I was using various softboxes for most of our product photography, but about a half a year ago I discovered a perfect use of translucent diffuser panels in product photography. I am talking about usually small product with glossy reflective surface with inevitable reflection form the lights on it.
The main difference between softbox and diffuser panel is how the light is spread on the “working” surface: good softbox is suppose to produce even flat light on its front screen while diffuser may have very different pattern, depending on how we highlight it. What does it mean for me when I shoot some glossy, especially dark glossy object? The reflection from that light.
Reflection will be very different: softbox always gives sharp-edged square while diffuser panel can produce very uneven, gradient filling. Gradient is the key: it can be round, square or linear, whatever I need to show on the object.
Below is the example images I’ve got while shooting line of cosmetic brushes for Anisa International. Managed by Anisa Tewlar, company makes high-quality cosmetic brushes and accessories, I am really glad to work with them.
Top-down shot of the black glossy brush, done with two softboxes on each side of the brush:
Cosmetic product photography lighting setup softbox
The result:
Softbox reflection example
Do you see? Both softboxes is completely visible on the brush, and while it is not looking bad, the whole picture can be misleading: It is not quite understandable is it a reflection on brush or brush has such white inserts? Also, this is not the best way to show the shape of the brush handle… Think how this image will look on a small catalog insert or on the package.
Now, let’s add a translucent diffuser panels between the brush and softboxes ( I was using both panels from Westcott Illuminator Reflector Kit 6-in-1 – 52″, but any other will work just fine). I’ve lowered the lights and moved them away from the table, knowing it will be more spread on the diffuser:
Cosmetic brush lighting setup using diffuser panels
Now we have an additional media to project our light, and this way it is very easy to get a nice gradient light on the diffuser. This is exactly what I want to see on the brush: a smooth gradient reflection:
Diffuser panel reflection example
Gradient light gives us a very good idea of a cylindrical shape of the brush handle, a very nice dark edge around glowing panels makes image even more appealing to the eye.
This technique can be used with or without sofboxes, for any relatively small object. On the video below I’ve switched from sofboxes to a spot lights (original 7” Paul C. Buff reflector with a honeycomb grid) aimed to a diffusers with a sharp angle, creating a linear spots on it.
Here are few more brush sets from the same lighting setup (with diffusers):
Green set of brushes
Diffuser panels on a set of brushes
A little video tutorial from the photoshot:
Camera gear:
- Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III DSLR
- Bogen 055 XPROB Tripod with 405 geared head
- Canon RS-80N3 Remote Switch
- Canon Right Angle Finder
- Canon 100mm F2.8 macro IS L
Lighting, light modifiers and accessories:
- Paul C. Buff Lighting: 2×1600WS
- AlienBees/White Lighting reflectos with various honeycomb grind
- Paul C. Buff Cyber Commander 16 channels remote control with CSR+ receivers
- Adobe Lightroom 3 as a remote capture solution for tethered shooting
- 2 panles from Westcott Illuminator Reflector Kit 6-in-1 – 52″
All shots were done with: shutter speed 1/250 sec, F13, ISO 100
Enjoy,
~Alex
August 2nd, 2010 | 
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Great article, however I’ve got one question: Is the brush in the fourth picture as shiny as the one in the second picture? It looks rather flat, as though it had some satin surface. If it was indeed shiny, I think your diffused lines didn’t work all that well.
Thanks,
Tobi
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
August 2nd, 2010 at 1:26 pm
@Tobi,
I agree with you that with diffuser brush looks softer and not that shiny. Flat? Not for me:-)
The actual finish of the brush is not that extremely glare as you see it with softboxes, I would say it is somewhere in between.
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Alex, great article, double diffusion is not a new thing but something to be discovered as you have. I like the results that you get, this sort of things is a personal taste thing so there is no right or wrong answer only the clients approval answer.
Actual diffusion of the light is a product of how close the light source is to the diffuser. The closer the two are the less the diffusion. So for an experiment place the diffuser panel near the subject and move the light source back away from it, use a straight reflector for the test. use half metre increments and wind up the power to maintain your F stop so you have only one variable (is it you who doesn’t use a lightmeter ? I forget) You should see a greater diffusion as the light source is moved away.
Now for something special put a another diffuser panel in between the original diffuser panel and the lightsource that is say 2 metre’s back from the subject.
So now you have a very simple system of diffusion adjustment for different objects to different taste. WHo needs softboxes anymore??!!
