GB2277607A - Illuminating subjects for cinematography and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A masking/filtering apparatus is provided in front of a light source, to modify light illuminating a subject for cinematography, photography or the like. The apparatus provides a unitary support (50) for various shadow casting elements of generic shape (176 - 180). The support operates for example by means of magnetism in the elements and/or the support (110). The apparatus may also include a steel mesh to support isolated shape elements within the beam area. Various embodiments are possible, and the support can also be employed for preprinted filters, coloured gels and other filters commonly required. <IMAGE>

Description

ILLUMINATING SUBJECTS FOR CINEMATOGRAPHY AND THE LIKE The invention relates to the field of lighting effects for use in illuminating photographic and cinematographic subjects or the like. In one aspect, the invention relates to the provision of arbitrary patterns of light and/or shadow by means of a masking and/or filtering arrangement placed in front of a light source. In another aspect, the invention relates to lighting with a selection of filters and masks, for example coloured gels, diffusers, shadow masks and the like. In a third aspect the invention relates to receptacles for accessories used, by way of example only, in photographic and motion picture studios.

Specific shaped patterns of light and shadow and similar effects are frequently required in the lighting of photographic and cinematographic scenes (see Fig. 1).

Other applications in theatre, exhibitions, and so on will be apparent. A discussion of current techniques in this field can be found in various books, for example "Basic Lighting Worktext for Film and Video" by Richard K Ferncase (Focal Press 1992, ISBN 0-240-80085-0) and in "The American Cinematographer". To define each lighting effect traditionally has required a lot of time and effort on the part of lighting technicians, carpenters and so on, and the techniques used have not afforded much flexibility in practice. Any change in the lighting pattern has traditionally involved a lengthy period of waiting for a new shadow filter to be built and/or re-positioned, while such idle time in the production schedule can prove very expensive.

In particular, even relatively simple shadow patterns have traditionally required the construction of special sheets of wood with appropriate outlines and cut-outs, with stands to position them. Simpler patterns have been achieved using a collection of two or three basic wooden shapes (known in the art as "flags or "slats"), mounted individually on stands and carefully positioned with respect to the scene, the light source and each other, to achieve the desired composite effect.

Any of these processes is known to be very time consuming and therefore expensive, particularly if changes are required once shooting has begun.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a system comprising a collection of elementary masking shapes and a transparent frame or other support means by which a selection of said shapes can be supported in the path of a light beam. This system can allow a desired composite shadow shape to be composed freely, without the need to support each elementary shape individually, or to create a specially-shaped element from wood or the like. At the same time, the shadow of the supporting means itself can be made invisible.

In some particular embodiments of the invention, shapes of opaque magnetic material are supported in any desired orientation and combination on a transparent but magnetic screen, placed in front of the light source. Such a system can be set up very quickly and re-configured again and again as desired, saving time and money in the production schedule and reducing the need for compromise.

Other embodiments of the invention feature a frame with magnetic or other fixing material surrounding the light beam, whereby metal or other shapes can be positioned across the light beam, and/or transparent film with preprinted shadow shapes can be mounted. The frame can be entirely open, but may also hold coloured or neutral density filter gels, and a magnetic screen as desired.

Where a magnetic or ferromagnetic, transparent screen is provided, this may be done for example by means of a fine steel mesh. The steel mesh may be freely suspended by being held taut across a frame, and/or may be bonded to a transparent plastic or glass sheet. Of course other, non-magnetic means of adhesion may be employed, including hooks, suckers and self-adhesive elements (including vacuum or friction adhesion between suitably selected plastic materials), as an alternative or in addition to the magnetic adhesion mentioned above. Hook and loop fabric (for example Velcro (TM)) may also be of use, particularly around the periphery or frame of the apparatus.

In a second aspect, the invention provides an apparatus comprising a frame or other support means and a plurality of filter gels, pre-printed masks or like elements, so that various desired permutations of coloured filters, diffusers, shadow patterns and so forth can be conveniently selected and mounted in the beam of a light source. The frame may also support repositionable shadow casting shapes, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. Alternatively, one of the filter elements may include a transparent screen suitable for magnetic or other attachment of shape elements.

Where pre-printed and/or coloured flexible sheets are included in the system, a quiver, rack or similar receptacle may be provided, either freely standing or attached to part of the system, so that a selection of such sheets are immediately to hand, while being stored and protected for transportation.

