SoftScreen--A Nifty Idea at DVinfo.net

Jay Gladwell · December 14th, 2003, 07:20 PM

Here's a nifty idea. Wish I'd thought of it!

http://softscreen.us/

Agus Casse · December 15th, 2003, 03:27 AM

It's expensive... and also it will limit your work a lot !!! and it is hard to move make real DOF... make an Agus 35 !!!!

:)

Charles King · December 15th, 2003, 03:33 AM

...and that limitation is close up shots. More suitable for interviews. Otherwise, a good incentive on the part of the inventor.

Jay Gladwell · December 15th, 2003, 06:48 AM

There is a vast difference between something that will "limit your work," which it does not, and something that has "limited use." After all, as is stated on the site, it is simply "just another tool" to achieve a predetermined end (or look) in limited shooting situations, just like the items listed above.

Rob Lohman · December 15th, 2003, 09:35 AM

Jay, Agus did have a smiley in his post and I think the post was
meant to be a little fun poke at the product. As you said, it can
be "another" tool in the toolbox indeed. Thanks for pointing that
out.

I don't know of anyone who tried it out... yet.

Jay Gladwell · December 15th, 2003, 09:41 AM

Yes, Rob, I saw the smiley and took it for exactly what it was. Thanks.

John Locke · December 15th, 2003, 10:21 AM

I saw this not long ago and I agree with Jay...it could come in handy in some situations.

Pretty pricey, though...wonder if they have some of this type of plastic in rolls at Home Depot...

Agus Casse · December 15th, 2003, 02:22 PM

Well the price is really high !! i personally think that use vs price here is really stupid.. sorry i cant imaging another word, i didtn meant to insult, i cant imaging moving a big screen to make shoots when you can actually built a SLR lens adapter with half the price, and you get open to a new world of optics with real DOF...

Rob Lohman, i think i should used another word besides stupid, but well... thats my opinion.

Jay Gladwell · December 15th, 2003, 03:56 PM

"Well the price is really high . . ."

LOL, name one mass produced tool used in videography or cinematography that isn't expensive.

". . . i cant imaging moving a big screen to make shoots . . ."

Well, Agus, that being the case, one must presumes that you can't imagine using a bounce card or a scrim, either.

The tools of the trade, whatever they may be, expand the artist's palette, they do not limit it.

Les Dit · December 17th, 2003, 12:35 AM

Kinda expensive.
Looks like a sheet of GamFusion 10-20 diffusion from GamColor CineFilters.
They have free sample books at some stage parts places here in LA.
Fun Stuff.
-Les

John Hudson · December 18th, 2003, 01:05 AM

Oh enough already.

It's an interesting idea for the soft look. I do think the price is out of the question and it is true, seems everything in this godforsaken industry is over priced because they can.

If one can afford it and want this in their 'lil bag o tricks', then good for them.

Les Dit · December 18th, 2003, 01:44 AM

And now it's affordable, cause you can get a sheet of the stuff, GamFusion 10-20 or maybe the lighter GamFusion 10-10 for about $20.
I let the cat out of the bag.
-Les

Don Berube · December 18th, 2003, 04:17 AM

Hmmmm Les,

Interesting thought, if you are correct about using GamFusion gel to blur a background. Iv'e seen a couple production crews do this before, although that was years ago and it was not clear exactly what type of gel they were using. Another interesting note, the LEE equivalent for GamFusion 10-10 is called "251 Quarter White Diffusion", "258 Eighth Hamshire Frost" and "452 Sixteenth White Diffusion". I wonder how close these equivalents are.

Let's see, you can buy a 48" x 25' roll of GamFusion 10-10 or 10-20 for around $129. You can most likely buy a couple 48" x 48" sheets from any professional Lighting & Grip rental house for much cheaper, probably no more than $30 per sheet.

Now, for around $70 you can buy a 48" x 48" aluminum gel frame with attached grip stud for mounting http://www.advantagegrip.com/gel.htm. To mount the gel to the gel frame, you would need a roll of Scotch Adhesive Transfer Tape, commonly referred to as "Snot Tape", about $5 http://store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/34scotatgtap.html

Hmmmmmmmm... Should it be named the "LesScreen" or the "AgusScreen"? ;-)

- don

Charles Papert · December 18th, 2003, 10:57 AM

Don:

I've used 251 and Hampshire frost extensively on lights and would consider both of them too dense to be used for this application, especially the 251. I haven't used 258 so maybe that would work. Certainly it would be tricky to use gel on a frame in an exterior situation if there was any wind. I'm curious how the Softscreen mounts or if it offers more protection against rippling than a gel would.

Sometimes a double or single net is wielded outside windows if a Translite or painted background is in use which helps add some "atmosphere" and slight diffusion to the view.

Jay Gladwell · December 18th, 2003, 11:22 AM

Charles, the SoftScreen is "a special acrylic optical panel that diffuses light." From the pictures on the site, it looks like some sort of plexiglass-like material.

December 14th, 2003, 07:20 PM	#1
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	SoftScreen--A Nifty Idea Here's a nifty idea. Wish I'd thought of it! http://softscreen.us/

December 15th, 2003, 03:33 AM	#3
Charles King Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 795	...and that limitation is close up shots. More suitable for interviews. Otherwise, a good incentive on the part of the inventor. __________________ Charles 'What we perceive to be may not be what we believe to be.'

