I'm getting ready to make some diffusion modifiers to supplement my softboxes (can't afford the real stuff), but based on the ongoing thread regarding what makes different lights [and subsequent modifiers] different from each other, I thought I should ask any particular materials that I should get/stay away from?
I was planning to go to either Hobby Lobby or Hancock's Fabrics and see what they had.
Any user experiences/comments are appreciated. By the way, I'm a weekend hobbyist using AB lights, so obviously I don't need [more importantly, can't afford] the best stuff...
I'd recommend sketching paper. It's more translucent than regular cloth and lighter. I used it on my DIY softboxes before switching to umbrellas. I don't have a lot of space available and using umbrellas is a lot more convenient for me.
The fabric you see in some softboxes and panel sets is lightweight white ripstop nylon. Better boxes have special stuff. A fabric store would also have the white matted material that is Rosco Tough Spun, I believe it's used for linings inside lapels and such.
You can use double-matt (frost on both sides) mylar drafting film as an excellent duffuser. That's the same as Rosco Tough Frost. Some of this taped on a light works pretty well, or made into panels or a DIY box. It's getting hard to find a good graphic-art supply shop even in big cities, but you can usually buy this stuff off a roll at 36" or even 48" wide if you're lucky. Smaller sheets would be in any good art supply store.
Get a variety, different materials do different things to the light and you'll want to experiment.
I've heard recommendations to use a frosted or white vinyl shower curtain to make DIY diffuser panels. And B&H sells Lastolite diffuser panels all made up w/o frame for less than US$50 for a 42" square. Seems like it would be easy to make a pvc or EMT tubing frame for a presewn panel.
I've used large rolls of tracing paper taped onto 4X4 scrim frames with had good light quality, but you had to be careful for rips. Our studio changed to material from (I think) Hancocks, it was fabric used to line wedding dresses. Perfect opacity, clean color, very durable. We used large clips from Office Depot to stretch it onto the frames.
Good luck.