A further aspect of the invention provides a receptacle for lighting accessories or the like, which includes channel or tube suitable for surrounding the upright of a lamp stand or the like.

By this means, the receptacle can be mounted conveniently to hand when the accessories are in use. This improves speed and flexibility of operation, and can afford better protection in practice than a receptacle which is not readily to hand. The receptacle can be demountable, for example, by hinged construction. The receptacle can be used as the quiver described above, but can also be used in fields of application remote from cinematography and theatre lighting.

The invention also provides methods of making still and motion picture recordings employing the invention as set forth above, and to still or motion picture recordings wherein subjects have been lit by use of such methods.

Such recordings may be in any form, for example on film videotape, optical disk or in digital data storage.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a film set with a specific shape of lighting effect screen in use.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention suitable for use on the film set of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view along the line A-A' in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows a system of parts forming an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a magnified view of a part of a magnetic screen device suitable for implementing the systems of Figs. 2 and 4.

Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view along the line B-B' in one embodiment of the device of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows a cross-section of the device of Fig. 5 according to an alternative embodiment.

Figs. 8 to 12 show various modifications of embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 13 illustrates a flexible pre-printed filter sheet for use with embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 14 shows a quiver suitable for holding various preprinted sheets of the type shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 shows a selection of pre-printed filter patterns.

Fig. 16 illustrates an alternative class of embodiment, in which a desired lighting pattern is created by reflection.

Fig. 17 illustrates another system of parts forming an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 18 shows in detail two parts of the system of Fig.

17.

Fig. 19 illustrates various rigidified filters compatible with the system Fig. 17.

Fig. 20 illustrates the use of flexible filter sheets in the system of Fig. 17.

The film set of Fig. 1 features flat pieces of scenery 10, 12, 14 and so on, representing the walls of a room where action is to take place. A camera 16 views the room.

A bright light source 18 upon a stand 20 illuminates one wall 10 of the room in order to create a special lighting effect. Specifically, it is desired to cast patches of light at positions 22 to 28 on the wall, to simulate sunlight shining through a window somewhere outside the field of view of the camera 16. To this end, a specifically shaped filter, mask or "flag" 30 has been constructed and placed on the sand 32 in front of the light source 18. The light source 18 is provided in a conventional manner with flaps 34 etc which can be adjusted to direct the light through the filter 30.

In conventional practice, it is known that the construction of the specific shaped flag 30 will employ electricians and carpenters to specify and create the required cut-outs 36 etc in a piece of board 38, and to mount this on a stand in a suitable position and orientation. A similar effect can be achieved by use of a transparent plastic sheet, masked in the desired pattern by strips of black paper tape. Either way, the conventional processes are wasteful and time-consuming.

It is also common practice, where simpler shadow shapes are required, to use single pieces of wood or whatever held up on adjustable stands in front of the light 18, but the known stands are unwieldy and can be difficult to adjust.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a system to be described herein allows for the construction of simple or complex shadow shapes from simple elements, without the need for individual stands for these elements and/or the need for specific carpentry operations. The flexibility and time saving achieved can be very significant, particularly when one considers that time wasted on a film set can often cost tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds per day.

The device of Figs. 2 and 3 comprises a frame 50 and a screen 52 which is substantially transparent, in the sense that it casts no visible shadow of itself at the relevant distance. The screen 52 on the other hand does provide a support for various rectangular pieces of opaque material 54 to 64, which can be arranged on the sheet and frame in any desired position. From this it can be seen that the desired window shape comprising four rectangular apertures can be constructed as shown in Fig.

2 very quickly, and can be adjusted (66, 68) in any dimension according to the will of the cinematographer.

Fig. 3 shows a device in cross-section along the line marked A-A' in Fig. 2. It should be appreciated that the drawing is not to scale, so that, for example, the thickness of the transparent screen 52 and the various elements 56, 58, 60 and 64 have been exaggerated for clarity. Arrows 70' and 72' show light passing through the apertures 70 and 72 (see Fig. 2) respectively. On the other hand, arrows 56', 58' and 60' show light which is blocked by the opacity of the elements 56, 58 and 60 respectively.

