Would the diffusion panels work good?

Would these 3'x5' diffusion panels be a a good size for full body shots if I had them raised on legs 12" to 18" off the ground? Or should I go with a full length panel? I think I'm going to go with diffusion panels instead of a soft box and build my own stands for them. Thanks!

Ebay diffusion panels


I wish there was a way to edit thread titles.

Hi Randy,

I question the quality of the material used for diffusion. I'm not saying it's bad or won't act as a diffuser but using nylon ripstop or what is called sport ripstop is recommended. It certainly is a great price but I'm not sure I would buy from them. Chances are the stictching is not very good either.

If you want to buy the panels and make your own PVC frames there are many pre-fabricated diffusion panels available and if you're ambitious you can even go to or order the nylon ripstop from Jo-Anne's. They sell both the standard and sport ripstop in both black and white for $6.99 per yard and I believe it is 48" wide.

Yup, that's the place. You want to look at either

Nylon Ripstop

or

Sport Ripstop

The standard works great and appears to have a grid on it. The sport ripstop does not have the grid and has a smoother appearance. The material is also a little thicker than the standard but I believe that the light loss is about the same.

Most of the prefabricated panels have elastic sewn into the corners so they slip over the corner of the PVC frame and hold snugly. some people just clip the panel to the frame. You can also use velcro.

You got it Randy. It's great diffusion material. Do yourself a favor and made some black panels to use as gobos and flags. Since you're not using an enclosed lightbox you do have to 'tame' the spill.

My large diffusion panel goes floor to ceiling and has a black panel on both sides; one to control spill on my background and behind the subject area and the other to control light that might otherwise enter the lens and cause flare.

Hey Robert did you forget https://photography-on-the.net …113&highlight=r​ussellsnr2
One of the most useful threads I have seen for a novice like me.

I built my own with rip stop nylon from Joann's. Like Robert, I built two side panels. Besides black side panels, I found a plasticized white curtain liner that completely blocks light, but since it is white, it also reflects light. It is narrower than the black material or the rip stop nylon, so it doesn't fit my frame as well. I just clamp the short end with binders clips rather than the elastic pieces I sew on to the corners. So now I have back side curtains and white side curtains. I use left over black material to make skirts for the bottom to block light when the panels are on their legs. These aren't hemmed and I just stick them on with binder clips. I think my panels are about 6x5, but they are packed away right now and my memory isn't that good. They are actually the width of whatever the nylon came out as when it was hemmed, so I'm sure it isn't exactly five feet unless I just got lucky.

There are tons of kits and DIY's out there. I can't keep track of them all.

This is my diffusion panl with a DIY grid.