ACCESSORIES FOR CONTROLLING LIGHT

Barndoors and Snoots

Barndoors on a light are the first in line of all the
instruments for controlling where the light falls.
Almost every type of light is equipped with
barndoors. They are used wherever the DOP does
not want light from a particular lamp to fall.
Similarly, snoots are funnel like devices of different
Source: Cinematography – Kris Malkiewicz
diameters that are even more restrictive than
Barndoors barndoors by only casting circles of light.

Source: Cinematography – Kris Malkiewicz

Snoots
Wire Scrims and Nets
Wire scrims and nets are used to cut down
light intensity. They are usually made of
metal. Wire Scrims (often known simply as
Wires) fit directly into the light housing.
Nets are placed in front of the light source Source: Basic Lighting Worktext for Film & Video – Richard K. Ferncase

separately. Wire Scrims

They are usually marked with either green or
red rims. Red indicates 1 stop reduction and
Green indicates ½ Stop reduction.

Source: Basic Lighting Worktext for Film & Video – Richard K. Ferncase

Net
Practical Use
Where a direct light is used on
a subject, a half-scrim (or half-
wire) can be inserted into the
front of the light to reduce the
illumination as the subject
moves nearer the light. This
accounts for the effect of the
inverse square rule.

Source: Cinematography – Kris Malkiewicz

Use of a Half Wire Scrim

Accessories for Controlling Light Copyright © 1998 to 2008 Mic Collis page 1 of 5
Gels
Gels may be used to change the colour of a light source. The two main brand names in
gels are Lee and Rosco and both companies produce swatch booklets with samples of
their gels (as well as diffusion and reflection materials). Some of the gels include colour
conversion and colour balancing gels such as 85 amber (also known as CTO – colour
temperate orange) and 80A blue (known as CTB – colour temperature blue).
It is important to note that when using a ½ CTB for example, it has half the blue colour of a
full CTB. The ½ does not refer to ½ a stop loss of light from the lamp. This is true of all
colour gels. There will always be some light lost through a coloured gel but we don’t refer
to that light loss by its designation of ½, ¼ etc.
Neutral density gels may also be used to reduce the amount of light output by a lamp. ND
gels come in ND.3, ND.6 & ND.9. The same as with neutral density filters placed in front or
behind a lens, an ND.3 will reduce the light by 1 stop, and so on.
Diffusion and Frames
Gaffers carry frames (4ft x 4ft and larger) of translucent diffusion material (also found in
swatch books) to soften the effects of lights. The best known of these is White Diffusion
(216), ½ White Diffusion (½ 216 or 250), ¼ White Diffusion (251) and Hampshire. There
are many others, which have various effects. It is important for the beginner to note that
the spun usually found in redhead lighting kits is not a great diffuser of light and in many
cases, acts more as a light output reducer (similar to ND gel) than as a diffuser.
Again it is important to note that when using a ½ White Diffusion (250) for example, it has
half the diffusion capability of a full White Diffusion (216). The ½ does not refer to ½ a stop
loss of light from the lamp. There will always be some light lost through any diffusion
material but we don’t refer to that light loss by its designation of ½, ¼ etc.
Chimeras
Chimera’s (a brand name) could loosely be described as frames mounted on lights, they
produce the same broad, diffused light source as a light diffused by a frame. They are
more controllable than the light from a frame and more directional.

Source: http://www.chimeralighting.com/

Chimeras on Lights

Accessories for Controlling Light Copyright © 1998 to 2008 Mic Collis page 2 of 5
Reflectors
All gaffers carry reflectors of one type or another. Reflectors will range from mirrors for
very hard intense light sources to soft bounce boards. They can be coloured and may
come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and configurations. One material used by gaffers is
griflon, a semi gloss plastic material, that is white on one side and black on the other. It
can be stretched out as a very large reflector (20ft x 20ft). There is a range of sample
reflector material shown in the swatch books. These materials may be glued to boards to
make reflectors. A useful reflector for documentary work is the flexifill, a reflector, which
expands out for use and fits into a much smaller bag for storage and transport.

Source: www.fjwestcott.com/
Soft Gold & Silver Reflector Material
Flexifills
Negative Fill
Sometimes a cinematographer has too much fill light in the scene and wants to increase
the contrast range between the key and fill light. To do this you need to find some way to
absorb the fill light. Gaffers carry what look like black “reflectors”. The black will “suck up”
the fill light to some degree and the result will be a reduction of fill light and so increase the
contrast. Examples of negative fill devises are the black side of a griflon, and a floppy.
Shadow Pattern Devices
Cutters or flags, floppies, dots, fingers or blades, cookies (cucaloris) or gobos and dingles
are all devices for introducing shadow patterns.

Source: Cinematography – Kris Malkiewicz Source: Basic Lighting Worktext for Film & Video – Richard K. Ferncase

Cutters or Flags Cutter (Flag), Dot & Blade or Finger

Cutters are often also called flags, but technically a flag (French flag) is a device that
keeps light from falling on a camera lens and producing flare.

Accessories for Controlling Light Copyright © 1998 to 2008 Mic Collis page 3 of 5
 Source: Cinematography – Kris Malkiewicz Source: Cinematography – Kris Malkiewicz

Cookie (cucaloris) Various Dots

Set walls that are evenly illuminated can look flat and uninteresting. The odd shadow here
and there will break up any monotony, making the background seem more alive and three-
dimensional.
Gobos traditionally are used inside profile (ellipsoidal) spots and may vary from random
patterns to specific images and even text.

Source: http://www.seleconlight.com/english/products/1200/zoomspot.htm
Source: Rosco Gobos Catalogue
Profile Spot Light Gobos
Smoke
Smoke can be used for many and various effects including but not limited to shafts of light
showing through a cookie/gobo or camouflaging areas in a background which you may not
want seen. One thing to always remember when using smoke is to try to keep in the
background. Smoke between the camera lens and the subject is not usually very
attractive unless that is the specific effect you are after.
Dulling Sprays
Sometimes specific sprays may be used to reduce reflections or the output of a “practical”
lamp. These are called dulling sprays and are available in various formulations from film
and television supply companies.

Source: http://shop.store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/dullingsprays.html

Range of Dulling Sprays

Accessories for Controlling Light Copyright © 1998 to 2008 Mic Collis page 4 of 5
Black Wrap
Also known as Black Foil or Cinefoil is a matte black aluminium material that is non-
reflective. It is ideal for masking light leaks and/or eliminating unwanted reflections. This
lightweight durable foil can be quickly moulded into virtually any form or shape.
C-Stands
The C-stand (Century stand) is the workhorse of a film set. Grips and gaffers (and often
other departments) carry them. They are a three-legged extendible stand with an
adjustable arm. Used in studio or location production, C-stands hold nets, cutters,
diffusion frames and any other equipment needed to be held in a precise position.

C-stand C-stand arms & grips C-stand holding cutter

There are many more items that can and have been used for controlling light. Every
student should be encouraged to have a good look through a gaffer’s lighting truck and to
ask as many questions as they can. Very often the low budget and student filmmaker can
improvise their own lighting and control devices at a very low cost.

Accessories for Controlling Light Copyright © 1998 to 2008 Mic Collis page 5 of 5