Diffusion material

[MrKickalot]

I am trying my hand at portrait photography. I can't justify to my wife a need for lighting equipment so I searched the internet I found a few places on building softboxes. I have almost completed my first one but I ran into a problem... it says to put Velcro on diffusion material and put it in front of the softbox. What kind of material can I use for this that I can buy in rather large sheet rather cheap? Say 3' X 3'?

Thanks

[Scottes]

Check a fabric store. Find the whitest stuff you can get. Hold it up to the light to compare the look - you want as much light as possible to shine through, and a smooth surface (ie; can't see points of light between the threads).

3' x 3' is a square yard, but material is generally sold by the yard which is 36" x 54" so you get 1.5 square yards.


What are you using for lights? Halogen will be too hot for fabric...

[vfilby]

I know this is alittle off topic...

I purchased two white childrens umbrellas that I have been playing with lately. They seem to handle the heat of the halogen lights (650W and 1100W), they get warm but they haven't burnt yet. I am sure they are not as good as real photographic umbrellas; however, they cost $4 CDN each.

Just something else to add to your aresenal.

I have also seen an ebay store (I think it is Joe's Photo Auctions) that sells softboxes really cheap.

Vince