will get a pretty clear idea of how the light is distributed.

I don’t find that the extra diffusion inside the Ezybox makes a lot of difference. The zoom position of the head does.
 
Another slightly heretic idea: try the plastic diffuser that possibly came with the flash.

I mean on the flash that you stick into the softbox.
 
Last edited:
Seedeich said:
What’s the purpose of the second layer of diffusion? I guess to get an as even as possible light distribution at the front of the softbox. That surface that ultimately emits the light.

Try an experiment: take pictures of the softbox, straight onto the front. Low output on the speedlight and try different zoom positions of the head. Especially wide angle and with the wide angle panel, that your speedlight might have. You will get a pretty clear idea of how the light is distributed.

I don’t find that the extra diffusion inside the Ezybox makes a lot of difference. The zoom position of the head does.
Click to expand...
 
The intent of double diffusion is to make the light output of the diffuser more even corner to corner.

If the flash sits inside the softbox and is aimed at the back of the softbox then you already have a double diffused flash.

Single diffuser softboxes where the flash/strobe is mounted outside the softbox and aimed through the back of the softbox at the front diffuser produce a hot spot at the center of the diffuser. In my opinion they should be double diffused for most portrait work. If you want a hot spot in your lighting you simply take out the inner diffuser.

White translucent rip-stop nylon or Dacron fabric can be used for an inner diffuser. Use your light meter or camera to find a piece of fabric that reduces the light by around 0.5 to 1 stop. The more it reduces the light the more it will diffuse the light but for an inner diffuser I would go for 0.5 stop.

Simply sew in loops about 1/2 way between the front diffuser and the back of the softbox. Cut and hem the diffuser so that it fits easily inside the softbox at the right position and attach hooks via short pieces of elastic tape. Alternatively you can also sew elastic strips with snaps on the sides of the softbox then put the other half of the snaps on the corners of the inner diffuser. It is okay to have a 1 to 2 cm gap between the inner diffuser and the sides of the softbox.

--

Living and loving it in Pattaya, Thailand. Canon 7D - See the gear list for the rest.
 
If a person wants the same lighting effect as a softbox without the expense of buying one then use a partially open umbrella, black backed white or silver. The light is directional and more controllable than fully open. If you want the light diffused then drape some white net curtain over. Its very portable, who needs extra gear when doing home sittings!

The lighting below is meant to replicate window light, the background is white but gets no light as the brolly is feathered across the model. Same effect as a softbox.



19bdc5bfc9f14ec79a26ce6e269c858d.jpg
 
"Ellis that all depends on the material the diffusion panel is made out of."

No it does not

" I have seen diffusion panels that vary by 1/4 and 1/2 Stop."

As we used to say in junior high: Duh!

"Here is a link to a Photoflex example of replacement diffusion panels they sell for their soft boxes. I seriously do not think they are the only company that does this but I could be wrong.

Rosco,Lee, Matthews Studio Equipment, American Grip, and Chimera Lighting all sell diffusion material by the square yard and Photoflex is effectively out of business. There are online selkers as well, mostly Chinese.
--
Ellis Vener


Most photography is not rocket science, just snapshot keepsakes. The fun is found in just being there, not minding equipment.
 
Ellis Vener said:
"Ellis that all depends on the material the diffusion panel is made out of."

No it does not

" I have seen diffusion panels that vary by 1/4 and 1/2 Stop."

As we used to say in junior high: Duh!

"Here is a link to a Photoflex example of replacement diffusion panels they sell for their soft boxes. I seriously do not think they are the only company that does this but I could be wrong.

Rosco,Lee, Matthews Studio Equipment, American Grip, and Chimera Lighting all sell diffusion material by the square yard and Photoflex is effectively out of business. There are online selkers as well, mostly Chinese.
--
Ellis Vener

http://www.ellisvener.com

Most photography is not rocket science, just snapshot keepsakes. The fun is found in just being there, not minding equipment.
Click to expand...
Ellis, Photflex is very much is business and we covered this months ago. The original owners who started the company I believe had a health issue and was going to shut down but instead sold the company to ProMark. Here again is a link to all the companies they now own including Photoflex:

http://www.promarkbrands.com/

Please correct the information you have been posting and are posting in regard to the existence of the Photoflex company.

As I mentioned above Photoflex does sell diffusion panels that vary but 1/4 and 1/2 stop and if you find it necessary to add " As we used to say in junior high: Duh!", then more power to you. There is nothing about the about statement that is "Duh!" and I view your response as kinda rude.

Maybe you just assume that everyone that visits the Studio and Lighting Forums are all Experts and already know that diffusion panels vary in stops.

Seems you are also implying that the material a diffusion panel is made out cannot vary either. I find that very interesting. I guess you and I will have to agree to disagree there.

What I know for sure is that Photoflex has replacement diffusion panels that are available through retailers, like B&H, and others, if the OP wants an already made solution that he can cut down to size that is either a 1/4 or 1/2 stop, he could purchase it.

I have not bothered to check with Photoflex to see if they sell the diffusion material by the square yard or not, but that is a good idea and probably worth looking into for the OP. A simple phone call to 831-786-1370 that Photoflex has posted on their website or email might get him an answer or connected to someone who can answer him.

Ellis the good thing that came out of this exchange between us is that now the original poster found out that according to the information you just provided, he can contact anyone of the companies you listed below for diffusion material if your information is accurate.

That is if Rosco,Lee, Matthews Studio Equipment, American Grip, and Chimera Lighting all sell diffusion material by the square yard.

Maybe you can provide him with a contact at Chimera since you have reviewed a product for them and have a contact there.

Ellis here is the number for Photoflex

831-786-1370

--
Jason S
We are just Beta Testers who pay the Camera Companies to test their new products!
 
Last edited:
Dervast said:
Seedeich said:
Another slightly heretic idea: try the plastic diffuser that possibly came with the flash.

I mean on the flash that you stick into the softbox.
Click to expand...
I thought about that too. This looks to be one more way to make the light slightly softer. I have also tried closing down my umbrella half way but I never likes what I got back. It has been me doing something wrong though

A
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Try it!

You can also experiment with a makeshift diffusion panel inside the softbox.

Greaseproof paper (Butterbrotpapier), kitchen roll or facial tissue are all great diffusion materials to experiment with. Personally I use some white foil from the building industry.

But in the end it's the size of the softbox and the distance to the model, that determines the softness of the light.
 
Thanks the more I work with lighting gear it really looks like that I should get my hands dirty and also build something my self and not just rely on ready made products

Alex
 
Dervast said:
Thanks the more I work with lighting gear it really looks like that I should get my hands dirty and also build something my self and not just rely on ready made products

Alex
Click to expand...
Yeah, it gives you a better feeling for how light behaves.

Sometimes it’s just the way to go when you want a specific lighting and don’t have a fully equipped professional studio.

And it’s fun to find solutions with the materials and gear you have at hand.
 
Seedeich said:
Dervast said:
Thanks the more I work with lighting gear it really looks like that I should get my hands dirty and also build something my self and not just rely on ready made products

Alex
Click to expand...
Yeah, it gives you a better feeling for how light behaves.

Sometimes it’s just the way to go when you want a specific lighting and don’t have a fully equipped professional studio.

And it’s fun to find solutions with the materials and gear you have at hand.
Click to expand...
 
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