Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I've used Lowell TotaLights for years to shoot paintings, etc. because they are portable and a "broad," very even source. Now I'd like to move to daylight color film (or digital) and a pair of my WL X1600's. I will need to use polarizing filters over the lights, as well as on the lens.

I have the standard 7" reflectors that came with the lights. Are any of the other reflectors likely to give me more even coverage than these, without hot spots? I need to be able to create a very even smooth 8X8 foot light pattern on a wall.

Thanks for any help.

From experience, the PLM has given me the most even coverage out of anything I've ever tried, both visually and with the meter. It would definitely do the job for you, don't know if it fits in with your needs though.

I can believe the PLM is even, but I don't think it will work in this case---too big to use with polarizers. I'm hoping that one of the 22 inch or smaller metal bowls will work. Thanks any way.

All of our reflectors are quite even. However, white will give your less specularity by its very nature. Add to that the size of the area you wish to light and that you need to be able to gel it, I would say 22HOBD-W.

Thank you!

Whoa, totally skipped over the polarizer part..........wow, how dumb do I look?
Thanks for going easy on me.

Why do you think you need polarizers ??? Are you trying to make an easy job hard?

Try two softboxes. One on either side of the painting, at 90 degree angle from wall i.e. facing each other.

Polarizers have been allowing me to control specular reflection and saturation to a degree I can't match without them. Some complex surfaces---heavily built up, or with metallic elements, will have glare areas no matter where the lights are placed. My clients have been happy with the results for about thirty years, so they'll remain part of the kit.

I'd say, he's trying to make a hard job easy.

Polarizers are quite common in art photography. A couple of polarized strip lights is a very common light for paintings. That's why Rosco sells 17 inch in either 20 inch long sheets or 120 inch long rolls. The rolls are handy for polarizing your strip lights. One roll does 2 medium Chimera.

I once got some wonderful shots of glass work that way. It took two rolls of the stuff, nearly $500 worth, to set up the shot. (Hey, the customer said "what can you do about those bright spots". I suggested 3 things. He sprang for the polarizers, and kept them afterward, to avoid competition). It takes pretty much a whole roll, taping two 17x48 pieces together, to do a 36x48 inch Chimeras.

I am in the exact same situation but I have only been shooting artwork for about 6 years. I am frustrated with the tota lights because of the need to shoot in a dark space which is not always convenient but I also need a very large, even, polarized light spread. I was on the verge of buying some Einsteins but after reading this exchange I am having second thoughts. Did you find a good solution to getting the broad even light with the strobe kit?