On Location Diffusion Material..? at DVinfo.net

Nathan Moody · September 21st, 2009, 10:14 AM

As I prepare for a shoot, myself, I recall that once when I was interviewed, a video crew had put up a very large sheet of mesh diffusion material in the background to cut down on ambient light. It looked almost like garden shade cloth, but finer, and it essentially disappears with even a little depth-of-field/bokeh. Does anyone know what this material might be called, so I can source some myself?

Perrone Ford · September 21st, 2009, 10:50 AM

Perhaps it was duvetyne?

Garrett Low · September 21st, 2009, 11:29 AM

I could have been scrim material. I know Rosco makes some as well as other I'm sure. It's usually sold either by the foot or in a role. You can get it in black both sides or black on one and silver on the other. Generally I think black on both sides is more useful.

Locally in the SF Bay Area you can check it out at JCX Expendables in SF. You can look them up on the web.

It's great to use on windows when doing an interior shot where there's a window in the background. It cuts enough so that you can even see details out the window without underexposing the talent inside.

Hope that's what you're looking for.
-Garrett

Nathan Moody · September 21st, 2009, 12:14 PM

Garrett, I think you nailed it: Roscoscrim! (aka Cinegel 3809) Thanks so much for helping to unblock my sad, little brain. Thanks, also, for turning me on to JCX (http://www.jcxex.com)...so great to finally find such a place locally. You rock! :-)

Charles Papert · September 21st, 2009, 12:40 PM

Because it isn't an expendable, we usually use a large double net for this purpose. It will add a bit of a haze, which has the dual purpose of diffusing as well as knocking down exposure in the background.

Perrone, I'm quite sure that you wouldn't want to use duvetyne for this sort of thing, in that it is a solid piece of material...!

Perrone Ford · September 21st, 2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Papert

Because it isn't an expendable, we usually use a large double net for this purpose. It will add a bit of a haze, which has the dual purpose of diffusing as well as knocking down exposure in the background.

Perrone, I'm quite sure that you wouldn't want to use duvetyne for this sort of thing, in that it is a solid piece of material...!

Yea Charles, I realized that after I posted it... but Garrett came in with the right info so I just let it go.

Charles Papert · September 21st, 2009, 03:06 PM

Gotcha. I am often reminded that for every post we make, there are dozens (hundreds)? of silent readers absorbing this stuff, so I figured I would pre-empt the "where can I get this duvetyne?" post that might potentially follow.

Richard Andrewski · September 21st, 2009, 04:20 PM

RoseBrand.com: Theatrical fabrics, stage curtains, backdrops, hardware and accessories may have the same material as well. Gauze is another name for scrim material as well. Just have to figure out the mesh size that works best for you.

Bill Hamell · September 26th, 2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Papert

Because it isn't an expendable, we usually use a large double net for this purpose. It will add a bit of a haze, which has the dual purpose of diffusing as well as knocking down exposure in the background.

Perrone, I'm quite sure that you wouldn't want to use duvetyne for this sort of thing, in that it is a solid piece of material...!

Charlas,

When would you use a white double net vs. a black one?

Bill

Charles Papert · September 26th, 2009, 08:33 PM

Never seen a white net, Bill--are you thinking of something else?

Bill Hamell · September 27th, 2009, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Papert

Never seen a white net, Bill--are you thinking of something else?

Sorry Charles, yes I was, I was thinking of Bobbinette.
Sometimes I use it to drape over a softbox, however I was thinking that the white hung outside a window might be quicker that NDing it.

Charles Papert · September 27th, 2009, 07:48 AM

Thanks for clarification, Bill, although I still can't recall ever seeing white bobinette.

In black form, whether in loose or framed, it's still slightly hazy; a white version would be substantially more so, thus it would have limited application. It's usually much easier to handle a large amount net when it's built into "rag" form like a 12x12 etc. than loose as a hunk of bobinette--that I usually save for small-scale application (like wrapping a bare Kino tube out of the fixture, for instance).