Do this and have the results on my desk in the morning ( add a silly smiley here)
cheers
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
August 2nd, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Yep, this is exactly what I though : why i do need those softboxes? :-)) You are right, no flash metering for me: WYSWYG while shooting tethered.
BTW, softbox + diffuser will give you the same result as 2 diffusers, but with more option on a gradient pattern (based on a shape of a softbox)
Thanks for the comment!
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Alex, Double diffusion works very well for smooth gradients, I find is a little flat for me. I use diffused grids and then tuck my scrims in close to subject.Then move the spots around and find more detail. This way I am able to create reciprocals that have a bit more shape and punch. Dennis
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Very informative as always alex! On many objects you can achieve a similar effect using a light tent with softboxes illuminating the tent.
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
August 3rd, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Peter,
Light tent can be used, but not as efficient as panels: you can’t remove any side of the tent when needed, and it will give you (even if you are not highlighting that side) a unwanted reflection from it. Also, there is no way to pull apart or change the angle of the side panels… and many more limitations.
I’ve tried, but never use shooting tent anymore.
thank you!
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Also – I wanted to ask where you got the acrylic sheets that you’re resting the object on?
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
August 3rd, 2010 at 7:10 pm
usually i buy it in home depot and air-paint to a color I need. The one I’ve used for brushes was from office depot; this is a replacement a sheet for drawing board.. very thin, very white and one side is matte another is glossy..
Need to get few more like these:-)
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hello
why you used 100mm macro lens not 24-70mm L for this product ? any specific reason ?
Thanks
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
October 12th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
@Salman,
I prefer to use non-zoom macro lens for any product shoots: they are usually superior in everything (detail, sharpness, color, etc) then zoom lenses (if both are “L”).
Remember, zoom lens made only for your convenience, not for the image quality:-)
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You’re really a generous man for sharing ur every wonderful job’s technic to us.
I’ve learnt a lot from your blog. Most appreciative of you.
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Hey Alex. Really nice stuff. Nice of you to share. Congrats and keep the good work.
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Good job posting your tutorials – You’re a rare bread of photographer while most today keep to themselves and hate sharing. Keep up your good work.
I agreed with the first poster above – the problem of the softbox vs diffusion-gradient – you have to be careful with the surface of your object. If you have a chrome surface, the highlights created by a softbox show that it is highly reflective/polished or satin/ more dull. The black brush for myself, I cannot tell if it is glossy or somewhat satin in finish – but this is where our clients will tell us what they prefer in the end and which is right or wrong – we offer the options and they will decide.
Spacibo!
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
December 6th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Vadim,
Yes, I see the point as well. We did it too soft for such glossy surface. I think it should be done as we did our resent set, having diffuser and strip box from each side: http://www.akelstudio.com/blog/product-photography-lighting-tipstricks-working-with-reflective-objects-part-4.
BTW, Checked your portfolio, looks great! What lens / camera system do you use for your jewelry? Knowing that shallow DOF is an issue for any macro jewelry photography i am curious how you deal with it…
So far my best results with jewelry (from max DOF perspective) was when I was using my tilt-shift adapter and Rodenstock 80mm lens.
Udachi!
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PS: Are you loving your Einsteins? I need to get some, they seem just great. Good review btw.
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
December 7th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Vadim,
I am quite happy so far… Nice strobe for it’s money. They have a problem with the clamps for the light modifiers, currently providing with the rubber strips to fix them on a place:-) Hopefully it will be fixed soon. Other then that, great units.
P.S Is this a secret? My question about the camera and lens, you did not answer:-)
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Thank you Alex I found this most informative as usual. Great work and very much appreciated.
Jim
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
December 13th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Thank you, Jim.
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Hello, Alex, I bless you in the distant happiness and China, these days I’m looking at your blog, and learned a lot in your photographic knowledge, although we have the language barrier, but I probably know you can still how to operate, to express what you want. Thank you, finally the way, this text is to use Google translation, the translation may be not authentic, so please bear with, I wish you a happy life!
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I am just getting into product photography i am confused should use strobe flash with umbrella’s or softbox ?
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 11:46 am
Raffaele,
Evryrhing is depends from a particular shot and situation, there is no “should”. However, in product photography we often need to have an uniform and rectangle shaped reflections, and softbox does much better job than umbrella.
So… you may want to leave umbrellas for portraiture.
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