Meet The Gaffer #17: Skinning A Frame

I was asked by one of the subscribers to show how to skin a diffusion frame. This is one of the ways you can do it.

[@Meiereika]

I would love to see an episode dedicated to diffusion materials. Still a quite inaccessible topic for someone not having access to that on a regular basis.

[@weatheredown]

Appreciate you doing this videos. Usually my classmate and I would tag up when doing up frames but thanks for showing how easy it is for one man to do it by himself. Will definitely get my guys to watch and learn from this.

[@meetthegaffer]

Also check out the latest episode from Grip Tips. He adds a tip re bending the frame to get some extra tightness:-)

[@weatheredown]

Luke Seerveld haha was actually directed from his channel to yours. Would definitely love to share some of my lighting plans that I've done in school to get some of your thoughts

[@meetthegaffer]

weatheredown, happy to help. Shoot me an email: [e-mail]

[@georgdreck3202]

DP: we need a 1/2 WD frame - Gaffer: give me 10 minutes Great video btw

[@tegidcartwright1202]

Hey mate - you should do some links to places we can buy good supplies. Love the channel.

[@lordxerud]

I use the same technique that you demonstrated but a little different. I cut a slit in the middle of each section and peel it back an inch in each direction creating a 2 inch gap of exposed double sided tape. I then do the same thing you did in pulling it tight in each direction. Then grab a corner and pull it as tight as you can, then expose the rest of the tape to lay it down. They end up as tight as drum heads! Do the same with 8 x 4 too! Thanks for the vid

[@meetthegaffer]

Hi Anthony, if you can, it would be great to have you ask someone to capture your way on video... for all the visual learners out there. Thank you for commenting!

[@najadadavis]

:) never done it before, but I will have confidence when I do!! Thanks, Luke!!

[@beauchampy]

Thanks! That was super helpful.

[@franciscobf]

Great lesson. Loved the comparison to a booger :)

[@meetthegaffer]

Ha, ha!

[@YoeriKurvers]

I'm used to doing it with just gaff tape. Put your frame on a table and lay your filter above it and cut it. Then put a small piece of gaff tape in the middle and pull it outwards to tighten it. Then move towards the edges with more gaff tape. After you're finished you do one strip of gaff tape over the entire side so it doesn't come loose. But yea peeling off old gaff tape from a frame is the worst.

[@meetthegaffer]

Many different ways to skin it:)

[@Ieatstopsigns]

Your videos are great. Very straight forward and informative.

[@meetthegaffer]

I’m glad you find them useful! Thank you for responding.

[@ultrabounce]

interesting technique but skinning a frame with 129 heavy frost is very easy because it's so thick and it doesn't really wrinkle.i doubt that you can get a frame that tight using for example 152 1/8 diff or something like that with that technique.for me simple gaffa tape has always worked best and unless there is a hurricane blasting through set there won't be any issue with the sound guys ever.

[@CINEAIRVIDEOPRODUCTION]

Thank you

[@mandykehoe659]

Hey thanks, Luke. This was really helpful...

[@Richfxx]

Iv seen a video of where you do what you did but you force the bottle edge of the frame on to the tall leg so that the frame bends slightly so that when u release the tension the frame stretches out the skin

[@meetthegaffer]

Hi Richard, Yes, Grip Tips has a video that shows that technique: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJuwcmOLpNylnJo

[@chrstphrdyer]

Different types of bounce options how to setup and use please.

[@Jsfilmz]

this is great

[@meetthegaffer]

:)

[@wilsarino]

Super video, many thanks ! Which kind of paper have you used here please?

[@meetthegaffer]

Paper? I’m using diffusion/gel to skin the frame. I may be missing what you mean.

[@wilsarino]

@@meetthegaffer which kind of material are you using please ?

[@meetthegaffer]

@wilsarino Lee Opal, half soft frost, 251, 250, 216, 129, that sort of thing. Does that make sense or are these numbers not recognizable?

[@wilsarino]

@@meetthegaffer i'm a total beginner in diy stuff, what do these numbers mean please ?

[@meetthegaffer]

A number of manufacturers produce colored gels and diffusion gels that you can use to change the light that comes out of a fixture. Color can change the color and diffusion can change the quality. Two well known manufacturers are Rosco and Lee. If you go to leefilters.com/colour/216/ you can see that you can get sheets or rolls of a diffusion called 216. It will take the intensity of your light down by 1.5 stops, but the quality will be less harsh than the raw light, and if you put the diffusion into a larger size than the front of your light source and fill the diffusion it will make your light softer and provide more coverage. The different numbers and names refer to different types of neutral (uncolored) diffusion that each change the quality of light differently. Hope that helps!

[@tylerlizenby]

great vid. Can you show the difference in light quality when bouncing off muslin, ultrabounce, beadboard, etc.?

[@meetthegaffer]

Good question! Someone else was asking for that comparison too. We'll have to give that an episode for sure. Thank you for watching.

[@AlexanderCornel]

Best teacher!