In one class of embodiments, the elements 54 to 64 are made of flexible magnetic sheet, such as is widely available (for example under trade name FLEXOR from Magnet Applications Ltd., Hertfordshire, United Kingdom), while a fine mesh of ferromagnetic metal (not shown in Fig. 3) is bonded to the surface of the transparent sheet 52. The element 64, seen at a distance in the crosssectional view, can be seen to flex sufficiently that it adheres to the screen 52 in between the other elements 56, 58 and 60, while riding up over those elements when need be. Again it should be noted that the thicknesses of various sheets and elements are not represented to scale, being greatly exaggerated in Fig. 3. Both the screen 52 and the magnetic elements are made able to withstand the high temperatures (for example up to 1100C) that can arise in front of a powerful light source.

Fig. 4 shows a particular embodiment of the invention.

A large frame and sheet 80 has a width of lm and a length of 1.33m and has a standard knuckle clamp or similar attachment 81 for a stand. A smaller sheet 82 has a dimension of 0.5m x 0.6m, and another standard attachment 83 is provided. Magnetic elements 84 to 90 are provided in various types and sizes, but in this example each has the form of a rectangle hinged at two places 85 across its width, so that it can be folded into thinner rectangles.

For example, the element 84 comprises opaque magnetic plastic sheet of 1m long by 0.3m wide. The sheet may be for example between 1 and 5mm thick, depending on desired properties. The tape hinges 85 divide the sheet 84 into three 0.lm strips. This allows an element of im by 0.lm, lm by 0.2m, or 1m by 0.3m to be deployed according to requirements, very quickly and simply. Similarly, the element 86 comprises three tape-hinged slats of 0.05m by 0.66m.

The elements 88 and 90 are dimensionally the same as the elements 84 and 86 respectively, but are formed of material which is not completely opaque, but rather provides 0.6 neutral density (ND) filtering. Of course other dimensions and other shapes of elements are often going to be desirable, and a large kit of elements of various geometrical shapes can easily be provided using known materials. The neutral density sheeting is not in itself magnetic, but has metal bound edges, whereby it can be fastened to the magnetic frame.

Fig. 5 illustrates the construction of the transparent magnetic screen 52 in more detail. Quite simply, this comprises a steel mesh 100 with diamond shaped apertures 102 allowing the light to pass through. The thickness of the wires of the mesh 100 has been exaggerated in the drawing, while in practice, 90% or more of the total screen area is within the apertures 102 etc. An opaque magnetic element 104 is attached by its magnetism to the metal screen 100, so as to define a triangular element of the desired shadow.

When a shadow is cast to any significant distance, the shadow of the mesh 100 is not visible, so that the triangular element casts a shadow in isolation, without visible means of support. A number of arbitrarily shaped elements can be attached to the sheet 52.

Fig. 6 shows the detail of Fig. 5 in cross-section, along the cross-sectional line B-B'. A transparent glass or plastic sheet 106 is provided as a substrate, to which the ferromagnetic mesh 100 has been bonded. In Fig. 7, on the other hand, the mesh is suspended without a transparent metal sheet. This has the advantage that wind can pass through the mesh and reduce the windage of the device as a whole, while by choosing suitable mesh dimensions and material, sufficient rigidity can be assured nonetheless. For example, for a mesh 100 supported by a rectangular wooden frame (not shown in Figs. 5 or 7), it has been found that a suitable material is 19 gauge (imam) twill weld mild steel wire mesh with a pitch of between one and several centimetres.The wires of mesh may be round in cross-section, but flattened faces as shown in the drawings provide better adhesion. Alternatively, the mesh may be made by stamping out of a flat sheet. Elements can also be hooked or clipped onto the mesh, where magnetic adhesion is not feasible or desired.

Figs. 8 to 12 show further modifications and embodiments, which can be used in various permutations. Reference numerals used in these drawings are broadly the same as those used for corresponding features in the embodiments described above. In Fig. 8, for example, a transparent screen 52 is provided within a frame 50, and magnetic shaped elements can be attached anywhere on this sheet as desired. In addition, however, magnetic strips 110 and 112 are mounted around the front and rear faces of the frame, to allow the mounting of heavier metal shaped elements, and/or flexible plastic transparencies with pre-printed shadow patterns. The drawing shows one such transparency 114 held against the sheet by placing small ferromagnetic pieces 116 etc where they will be held by the magnetic strip 110 inset into the front of the frame 50.

In Fig. 9, the screen 52 (including mesh 100) is omitted, leaving only a frame 50 with magnetic strip 110. The flexible sheet and other metal shape elements can be placed in arbitrary orientations as with the embodiment of Fig. 8, subject only to the requirement that they should meet the frame. Thus the pattern illustrated in Fig. 2 is perfectly feasible, while it would not be possible to mount a shape in isolation in the middle of the screen area, as was possible with the triangular shape 104 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 shows an alternative embodiment in which shape elements can be mounted in isolation from the frame.