Bill Hamell · October 2nd, 2009, 09:23 AM

Charles,

Thank you, Rose Brand sells it in both black and white, I'm thinking the white is for stage more than film. I wanted to find out if I was missing out on something. :-)

Bill

Charles Papert · October 2nd, 2009, 11:55 AM

Interesting Bill, thanks for that clarification. I've never seen the white on set yet but there's always a first time!

September 21st, 2009, 10:14 AM	#1
Nathan Moody Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SF Bay Area, CA, USA Posts: 78	On Location Diffusion Material..? As I prepare for a shoot, myself, I recall that once when I was interviewed, a video crew had put up a very large sheet of mesh diffusion material in the background to cut down on ambient light. It looked almost like garden shade cloth, but finer, and it essentially disappears with even a little depth-of-field/bokeh. Does anyone know what this material might be called, so I can source some myself?

September 21st, 2009, 10:50 AM	#2
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	Perhaps it was duvetyne? __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

September 21st, 2009, 12:40 PM	#5
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Because it isn't an expendable, we usually use a large double net for this purpose. It will add a bit of a haze, which has the dual purpose of diffusing as well as knocking down exposure in the background. Perrone, I'm quite sure that you wouldn't want to use duvetyne for this sort of thing, in that it is a solid piece of material...! __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

September 21st, 2009, 03:06 PM	#7
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Gotcha. I am often reminded that for every post we make, there are dozens (hundreds)? of silent readers absorbing this stuff, so I figured I would pre-empt the "where can I get this duvetyne?" post that might potentially follow. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

September 21st, 2009, 04:20 PM	#8
Richard Andrewski Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Shenzhen, China Posts: 781	RoseBrand.com: Theatrical fabrics, stage curtains, backdrops, hardware and accessories may have the same material as well. Gauze is another name for scrim material as well. Just have to figure out the mesh size that works best for you. __________________ Richard Andrewski - Cool Lights USA - RED #114 http://www.coollights.biz

September 21st, 2009, 11:29 AM	#3
Garrett Low Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 1,774	I could have been scrim material. I know Rosco makes some as well as other I'm sure. It's usually sold either by the foot or in a role. You can get it in black both sides or black on one and silver on the other. Generally I think black on both sides is more useful. Locally in the SF Bay Area you can check it out at JCX Expendables in SF. You can look them up on the web. It's great to use on windows when doing an interior shot where there's a window in the background. It cuts enough so that you can even see details out the window without underexposing the talent inside. Hope that's what you're looking for. -Garrett

September 21st, 2009, 12:14 PM	#4
Nathan Moody Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SF Bay Area, CA, USA Posts: 78	Garrett, I think you nailed it: Roscoscrim! (aka Cinegel 3809) Thanks so much for helping to unblock my sad, little brain. Thanks, also, for turning me on to JCX (http://www.jcxex.com)...so great to finally find such a place locally. You rock! :-)

September 26th, 2009, 08:33 PM	#10
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Never seen a white net, Bill--are you thinking of something else? __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

September 27th, 2009, 07:48 AM	#12
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Thanks for clarification, Bill, although I still can't recall ever seeing white bobinette. In black form, whether in loose or framed, it's still slightly hazy; a white version would be substantially more so, thus it would have limited application. It's usually much easier to handle a large amount net when it's built into "rag" form like a 12x12 etc. than loose as a hunk of bobinette--that I usually save for small-scale application (like wrapping a bare Kino tube out of the fixture, for instance). __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

October 2nd, 2009, 09:23 AM	#13
Bill Hamell Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mystic Ct. Posts: 477	Charles, Thank you, Rose Brand sells it in both black and white, I'm thinking the white is for stage more than film. I wanted to find out if I was missing out on something. :-) Bill __________________ Cinematographers Bring Shadow To Light

October 2nd, 2009, 11:55 AM	#14
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Interesting Bill, thanks for that clarification. I've never seen the white on set yet but there's always a first time! __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com