[@meetthegaffer]

:) Check out Gaffer&Gear and Grip Tips too.

[@Dncyx]

nice tutorial! However we skin our frames differently here. The mentality is instead of attaching the gel onto the frame, we attach the frame onto a gel that is already rolled out flat on the floor.

[@meetthegaffer]

PANDETTA D, that's cool! Could you shoot some video of your process?

[@lordxerud]

I have never seen anyone roll a diff or gel out onto the floor to skin a frame....wtf are you on about?

[@Dncyx]

I used to work at a local TVC production company where it has a studio. We will roll the diffusion out on the floor and then place a frame with double sided tape attached and peeled on it. Trimming the excess lastly. I suppose you can't do this when you are on location but I am just trying to say we did it differently. I am not trying to say anyone's method is wrong. And since I don't work there anymore I can't show you how i did either, I am sorry

[@lordxerud]

PANDETTA D Don't be sorry mate. Everyone has a different way of doing the same thing. I was just surprised you put gel on the floor.

[@FilmmakersAtLarge]

thank for this!

[@FolkeFox]

Is there a specific way of doing this with round stock frames? I'm stuck with some and would like to know if there's a best way of doing it.

[@meetthegaffer]

A little trickier as you’re trying to stretch around a thin curved surface. You can approach it similarly, but if you wrap round stock with tape it’s a pain to remove later on. You could consider short sections of tape on the corners, then add some ATG/snot tape and pull the opposite corner taught first and then maybe add tape at the mid points between the corners.

[@gregthompson8062]

Hey Luke, Love all your videos! Quick question if you don't mind answering it. If you were to own 1 butterfly frame what size would it be? I know all the answers of well.....It depends on the application but I have been used to using 4x4 bead board with a duck bill clamp and getting great results but obviously limited with the size. I already own 2 count 3 riser beefy baby stands with casters. Not really looking into getting 2 more stands unless they happen to be 2 mombo combos so I can do virtually 20x20 overhead or anything else of maximum support. What have you found to be used most in your experience? And what would be doable with 2 beefy baby stands as far as overhead support? 6x6 or 8x8? I am trying to max out my equipment as of now other than invest 3k in a 12x12 or 20x20 with silks? I know combo stands are the most used from what It seems but All the advise goes in my brain locker from you and taken into consideration. Thanks in advance. -Greg

[@meetthegaffer]

Hi Greg, 8x8 is a great intermediate size if you are using it for an overhead with a little room for Sun movement before you have to reposition it. 6x6 is great if you have minimum crew and set-ups don’t last too long. I would get two of each so you can do an overhead and a bounce at the same time... but that would mean more stands and bags:)

[@gouigouix]

nice trip, you have a reference of the paper. thx

[@beauchampy]

Lee 129

[@Bmaher86]

Are 42x42 frames still available? I only seem to find 48x48 frames, would love to get a few 42 for my honda element set up. Great stuff Luke, hope to meet ya some day.

[@meetthegaffer]

Hi Brandon, Actually, you may need to ask the manufacturer to make them to your spec. I used Norms, I think. Just specify flat, gel frames. I heard the other day that there’s a new trend on the East Coast to go with 40”x40” so that with the pin you can ship in a 48”x48” box:) I’m sure American and Modern will make frames to custom spec.

[@Melomultimediallc]

How do I find this frames online?

[@meetthegaffer]

americangrip.com/ modernstudio.com/ www.normsstudio.equipment/

[@matickos3791]

What's the size of the aluminum profile? I'm guessing 1" wide, but how thick, 1/4"? Building my own frames and can't decide to use 1x1" tubes or use flat profiles :) Thx!

[@meetthegaffer]

1”x 1/4” sounds right. I would stick with flat because the take up less room and are easier to skin unless you plan to use slip on diffusion of some sort.

[@jd3497]

ATG=Automatic Tape Gun

[@bendavanza]

What is the product name of the snot tape?

[@meetthegaffer]

It’s 3M brand. It’s more formally called ATG tape or adhesive transfer tape.

[@jamesreed7278]

Where do you find the flat frames?

[@meetthegaffer]

I believe I purchased mine from Norms Studio in LA, but I’m sure you could get them from American, Matthews, Modern, or Canvas Grip.

[@JohnBowieLanford]

NOT a joke.

[@spitefullymy]

Ohhhh snot tape... We call that double-sided tape haha

[@matthewjackson2656]

what type of paper is that?

[@meetthegaffer]

It sounds pretty stiff, so it’s probably 129 diffusion.

[@ReeceBeale]

What does the 129 mean?

[@meetthegaffer]

129 is like 250 or 216 and refers to grade of diffusion thickness. It comes in a roll like other diffusions. Hope that helps.

[@ReeceBeale]

@@meetthegaffer Ah I see, thank you, your videos are really helpful!

[@randallburgess6393]

Please adjust your into audio level. Its way too high

[@DavidKfilmmaker]

Why not just use clips?

[@meetthegaffer]

Sure, for one time use.