Do I use a reflector with an umbrella?

[Jannie]

So I've been experimenting with the various media but one doesn't quite seem to work like I think it should.

When I mount an umbrella, do I use either the 6" reflector that came with my BX400's or no reflector and how far away should the umbrella (the 32" that came with the heads). I've been doing it by eye but without any reflector, the light really spills straight out to the sides when I fire them.

With either reflector, it seems to not cover the whole umbrella!

Is this a trick question?

I'm answering my own post because I can't figure out how to delete it and maybe someone else wants to know.

Nope, I figured it out, the reflector that comes with it is the 90 degree 6 1/4" umbrella reflector and I finally figured it out by setting it up with the shoot through white umbrella, going out and standing where the model would stand-aiming the umbrella right at me.

Then I squinted my eyes way down and stared at the umbrella as I repeatedly fired it and I could see the coverage on the umbrella, WallaWalla Eureka and all that stuff, it's fine and the umbrella is most efficiently used with the reflector that it comes with on the umbrellas that the kit comes with.

[Mark1]

It helps for new people to take a picture of the umbrella. As in. set everything up as if you were going to shoot. But stop the camera way down and shoot the umbrella. You will be able to see exactly what is going on with the reflections or the shoot thru's.

[SnlpeR]

do some test shots to see the spill
move the umbrella closer to the strobe untill you get no spill

[tetrode]

So I've been experimenting with the various media but one doesn't quite seem to work like I think it should.

When I mount an umbrella, do I use either the 6" reflector that came with my BX400's or no reflector and how far away should the umbrella (the 32" that came with the heads). I've been doing it by eye but without any reflector, the light really spills straight out to the sides when I fire them.

With either reflector, it seems to not cover the whole umbrella!

Is this a trick question?

I'm answering my own post because I can't figure out how to delete it and maybe someone else wants to know.

Nope, I figured it out, the reflector that comes with it is the 90 degree 6 1/4" umbrella reflector and I finally figured it out by setting it up with the shoot through white umbrella, going out and standing where the model would stand-aiming the umbrella right at me.

Then I squinted my eyes way down and stared at the umbrella as I repeatedly fired it and I could see the coverage on the umbrella, WallaWalla Eureka and all that stuff, it's fine and the umbrella is most efficiently used with the reflector that it comes with on the umbrellas that the kit comes with.

Jannie;

Another approach is to just stand in front of the umbrella and light and shoot some pictures while incrementally moving the light further down the shaft.

Here's one of my Genesis lights with the Elinchrom 6-1/4" mounted firing into a 45" umbrella:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3021/2534281671_d6cbdd9fea_o.jpg

I found that the magic distance from the front of the reflector to the umbrella canopy was approximately 13". At shorter distances, the photos clearly showed only a portion of the umbrella being illuminated.

Dave F.