Diffusion materials are another essential element of a well stocked lighting arsenal. Unless productions are shot in a completely controlled environment, gaffers will need to be prepared to troubleshoot all the difficulties of shooting on-location. Diffusion materials are vital to that process.
The undiffused or unfiltered beam from lighting hardware units is usually characterized by high intensity and is sharp and uneven. Depending on the subject or the goal of the look, this often yields an unflattering result. Diffusion serves to both disperse the beam and reduce the beam's intensity, creating softer shadows, evening the contrast and reducing glare. There are two diffusion types that should be addressed here -- Tough/Hard and Soft diffusion. The type becomes important to recognize considering the amount of heat that is emanating from high wattage fixtures. Tough or hard diffusion types are fashioned from heat-resistant polyester that can withstand the intense heat of most high-wattage fixtures. Soft diffusion is vinyl based and is only moderately heat resistant.
Never use soft diffusion directly on high-wattage lighting fixtures. Both Apollo and Rosco manufacture both types of diffusion materials and include them in their diffusion kits. As with the gel filters, Rosco's kit comes with the Filter Facts booklet and gives further explanation, helping the gaffer choose the appropriate diffusion. Experiment with different diffusion and see how drastically they can alter the shadow on the subject. In some cases, very little shadow will remain at all.
Undiffused light beam from ARRI 300 Fresnel fixture.
Light beam from ARRI 300 Fresnel with Rosco Tough Spun Diffusion.
As with most production activity, the road to proficiency is paved with trial and error. Therefore, I encourage you to begin experimenting with gel filters and diffusion before your next shoot. Although Apollo Design Technologies, Inc. and Rosco, Inc. are not the only manufacturers of these products, they do produce a quality product that will hold up to many uses over time. If you would like to know more about their product lines and pricing, visit their websites at: InternetApollo.com and Rosco.com.
(Additionally, if you’d like more in-depth training on lighting and gel use, check out Bill Holshevnikoff’s useful training DVDs, The Power of Lighting for Film and Video.)
Jessica Creech is a lighting specialist that has worked in numerous elements of video production for over eleven years. Her clients have included the International Olympic Committee,
Canadian Broadcasting Corp., NFL, NHL, Rolex Equestrian 3-Day Event, AT&T/Comcast, Lexington Legends Baseball, Hammond Communications Group and others.
