DIY Soft Box Material

[jialuvqr]

would like to homemade a soft box for my studio flash given by friend but just cannot think of a suitable translucent material for the soft box.

Any one tried this before? I was thinking of using white cloth but is it too 'white'? I am afraid that too little light will pass thru it.

Will there be a lot of differences comparing a homemade soft box and a retail one?

[catchlights]

There are shops around Blk 6 selling canvas material, look for a thin white Nylon cloth.

Done this before, not much different, but sometime is more practical to just buy a softbox instead of DIY

[reachme2003]

or visit jalan sultan textile centre. good idea to bring along a sample to show around.

agreed with catchlights on the practicality of buying one if you use it frequently.

[jialuvqr]

Originally Posted by catchlights There are shops around Blk 6 selling canvas material, look for a thin white Nylon cloth. Done this before, not much different, but sometime is more practical to just buy a softbox instead of DIY

oh i wanted to get a softbox but my studio lights from my friend can't be found in Singapore. Have been searching but still can't find the softbox for it, so sad

just to check, the blk 6 shops..... what shops are they? textile shops?

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by jialuvqr oh i wanted to get a softbox but my studio lights from my friend can't be found in Singapore. Have been searching but still can't find the softbox for it, so sad just to check, the blk 6 shops..... what shops are they? textile shops?

Making canopy for tents...

Btw, what's the brand of the studio lights?

[jialuvqr]

Originally Posted by catchlights Making canopy for tents... Btw, what's the brand of the studio lights?

its Problitz 300D

the instruction booklet have Elinchrom with it too, maybe they are of the same company

[jialuvqr]

regarding the material
I am not sure how 'white' the material should be.
if its those white cloth, will it be blocking a lot of light?

[reachme2003]

get one as close as the orginal which came with the softbox in terms of colour(visual) and thickness(visual and feel). one never know the actual colour variations until one gets to home and test it.

[catchlights]

Softbox is meant to soften the lights by diffuse it. Of course it will cut down some lights.

The best material (that they use for making screen of the rsoftbox) I can't find it locally, it doesn’t show a hotspot even it very close to the light source. So I just make do with this kind of thin white nylon cloth.

Color is not really an issue, especially in digital, btw, there is nothing call too 'white', maybe you’re referring too cold. FYI, the original softbox material will turn yellowish after a few years of use.

I will not attempt making softbox for studio lights, the homemade version will most likely heavier than the original one, you may need to make version 2 or version 3 to get it perfect, at this time might as well just buy the commercial made.

I bought this kind of material last time is to replace the screen of the softbox, and now is for DIY light panels. Haven’t tested the light panel yet.

You can bring the your studio lights to Cathay, they may help you to identity what type mount on your studio lights, so you can get a proper adaptor for the softbox to use.

Hope this help.

[Zenten]

Can try the material used to make foam cups and containers.

[reachme2003]

Originally Posted by Zenten Can try the material used to make foam cups and containers.

what are you are referring to? clarify pls?

[jialuvqr]

Originally Posted by catchlights Softbox is meant to soften the lights by diffuse it. Of course it will cut down some lights. The best material (that they use for making screen of the rsoftbox) I can't find it locally, it doesn’t show a hotspot even it very close to the light source. So I just make do with this kind of thin white nylon cloth. Color is not really an issue, especially in digital, btw, there is nothing call too 'white', maybe you’re referring too cold. FYI, the original softbox material will turn yellowish after a few years of use. I will not attempt making softbox for studio lights, the homemade version will most likely heavier than the original one, you may need to make version 2 or version 3 to get it perfect, at this time might as well just buy the commercial made. I bought this kind of material last time is to replace the screen of the softbox, and now is for DIY light panels. Haven’t tested the light panel yet. You can bring the your studio lights to Cathay, they may help you to identity what type mount on your studio lights, so you can get a proper adaptor for the softbox to use. Hope this help.

hmm the 'white' i meant was how transparent it needs to be.
Ok, I will bring my lights down to Cathay and see if any of the softbox can fix.
btw, how much a softbox cost? looking for a average size

i am very new in studio...so have another question.

how do you use a softbox?
when I on my lights its in orange colour and only I fire it off flash comes out.
I have seen set up for soft box that is always in constant white light
does that mean I have to change my bulb to white and on it constant?

[reachme2003]

Originally Posted by jialuvqr hmm the 'white' i meant was how transparent it needs to be. Ok, I will bring my lights down to Cathay and see if any of the softbox can fix. btw, how much a softbox cost? looking for a average size i am very new in studio...so have another question. how do you use a softbox? when I on my lights its in orange colour and only I fire it off flash comes out. I have seen set up for soft box that is always in constant white light does that mean I have to change my bulb to white and on it constant?

translucent materials does the diffusion job better than transparent ones.

softbox has many uses. i do not know where to begin.

another question which i will attempt to answer. a usual studio light head comes with a flash tube and a modelling light. the flash tube provides the 'flash' much like a flash mounted on a camera. the modelling light provides the 'continous' incandescant light to aid the user to 'see' the light or look for shadows, etc. this modelling light is usually weak relative to the flash power, so it does not interfere with your photography. time to change the modelling light is when it does not light up. same as your household lampshade bulb. hopes it it clearer now.

[jialuvqr]

Originally Posted by reachme2003 translucent materials does the diffusion job better than transparent ones. softbox has many uses. i do not know where to begin. another question which i will attempt to answer. a usual studio light head comes with a flash tube and a modelling light. the flash tube provides the 'flash' much like a flash mounted on a camera. the modelling light provides the 'continous' incandescant light to aid the user to 'see' the light or look for shadows, etc. this modelling light is usually weak relative to the flash power, so it does not interfere with your photography. time to change the modelling light is when it does not light up. same as your household lampshade bulb. hopes it it clearer now.

but some of the studio set up I seen has the 'continous' light in white not like mine in orange.
anyway since its for me to look out for shadows, I think it doesn't matter orange or white

thanks alot...really learnt a lot!

[Cheesecake]

jus use tracing paper to act as the filter cloth for ur softbox.

[reachme2003]

yes, tracing paper is cheap and easily available.

[nemesis32]

Originally Posted by jialuvqr but some of the studio set up I seen has the 'continous' light in white not like mine in orange. anyway since its for me to look out for shadows, I think it doesn't matter orange or white thanks alot...really learnt a lot!

Orange... don't tell me your flash is tungsten lighting?

[jialuvqr]

Originally Posted by nemesis32 Orange... don't tell me your flash is tungsten lighting?

hmmm i dunno if its tungsten or not leh
its just like those orange colour used at home

[reachme2003]

Originally Posted by jialuvqr hmmm i dunno if its tungsten or not leh its just like those orange colour used at home

a word of caution. the advices given so far assumed yours to be flash, not tungsten lights. if it is tungsten lights, DO NOT put softbox's fabrics or tracing paper over them. the outcome is predictable - fire!!! call the fire dept.

even if it is studio flash, use them with a generous dose of common sense. with the modelling lights on, heat will built up quite fast. again, as with cooking, never leave them unattended.

[jialuvqr]

Originally Posted by reachme2003 all the advices given so far assumed yours to be flash, not tungsten lights. if it is tungsten lights, DO NOT put softbox's fabrics or tracing paper over them. the outcome is predictable - fire!!! call the fire dept.

wah so serious!
ok ok how do I know if I am using tungsten?