Benefits Of Grids...?

I did a quick search but couldn't find much to answer my question.

I have a basic understanding/knowledg​e on the fact grids are made to control the direction of light coming through a modifier such as a softbox or beauty dish, but would love a more in-depth explanation from someone who uses them regularly.

So, would anyone like to apprise me? If yes, thankyou in advance for your help.

Tristan

HI Tristan,

I use grids a good deal of the time. They absolutely control directionality and limit spill to other areas of your set or subject area. There are fabric grids used in softboxes and octaboxes and there are spot grids (sometimes called honeycomb) that are attached to the reflector of a strobe.

If, for example, you have a small space and your subject is close to the background, and you're using a medium softbox, the spill and falloff are going to pour light on to your background. Sometimes that's what you want but sometimes it absolutely is not what you want. By using a grid, you can control the directionality and direct the modifier diagonally across your set or subject area, and in doing so you can effectively keep light from reaching the background. Without the grid you would have to work very hard to control the light from that modifier and the only way you could keep light from reaching the background would be to distance the modifier and subject area from the background,. which we're already established that you can't do because of space limitations.

There are many uses for grids. They can be used on hair lights, accents and kickers, and on background lights to create a tighter spot of light than you might get from a standard wide angle reflector.

Thanks for your help Robert. Definitely something i'll be looking into.

Reviving this thread from who knows how long ago.

Ok, so grids control spill on the background, do they have any (noticeable) difference on the light falling on the subject?

Say I have the exact softbox, 1 meter from the subject's face. I take a photo without grid, then again with. Will the transition from light to dark, or the softness of the shadow from the nose, change in any way?

poopinmymouth wrote in post #8083050
Reviving this thread from who knows how long ago.

Ok, so grids control spill on the background, do they have any (noticeable) difference on the light falling on the subject?

Say I have the exact softbox, 1 meter from the subject's face. I take a photo without grid, then again with. Will the transition from light to dark, or the softness of the shadow from the nose, change in any way?

Yes, a grid will make the light more directional, which in turn will make for a sharper transition between light & dark. You'd have to be using a very tight grid for it to make a significant difference though - I doubt you'd notice a difference with a softbox and an average fabric grid.

This is the difference between barndoors/flags & grids. Barndoors will block spill while leaving the rest of the light unaffected. Grids will actually transform the characteristics of the entire light source by filtering out all light beyond a certain angle of spread.

In this thread (LINK) I posted some examples of single strobe shots using my various modifiers, all with the same subject position, and strobe settings. There are a couple samples that were taken with the 1/4" and 1/8" Honl speedgrids, and I think they show a pretty clear illustration of what the grid does to the shape of the light.

Thanks for the link Bluewookie, but I'm familiar with how a grid tightens a bare flash, I was more interested in it's affects on a softbox. However yesterday I got to test it out at my local Chimera dealer. I ended up purchasing a fabric grid based on the tests, and now I have plenty of time to get familiar with the exact effects.