Impact Umbrella - shoot thru?

[gorby]

I've just received my Impact lightstand kit--- how do I get the black fabric off to use it as a shoot thru? Here is the image on BH's site, which highlights this feature:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/475575.jpg

And one other question. From strobist:

Oh, and before I forget, as soon as you get it, if the shoe mount is made of metal PUT A PIECE OF ELECTRICAL TAPE ON TOP WHERE THE FLASH SITS. It could screw up the electronics in the month's-rent-worth-of-strobe you have sitting up there if you don't. I'm not kidding about that.

He means right where the cold shoe comes in contact with the flash right?

.... WHY would they not manufacture it so that it is safe to use right out of the box? It is designed for you to put a flash there right? Or am I crazy?

[nouse4aname]

You pull on the ends of the umbrella. You see those little metal things at the end of each wire, they come off. Just pull off all 8 gently and voila!

The hotshoe tape is a precaution. It'll work without it, its just a risk you take. If they made the piece out of plastic, i'm sure it would break off.

[gorby]

Thanks! Gonna try it now!

And I don't know about making it out of plastic, but maybe just the contact point.

[nouse4aname]

I think its like that becausemost flashes wont be affected?I had to sand my bracket down so that i could put the tape and have it fit in there securely.

[gorby]

I think you're right on that, but still.

I just tried it out and it's working great-- looking at it closely, I see that the metal contacts of my flash (Sigma 530 Super in this case) don't even touch the cold shoe.

It fit it well, also. I had read a lot of fit issues prior to ordering this, so I'm just counting my blessings.