curvable rods for DIY EyeLighter reflector?

dave63 wrote in post #11435462
A decent option for bendable robs ...

As I understand it, Rob is actually quite pliable.

Dave F.

Yes, and at the moment, I'm getting bent out of shape because Photoshop and the computer I'm working on (not this one) are giving me f*****g FITS.

Tell Rob to get bent.

Lol. Well, back when I worked with metal I went to the cheapest metal scrapyards ever. I was always shocked at what I could buy

tetrode wrote in post #11435530
As I understand it, Rob is actually quite pliable.

Dave F.

LOL, at times.

This kind of stuff makes me chuckle.
There are so many ways to get a reflector the shape needed for a shot, that it makes no sense paying hug amounts to someone for a preformed piece. Maybe, if I were going to do a hundred seniors all with that lighting.

Just two light stands with arms and some fabric hanging between then will deliver a close approximation. And there are probably a hundred other approaches that would work as well.

Just about any flexible material will create a curve similar to this is its supported at both ends and pulled down and secured in the middle. No need to bend a rods or robs either.

dmward wrote in post #11435706
... No need to bend rods or robs either.

That's too bad, David. I was already working on my design for the Robflector.

Dave F.

So does anyone have a source for good reflective fabric?

KurtGoss wrote in post #11435795
So does anyone have a source for good reflective fabric?

I got a bunch out in the empty field just outside of Roswell, NM. It was all over out there. I had to step around all these small guys sleeping in weird suits, but it was worth it.

dmward wrote in post #11435706
This kind of stuff makes me chuckle.
There are so many ways to get a reflector the shape needed for a shot, that it makes no sense paying hug amounts to someone for a preformed piece. Maybe, if I were going to do a hundred seniors all with that lighting.

Just two light stands with arms and some fabric hanging between then will deliver a close approximation. And there are probably a hundred other approaches that would work as well.

Just about any flexible material will create a curve similar to this is its supported at both ends and pulled down and secured in the middle. No need to bend a rods or robs either.

No, just "fabric hanging" will not work because you'll see the creases of the fabric in the reflection as dark spots.

KurtGoss wrote in post #11435795
So does anyone have a source for good reflective fabric?

I might.
I bought some amazing stuff at JoAnn fabrics a few months back; kept meaning to post something about it here, but haven't found the time to construct something with it and do tests.

that's assuming there are creases.
A mylar fabric that is properly rolled onto a tube would be creaseless.
Or even a length of heavy white paper or thin plastic could be used.

True. Wonder how hard it'd really be though because the reflection has to make sense, so the angle of tilt of the whole thing has to be correct too.

Is one were to build an elongated U shaped support. PVC would work.
Then mount it on a pivot and pace a semi-rigid reflective surface in the U it would be essentially the same as the linked to device.

Probably $3.00 of PVC and another $5.00 for the reflective material at an art supply store.

TMR Design wrote in post #11435261
I'm ok with that catch light for certain beauty or glamour but I don't see it as something flexible enough or universally applicable to use all too often.

I think it's a better looking catchlight than the lastolite tri-lite in that it's one smooth reflection instead of 3 dots. The con is you can't control the angle of the 3 panels like you can w/ the tri-lite, unless the metal rods are bendable easily from the "perfect" shape (not sure how to get them into a smooth curve) to a distorted shape.

And yes, the ridiculous cost for something relatively simple, even if patented, is why it looks like a good DIY project.
Collapsible tent poles would probably work (easy to bend into a smooth curve) and make it portable but the hard part is keeping the angles right at the ends and needing to use black string to tie the ends to keep the curve. Seems like attaching an oval reflector to the tri-lite arms would be the simplest thing to do since the metal inside would give a smooth curve...

kenyee wrote in post #11438132
I think it's a better looking catchlight than the lastolite tri-lite in that it's one smooth reflection instead of 3 dots. The con is you can't control the angle of the 3 panels like you can w/ the tri-lite, unless the metal rods are bendable easily from the "perfect" shape (not sure how to get them into a smooth curve) to a distorted shape.

And yes, the ridiculous cost for something relatively simple, even if patented, is why it looks like a good DIY project.
Collapsible tent poles would probably work (easy to bend into a smooth curve) and make it portable but the hard part is keeping the angles right at the ends and needing to use black string to tie the ends to keep the curve. Seems like attaching an oval reflector to the tri-lite arms would be the simplest thing to do since the metal inside would give a smooth curve...

It's definitely a personal preference as to whether people are going to like either or both of these modifiers and associated catch lights. I like both but lean toward the tri-lite.

As you mentioned, the ability to control the number of panels, their position, and angle and color is what, for me, makes the tri-lite a very powerful modifier. It also makes it more versatile (for me) for both studio and location work with ambient light.

Like any DIY there are going to be many approaches and solutions so I'd be very curious to see what you do and how well it works for you.