A softbox is a type of photographic

lighting Lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve practical or aesthetic effects. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources like lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight. ...

modifier, one of a number of photographic soft light devices. All the various soft light types create even and diffused lightBrooks, David. ''How to Control and Use Photographic Lighting''. HPBooks, 1980, p. 54. by transmitting light through some

scattering In physics, scattering is a wide range of physical processes where moving particles or radiation of some form, such as light or sound, are forced to deviate from a straight trajectory by localized non-uniformities (including particles and radiat ...

material, or by reflecting light off a second surface to diffuse the light. The best known form of reflective source is the

umbrella An umbrella or parasol is a folding canopy supported by wooden or metal ribs that is mounted on a wooden, metal, or plastic pole. It is usually designed to protect a person against rain. The term ''umbrella'' is traditionally used when protec ...

light, where the light from the bulb is "bounced" off the inside of a metalized umbrella to create an indirect "soft" light. A softbox is an enclosure around a bulb comprising reflective side and back walls and a diffusing material at the front of the light. The sides and back of the box are lined with a bright surface – an aluminized fabric surface or an

aluminum Aluminium (or aluminum in North American English) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Al and atomic number 13. It has a density lower than that of other common metals, about one-third that of steel. Aluminium has ...

foil, to act as an efficient reflector. In some commercially available models the diffuser is removable to allow the light to be used alone as a

floodlight A floodlight is a broad-beamed, high-intensity artificial light. It can provide functional area lighting for travel-ways, parking, entrances, work areas, and sporting venues to enable visibility adequate for safe task performance, ornament ...

or with an umbrella reflector. A softbox can be used with either flash or continuous light sources such as

fluorescent Fluorescence is one of two kinds of photoluminescence, the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation. When exposed to ultraviolet radiation, many substances will glow (fluoresce) with color ...

lamps or "hot lights" such as quartz halogen bulbs or tungsten bulbs. If softbox lights are used with "hot" light sources, the photographer must be sure the softbox is heat rated for the wattage of the light to which it is attached in order to avoid fire hazard.

Types of softbox

Photo studio equipment - octabox.jpg, Octabox Photo studio flash.jpg, Squarebox Stripbox and honeycomb grid.jpg, Stripbox Октобокс с сотами.jpg, Octagon honeycomb grid

References

Photography equipment Photographic lighting {{Photo-stub

Types of softbox

See also

References