Using cookies (cokuloris) with studio lights

Looking for some advice or examples of using cookies with studio strobes (Einsteins) to create patterns on backgrounds. I haven't been able to produce the effects that I'm looking for and have read that it may be necessary to use a Fresnel light. I would really like to create a way to acheive this with my existing studio strobes. Thanks in advance for your replies.

I use an ellipsoidal zoom (modified for strobes) when I need to do this. One of the issues with using cookies is the ability to focus them where you need the pattern. I can tell you that I've tried using cookies with my fresnels and it wasn't as clearly defined as I'd wanted...since I had an alternative light source (the ellipsoidal) I didn't experiment further. Furthermore, I have a box of dozens of different stainless steel patterns made for exactly this purpose so my motivation to pursue alternative light sources is lacking.

Hey Food guy that is exactly the effect I am looking for. Thanks for the great post. Unfortunately I don't have one of those lights and not sure I want to spend the bucks for one. In addition, I looked them up on Ebay and there are focusing options from 26-50 degrees and I'm not sure what I would need. Also wondering how you would lower or raise the intensity of the light if needed.

Sure wish I could pull off this effect using my Einsteins or 580s

*edit* Now that I know what an Ellipsoidal zoom is I started another thread https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=14557925#po​st14557925

Couldn't you theoretically achieve the look you are after by applying a Snoot that holds the cookie/GOBO to your light, to get look you are after? I know I have done this a couple times fooling around for test shots myself and had some success (only have one Cookie/GOBO of some clouds that was a free sample I received from Apollo back a few years ago, so right now the uses are limited, I don't want to have every background to have "clouds" when I use a cookie/GOBO). You will just have to play with the distance the light is from the background to achieve the look you are after.

This is a tough one to easily duplicate as the ellipsoidal is made specifically for this purpose. The ellipsoidal zoom is a focusing unit with lenses at the front and the ability to also move the light source at the rear to vary the projection size and sharpness hence the zoom designation...so it provides the opportunity to very precisely place the projected image. As I said, mine is adapted to strobe use so I can vary the power as necessary.

THe old school way of doing this kind of thing was to cut out a shape in a foam core board and place a hard light behind it, moving the board and light source to achieve the result. Lots of variables in that equation...size of the board, distance to wall, distance to light source etc. It can be done but it's time consuming.

The other advantage to the ellipsoidal is that stainless steel cookies are pre-made. I have quite a few... a variety of windows/leaves/etc.

FWIW< I do see them on craigslist from time for very short money. I don't think many people really know what they are (they're traditionally used in the theater for lighting effects, I don't think there's many used in still photography these days). In fact, mine sat unused for a few years and I was close to letting it go for very short money. The next thing I knew, I had a job that screamed for this effect. Glad I hung onto it!

Eldorf_Dragonsbane wrote in post #14558233
Couldn't you theoretically achieve the look you are after by applying a Snoot that holds the cookie/GOBO to your light, to get look you are after?

Not really. You need a focused light source to project an image/shape. This is why slide projectors have lenses.

^ good point Curtis. In the image I posted above, I could have the window pattern as sharp or soft as I wanted by the ability to focus the pattern via the lens system in the light. And a slide projector is a good analogy as to how these work.

@Foodguy,
Nice shot. You've got a bit of color fringing (happens with the EZ) photoshop some of the color of the wall on it in color mode

^ Thanks...

This was actually a scan from a chrome. THe final image was corrected by the color separator before going to press. (remember them?) It was the only one that I had on-line to show.