Black Silk Textile

[Jacques Koudstaal]

Hi.

 

I came across black silk today and was not entirely sure what its for. Cant seem to get any info on it online. I believe there is also black grid cloths as well. The black silk is a full silk but made from black thread and not white. I was told when you put a light through it, it gives you a soft directional look. It cuts the ambient light out and keeps the directional light. Not entirely sure why this is the case if this is true?

 

Anybody come across black silk or black grid cloth before?

 

Regards,

Jacques

[Satsuki Murashige]

If you think about it, white silk not only diffuses the light passing thru it, but also becomes a big white glowing source itself, creating more ambient fill light. Black silk eliminates this effect while still softening the light passing thru it.

[Jacques Koudstaal]

Ah ok, thats because black absorbs light while white reflects it.

[Albion Hockney]

its not that it reflects the light....it just takes the light thats not directly part of the center beam and fills in more. black silk just diffuses the beam with no added ambiance

[Stuart Brereton]

A black silk is one of those things that you read about from time to time in American Cinematographer, that almost no-one understands the purpose of, and even fewer people use. It's a hugely inefficient way to soften light, to the point where I often wonder if it isn't just the movie equivalent of the Emperor's New Clothes.

[Satsuki Murashige]

Hey, once you're a big name DP charging $$$$$/day, I'm guessing it helps to razzle dazzle your clients any way you can!

[robert duke]

Black silks are great to help hide a light source when there are lots of reflections. they are great to use as an overhead to cut the sun down without "blooming" light.