December 15th, 2003, 09:35 AM	#5
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Jay, Agus did have a smiley in his post and I think the post was meant to be a little fun poke at the product. As you said, it can be "another" tool in the toolbox indeed. Thanks for pointing that out. I don't know of anyone who tried it out... yet. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 15th, 2003, 10:21 AM	#7
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	I saw this not long ago and I agree with Jay...it could come in handy in some situations. Pretty pricey, though...wonder if they have some of this type of plastic in rolls at Home Depot... __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

December 18th, 2003, 04:17 AM	#13
Don Berube Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Boston, MA (travel frequently) Posts: 837	Hmmmm Les, Interesting thought, if you are correct about using GamFusion gel to blur a background. Iv'e seen a couple production crews do this before, although that was years ago and it was not clear exactly what type of gel they were using. Another interesting note, the LEE equivalent for GamFusion 10-10 is called "251 Quarter White Diffusion", "258 Eighth Hamshire Frost" and "452 Sixteenth White Diffusion". I wonder how close these equivalents are. Let's see, you can buy a 48" x 25' roll of GamFusion 10-10 or 10-20 for around $129. You can most likely buy a couple 48" x 48" sheets from any professional Lighting & Grip rental house for much cheaper, probably no more than $30 per sheet. Now, for around $70 you can buy a 48" x 48" aluminum gel frame with attached grip stud for mounting http://www.advantagegrip.com/gel.htm. To mount the gel to the gel frame, you would need a roll of Scotch Adhesive Transfer Tape, commonly referred to as "Snot Tape", about $5 http://store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/34scotatgtap.html Hmmmmmmmm... Should it be named the "LesScreen" or the "AgusScreen"? ;-) - don __________________ DONALD BERUBE - noisybrain. Productions, LLC Director Of Photography/ Producer/ Consultant http://noisybrain.com/donbio.html CREATE and NETWORK with http://www.bosfcpug.org and also http://fcpugnetwork.org

December 15th, 2003, 03:27 AM	#2
Agus Casse Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Guatemala Posts: 322	It's expensive... and also it will limit your work a lot !!! and it is hard to move make real DOF... make an Agus 35 !!!! :)

December 15th, 2003, 06:48 AM	#4
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	There is a vast difference between something that will "limit your work," which it does not, and something that has "limited use." After all, as is stated on the site, it is simply "just another tool" to achieve a predetermined end (or look) in limited shooting situations, just like the items listed above.

December 15th, 2003, 09:41 AM	#6
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	Yes, Rob, I saw the smiley and took it for exactly what it was. Thanks.

December 15th, 2003, 02:22 PM	#8
Agus Casse Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Guatemala Posts: 322	Well the price is really high !! i personally think that use vs price here is really stupid.. sorry i cant imaging another word, i didtn meant to insult, i cant imaging moving a big screen to make shoots when you can actually built a SLR lens adapter with half the price, and you get open to a new world of optics with real DOF... Rob Lohman, i think i should used another word besides stupid, but well... thats my opinion.

December 15th, 2003, 03:56 PM	#9
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	"Well the price is really high . . ." LOL, name one mass produced tool used in videography or cinematography that isn't expensive. ". . . i cant imaging moving a big screen to make shoots . . ." Well, Agus, that being the case, one must presumes that you can't imagine using a bounce card or a scrim, either. The tools of the trade, whatever they may be, expand the artist's palette, they do not limit it.

December 17th, 2003, 12:35 AM	#10
Les Dit Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Southern Cal-ee-for-Ni-ya Posts: 608	Kinda expensive. Looks like a sheet of GamFusion 10-20 diffusion from GamColor CineFilters. They have free sample books at some stage parts places here in LA. Fun Stuff. -Les

December 18th, 2003, 01:05 AM	#11
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	Oh enough already. It's an interesting idea for the soft look. I do think the price is out of the question and it is true, seems everything in this godforsaken industry is over priced because they can. If one can afford it and want this in their 'lil bag o tricks', then good for them.

December 18th, 2003, 01:44 AM	#12
Les Dit Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Southern Cal-ee-for-Ni-ya Posts: 608	And now it's affordable, cause you can get a sheet of the stuff, GamFusion 10-20 or maybe the lighter GamFusion 10-10 for about $20. I let the cat out of the bag. -Les

December 18th, 2003, 10:57 AM	#14
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Don: I've used 251 and Hampshire frost extensively on lights and would consider both of them too dense to be used for this application, especially the 251. I haven't used 258 so maybe that would work. Certainly it would be tricky to use gel on a frame in an exterior situation if there was any wind. I'm curious how the Softscreen mounts or if it offers more protection against rippling than a gel would. Sometimes a double or single net is wielded outside windows if a Translite or painted background is in use which helps add some "atmosphere" and slight diffusion to the view. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

December 18th, 2003, 11:22 AM	#15
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	Charles, the SoftScreen is "a special acrylic optical panel that diffuses light." From the pictures on the site, it looks like some sort of plexiglass-like material.