Scrim vs. Shoot-Through Umbrella

Hi,

I saw some pictures that were very soft and gorgeous...almost

dream-like. They were shot using a scrim.

What is the difference between a scrim and a shoot-through umbrella?

Could I get the same effect with the shoot-through?

Thanks!

Scrims are usually much larger and are flat.

A shoot through umbrella usually isn't especially l large and spills light in every direction.

Best combination is an umbrella (or more that one) with a large scrim in front, with the

scoop of the umbrella bowl facing the scrim.

Scrims can be more difficult to position than shoot-through umbrellas but are for more versatile. As Ellis said, they can be far large. You can also positon the light at any distance, or can use more than 1 light. Close lights produce a fall-off effect, especially useful for photographing glass, distant lights produce even illumination.

You can also use lights fitted with honeycomb grids, softboxes or umbrellas.

A lot of the 'old boys' (like me) discovered scrims years ago, long before we had softboxes, and had to learn how to get the best from them.

You might enjoy reading: <A target="_new" HREF="http://www.vividlight.com/articles/

1314.htm">http://www.vividlight.com/articles/1314.htm</A>

<P>Their defintion of Scrim:<BR>

<blockquote>

Scrims are translucent diffusion panels placed in front of a light source to soften the light.

Scrims are usually attached to a frame support and can actually have multiple lights

behind a single panel. You can control contrast by moving the scrim closer or farther from

the light source.

</blockquote>

<BR><BR>It's harder to move the scrim than an umbrella, but it's easy to

move the light or lights behind the scrim for different effects. I've made scrim frames out

of home depot plastic pipe and purchased my cloth panels from Calumet.

You can also light scrims with grids, umbrellas, softboxes etc to create specular highlights which are graduated and have different shapes as well as different contrasts.

This is a 6.5 ft. square scrim from Lastolite being lit by various softboxes.

You can find this type of information in the Lighting Themes which are archived in the Administration section of this Lighting Forum.<div></div>