Does stacking diffusers make flash light softer, or do I need a larger modifier?
Asked 12/6/2017
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I want the softest possible light from a portable off-camera flash setup. I’m considering stacking multiple diffusion layers, for example a speedlight with a plastic cap diffuser inside a fabric diffuser and then inside a softbox, or even using both inner and outer diffusion panels on nested softboxes.
I understand each layer reduces output, but I often shoot with speedlights at very low power, so I could increase flash power if needed.
Will stacking diffusers actually create softer, more wraparound light, or does softness mainly come from using a larger light source and/or moving it closer? For a portable location setup, would I be better off using the largest practical softbox/octabox instead?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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The reason for stacking diffusers is generally to make the light from a modifier more even. It's a decent strategy if you're getting "hot spots" on your subject because the light from a flash is coming through the middle of a less-than-ideally-designed modifier hotter than it is coming off the edges of a modifier. That's why many of the best soft boxes, particularly for use with portable speedlights, place the flash facing backwards so they bounce off the rear of the inside of the box before their light comes through the front diffusion panel. All of that bouncing around helps to even out the light.
It's not really going to make the light any softer, though. Only a larger size light source, or multiple light sources spread out over a larger area, will do that. Keep in mind that when talking about light sources, 'size' is always in terms of angular size as measured from the subject.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
8y ago
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Stacking diffusers can help make the light more even across a modifier and reduce hot spots, but it does not significantly make the light softer by itself.
Softness mainly comes from the apparent size of the light source relative to the subject: use a larger modifier, move it closer, or both. That increases the solid angle of the source and gives more wraparound light.
Diffusion is useful when it helps the entire front surface of a softbox glow more evenly. That’s why some better speedlight softboxes aim the flash backward first, so the light bounces around before passing through the front panel. But adding more small diffusers to a small source mostly just wastes light.
So your best portable solution is usually the largest practical modifier you can carry, placed as close as framing allows, with good even fill across the front panel. Inner and outer diffusion on a properly sized softbox can be useful; piling extra caps and socks onto the flash usually won’t give the softness increase you want.
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