What is this thing called?
 

What is the thing called that's sort of used like a diffuser, but solid with a bunch of random-cut holes in it?

What are the real ones made out of and is there a DYI alternative to this? Plywood with jigsawed holes cut out?

That would be a cucalorus or cookie.
I make them as needed out of foam-core.

Thank you. By the way, how do you pronounce "cucalorus." I looked it up in some online dictionaries, but no sound file attached to the word. I don't do that great with the schwas (sp? the upside down E's and others).

Sorry.

Is it like this: "cuh-cuh-LORE-uhs?"

coo-cuh-lor-us

close enough :)

It's actually pronounced "cook-ee" every where I've worked.

I don't think I've ever heard anyone use the formal name!

FWIW

Rosco Cookie
 

Hi,

Check this link out:

http://www.rosco.com/canada/video/cookies.asp

Plastic "cookie" in 4' x 4' size. Check your local lighting supplier for stock of this product.

Simon

Thanks. I think I'll stick with COOKIE!

Everybody calls them cookies. They're not for diffusion; they're to throw a pattern on the wall.

In the theatre such things are called gobos . . . pronounced go-bo not go-boo.

It's a gobo in film usage also, but that term would broadly include anything that one places in front of a light to shape it (thus the name, as derived from "go between", although I wonder why then we don't call it a "gobe").

Hard cucalori (!) are rarely used unless for "old school" effect, although the soft version called a celo are more common; the pattern is sprayed or burned into light material on a frame, so the effect is more subtle than the straight cut-out.

In Hawaii they are called a Da Kine. Da Kines are used to modify light patterns, tighten lug nuts, increase the grip on surfboards, and an infinite list of other uses.

In the circles, I run in, we all call them "cucs" pronounced "kooks". I have made them from foamcore, CineFoil and I own wooden and celo versions. I agree, I use the celo version much more often than the wooden version. CineFoil is better for tiny lights like my beloved Arri 150s. When I have them in tight spaces and nooks, it's more practical to make a little cuc with CineFoil than to try to work my smallest celo, which is 18" x 24".

I rarely can do a shoot without breaking out a cuc, they are very useful and fun tools.

Best,

Dan

Once we used a large camo net that we found at a Army Navy store. NO it's not fire retardant material, so you cant put it on top of the lights directly, but it works great if the lights are away from it a couple feet - and with a little common sense - it really works well.