Scrims vs nets vs ND? at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Photon Management

Photon Management
Shine an ever-loving light on you.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old April 3rd, 2015, 12:09 AM   #1
Trustee
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,149
Scrims vs nets vs ND?

Clueless question, what is the difference between these modifiers? When would you use which?

I found some interesting information here -- Net & Scrims CML-Cinematography Mailing List -- but am still very curious to hear anyone else's opinions/experiences.
Adrian Tan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 3rd, 2015, 01:36 AM   #2
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Lowestoft - UK
Posts: 4,012
Re: Scrims vs nets vs ND?

They all reduce light, but the real differences boil down to pretty sensible things. A metal scrim can dim a 10k discharge fixture, using any of the others results in smoke or a sticky mess or worse. You can stick a sheet of ND on a window, and still see the flowers outside, but not with the others. The fabric style devices are white, so reduce and soften the light, changing it's quality, but if it is used on a hot source, it needs air space. So the choice depends on what you need to darken. They all have good and bad points.
Paul R Johnson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 4th, 2015, 08:13 AM   #3
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 580
Re: Scrims vs nets vs ND?

Adrian: three different, separate applications.

1. Scrims lessen the intensity of the light, but not so much the sharpness or shadows. If you are looking for a hard edge, but just not so bright, you can drop in a scrim. Or back off the light. Or use an electronic dimmer.

2. Nets/silks are diffusers. They turn a hard point source light into a bigger, softer light. They also tend to spew light all over the place, so flagging or controlling the light becomes more important. If you are looking for softer light sources, explore softboxes like the Chimera or others. When mated with a fabric grid on the front of the softbox, makes for a nice, compact soft key with little spill. It does drop the light fixture output a bit though.

3. NDs are designed to cut the amount of natural light streaming in through windows. Gelling windows with ND material is generally a royal pain, and requires a lot of set up time to do it right. Another way to reduce ambient light behind an interview subject is to stretch a black mesh behind them. This works really well outdoors. You can also do it indoors, but you need enough separation between the subject and the net, or a large sensor camera with a fairly wide open lens to blur out the mesh.
Bill Ward is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 9th, 2015, 05:20 AM   #4
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Belfast, UK
Posts: 6,143
Re: Scrims vs nets vs ND?

You can also get ND filters for putting on lights.
Brian Drysdale is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Photon Management

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:12 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network