What should you call the opposite of feathering a light?
Asked 4/7/2018
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In studio or location lighting, feathering usually means aiming the light slightly off-axis so the softer edge of the beam lights the subject instead of the center. If I want to tell someone to do the opposite and point the light more directly at the subject, is there a standard term for that?
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 edge of most luminary output [beam] spread is more diffuse than the centre. A lighting technician will sometimes point a source "off-axis" to get a more or less indirect beam to "feather" it.
The term(s) I would use is to aim, point, or direct the beam of the light more towards the subject. You want to "harden" the light rather than "soften" (another term for feather) it.
Sometimes a "barn door" or "gobo" [go-between] is used in the path of the light so as to cause a light shadow that does the job. In this event, you would turn your attention to the accessory that's causing the [un]desired effect.
Thin translucent screens or "scrims" are also used directly in the path of the light to soften the harsh direct beam of a light to feather it. In this case, you would use less material or thinner diffuser or even remove the "flag" entirely. Flags, which are normally opaque are used to block light like a "barn-door," can also be made of other materials. A flag is called such due to being attached to an independent support not part of another lighting fixture in the set-up. It looks like a flag.
A white or crushed-foil reflector can be used to feather a light. In this case you would use a more "specular" reflection material or a smoother-surfaced foil reflector.
All of that pedantry aside, I would say, "Could you harden the light a bit." Then, more if that wasn't enough to satisfy me.
Originally by user21789. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user21789
8y ago
0
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There doesn’t seem to be a widely accepted single-word opposite for “feathering.” In practice, photographers and lighting techs would usually just say aim, point, or direct the light more toward the subject.
If you want the beam to hit the subject more directly, clear phrasing like these works best:
- “Point the light more directly at the subject.”
- “Aim the light at the subject.”
- “Turn the light toward the subject.”
One answer suggested “defeather” or “slightly defeather,” but that doesn’t appear to be standard terminology. So for clarity, it’s better to use plain directional language rather than inventing an antonym.
Also note that if the effect is being caused by modifiers or flags—such as barn doors, a gobo, or scrim—you may need to adjust those instead of just changing the light’s aim.
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