Here a transparent sheet 120 is attached to a frame 122, without necessarily having any magnetic properties. A set of opaque shaped elements such as the one illustrated at 124 are provided, each one having one or more suckers 126 on its rear side for attaching it adjustably to the sheet 120.

Fig. 11 shows an embodiment also including a plastic sheet 130 which is transparent and also is sufficiently stiff not to require a frame. Arbitrary shaped elements 132 and 134 can be attached to the screen 130. This shape elements 132 and 134 may be attached magnetically, by suction, or by any form of adhesion desired. For some applications, it may even be tolerable that the adhesive is not removable, so that the elements 132 and 134 cannot be repositioned. Self-adhesive materials are widely available which may be used for this purpose, including materials with suction or friction (electrostatic) adhesion. At the same time, it is not necessary that all of the shaped elements employed are completely opaque.

For example in Fig. 11, shaped element 132 is opaque, while shaped element 134 is partially transparent, being formed either from a neutral density filter material, or from a coloured filter material.

Fig. 12 shows a modification of the frame 50 of various embodiments described above, such that channels or grooves 136 are provided along opposite inwardly facing sides of the frame. This permits rigid or semi-rigid sheets of filter material to be slipped into place, in addition to any shapes which are mounted on the face of the device. The grooves may be useful, for example, for receiving a coloured gel to give overall colour to the light pattern, or a neutral density gel to darken the pattern slightly. A plastic or glass sheet may also be inserted and painted by hand or spray can, if desired.

Other filters of interest may include diffusers made of netting ("scrims"), fresnel lenses and the like.

On the other hand, such grooves may also be provided for removing and replacing the magnetic screen 52 itself into a frame. Thus, for example the device of the type shown in Fig. 8 can be transformed quickly into a device of the open-frame type, shown in Fig. 9.

Another type of embodiment is possible, for example, in which shaped elements are held not against the front surface of the device, but rather are sandwiched between two parts of the frame, for example by spring pressure.

There may even be provided a sandwich of two transparent sheets held together in some manner, such that shaped pieces can be suspended in the middle of the aperture without being supported directly by the frame.

In embodiments of this type in which it is necessary to separate the two sheets or two frame pieces to reposition shape elements, it may be necessary to de-mount the device and lay it in a horizontal position, open the two parts of the frame, adjust the shaped elements, and finally re-close the frame pieces, before re-mounting the assembly in its vertical position. Disadvantages are evident in such an embodiment, but other advantages may be found, for example in cheapness of materials, such that the relative inconvenience might be tolerated.

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 illustrate the provision of a number of flexible, pre-printed sheets which can be used to provide specific complex shadow patterns. In Fig. 13, a flexible sheet 138 is transparent except for an opaque pattern 140 printed upon it. The transparent sheet can be employed as the sheet 114 in the embodiments of Figs.

8 and 9. For greater convenience, the transparency 138 is provided with metal or magnetic strips 142 and 144, to avoid the need for separate pieces of metal or magnets (116 in Figs. 8 and 9). Alternatively, hook-and-loop fabric (Velcro (TM)) can be used in place of the strips 142 and 144, with complementary fabric mounted around the frame 50.

Fig. 14 shows a quiver for holding a number of such transparent sheets in a convenient and accessible manner.

In particular, the quiver body 146 houses a number of separate tubes for rolled-up sheets, including for example an empty tube 148, and a tube 150 which is housing a rolled-up pre-printed transparency. Other spaces may be adapted for receiving and storing shadow casting shape elements.

Conveniently, such a quiver may be built into or attached to the stand which holds up the magnetic screen device.

For this purpose, the quiver 146 is constructed in two halves 146A and 146B, and a hole 152 down the centre of the quiver is adapted to surround the upright leg of the stand of the screen device (32 in Fig. 1). The back edge 154 of the quiver is provided with a cloth hinge or similar, joining the two halves 146A and 146B, while Velcro (TM) or other fasteners 156 and 158 are provided at the front edge. Undoing these fasteners 156 and 158 permits the halves to hinge apart, as indicated by the arrow 160, so that the whole quiver can be mounted and de-mounted on the stand. It is often a problem on the film set that a light source is located at a remote position. By this means, it can be assured that a full range of gels, transparencies and the like are always to hand. A lid and carrying handle (not shown) can be provided on the quiver for ease of transport.

Fig. 15 shows a selection of patterns of opaque printing on transparent sheets, which can be available on the film set and deployed upon the screen at very short notice.

The same set of patterns can be provided in coloured or neutral density filtering forms, to provide softer or coloured shadows.

Fig. 16 illustrates the principle of yet another class of embodiments, in which, rather than a transparent screen, the desired shadow shape is imposed upon a mirrored reflector. Positioning such a device may not be so simple as for the transmissive mask embodiments, but avoids the need to provide a transparent and yet magnetic substrate on which the shapes are to be mounted.

Silvered plastic film having a mirror-like surface is readily available, and this can simply be placed over a ferromagnetic sheet or mesh in order to receive desired shaped elements such as the rectangles 54 to 64 shown in Fig. 2. Alternatively, with reference to the example of Fig. 16, reflective areas 36' may be defined by attacking mirror elements to an otherwise non-reflective board 30'.

Also shown in Fig. 16 is a cylindrical version 146' of the quiver shown in Fig. 14, mounted on the upright of the stand 32' which supports the reflective lightmodifier 30'/36'.

On the other hand, a transparent mounting device as described in the earlier embodiments can be more versatile, in that it can be converted to a reflective type of device simply by the addition of a mirror sheet.

Such a sheet may be provided as one of the flexible transparencies (138, Fig. 13) or may be provided as a sheet for sliding into grooves provided in a frame of the device (136, Fig. 12). When used in transmissive mode, the subject and light source will be on opposite sides of the masking device, as shown in Fig. 1. On the other hand, when a reflective type mask is employed, the light source and subject will both be located on the same side of the reflective masking device, as shown in Fig. 16.

Figs. 17 to 20 illustrate another system of parts forming an embodiment of the present invention, of the general type described above with reference to Figs. 9 and 12.

Reference numbers similar to those used in the earlier figures are used for simplicity.

In Fig. 17, a rigid, open frame 50 of aluminium is mounted on a stand 170, which is telescopically adjustable in height, by means not shown in the diagram.

Frame 50 can pivot about a horizontal axis by operation of two pivots 172 and 174, one of which is lockable, and can swivel about a vertical axis if desired. The frame and pivots can be of conventional construction, and a suitable stand is commercially available in the United Kingdom from Arri GB, for example, under the trade mark ARRIFLEX.

Strips 110 of magnetic sheet material such as FLEXOR" are provided around the front face of the frame as shown, and optionally around the back face (not shown). Shadow casting shape elements 176, 178 and 180 made of mild steel sheeting are provided, which are easily held supported on the frame by the magnetic action of the strips 110. Elements 176 and 178 comprise simple rectangular shapes, while element 180 has a telescopic construction, described in more detail below, with reference to Fig. 18. This construction allows element 180 to be adjusted in length, as necessary to span the aperture of the frame 50 at different angles, or to span frames of different sizes. Of course, folding elements may also be provided, as described above with reference to Fig. 4.

Flexible sheets of filter material or pre-printed masks can be mounted magnetically on the front or back of the frame 50, just as described above with reference to Fig.

9. As an additional facility, however, spring clips are also provided, as shown for example at 182 and 184. Some possible applications for these clips will be described below with reference to Fig. 20.

Turning to Fig. 18, an opaque rectangular shape element 178 is shown. This comprises a sheet of 24-gauge or 32gauge mild steel, for example, whose edges have been folded over at 178a to 178d. These folded edges provide stiffness to the thin material, and also are less sharp to handle. For larger elements, and/or when using thinner material, additional formations such as ribs or corrugations can be used to improve stiffness further.

The telescopically adjustable element 180 comprises an inner element 180A similar to element 178, and an outer sleeve element 180B. Three edges of the outer element 180B are folded over in a box-like section, so as to fit slidably around the inner element 180A. In the event that further stiffening ribs are desired in this type of element, cooperating longitudinal ribs and grooves may be provided in the elements 180A and 180B, which may also serve to guide the sliding elements.

Fig. 19 shows three representative elements 190, 192 and 194 for attachment on the magnetic frame 50 of Fig. 17.

Each element has a rigidifying frame 196 of heat- and flame-resistant plastic or card-like material. On the front face at each corner the frame is provided with a square patch of magnetic sheet material 198, while on the rear face at each corner (199 not shown) a corresponding patch of thin steel sheet is provided. The steel corner patches allow each element 190 to 194 to be held against the magnetic strips 110 of the frame 50 (Fig. 17), while the magnetic patches 198 allow the steel patches (199) of further elements to be engaged magnetically. In this way a series of filter elements can all be mounted one on top of the other in cascade on a single support 50/110.

Magnetic corner patches 198 or entire edge strips could be provided on both faces of the frame 196, but in practice the adhesion between two magnetic patches is greater than is either necessary or desirable. In particular, it has been found preferable to use complementary steel and magnetic patches 198/199 as described, so that the elements 190 etc. may be easily separated, and do not become too securely attached to one another in storage or in use. Patches of Velcro could be provided as an alternative to the magnetically cooperating corner patches, although such fabric may be less hard wearing than the magnetic patches.

In the element 190, a plain coloured filter gel 200 is provided, while element 192 features a pre-printed "ulcer" or "cukaloris" pattern 202 for casting a dappled light pattern. The elements 190 and 192 can be combined and mounted on the single stand 170, for example, by mating the steel corner patches (199) of the element 190 with the magnetic strip 110 of the frame 50, and mating the steel corner patches (199) of element 192 with the magnetic corner patches 198 of element 190.

The third element 194 features a steel twill weld mesh 204 suitable for supporting shadow casting shape elements of magnetic sheet material. This too can be mounted in combination with coloured gels and like elements, and removed from the light path when not required. The magnetic and steel patches 198/199 thus can be seen as an alternative to the grooves 136 described above with reference to Fig. 12.

Fig. 20 shows a further alternative or additional mounting arrangement, particularly for flexible gels or patterned sheets which can be rolled up after use, as shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15 above. Instead of metal or magnetic strips 142 and 144 (Fig. 13), a flexible sheet 210 in Fig. 20 is stiffened along top and bottom edges by a cylindrical rod 212 (top edge only shown).

Apertures 214 and 216 are provided in the sheet where it meets the stiffening rod 212, and these allow the rod to be pushed into the spring clips 182 and 184 provided on frame 50. Furthermore, the apertures 214 and 216 lie over a further pair of spring clips 182' and 184' mounted on the frame 50. This further pair of clips allows a second flexible sheet with stiffening rod 212' (shown dotted) to be mounted on the frame over the first sheet 210. The spring clips may be made of metal, as shown, or may be for example moulded rubber formations. An alternative embodiment may be conceived in which spring clips mounted on the elements engage with a rod-like formation on the frame.

Therefore a variety of methods and types of element can be provided for mounting on a frame or other support in a wide variety of ways. Any of the embodiments described allows the construction of complex masks and filters with fewer stands than hitherto, and with much greater speed and versatility.

It will be appreciated that each of the particular mounting features or sets of accessories exemplified above is entirely optional, and that a useful and versatile system of lighting accessories within the scope of the invention will remain even when one or more of these features are omitted. Similarly the range of accessories that can be provided in the system is not limited to the examples listed above, but covers any light-modifying accessory that is desired to go between a light source and a subject for illumination. Examples, as mentioned above include flags of various shapes, nets, gels, diffusers, ulcer/cukaloris boards and so forth.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the great improvement in speed, flexibility and convenience afforded by the methods and devices described, and will readily conceive of other modifications and embodiments within the scope of the invention.

Claims (85)

1. An apparatus for use in illuminating a subject for photography, cinematography or the like, comprising a plurality of light-modifying elements and means for supporting a selection of at least two of said elements in the path of a light source.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support means is free standing and defines an area for passage of a light beam.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the support means includes a frame surrounding the beam area.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said support means comprises at least one spring clip or like formation mounted on a face of the support means outside the beam area.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2, 3, or 4 wherein said support means includes at least one magnetised portion, outside the beam area.

6. An apparatus according to claim 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein said support means includes at least one patch of hook and loop fabric outside the beam area.

7. An apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the support means includes transparent support for re-positionable shadow casting elements within the beam area.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the transparent support includes ferromagnetic material.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said transparent support comprises a steel mesh.

10. An apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the transparent support is selectable as one of the plurality of light modifying elements.

11. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein at least one light-modifying element comprises a flexible sheet stiffened in one dimension only to permit rolling up when not in use.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said flexible sheet is rectangular, and is provided with a stiffening member across two opposite edges.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the stiffening member of at least one flexible sheet engages a spring clip or like formation provided on the support means.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the stiffening member engage magnetically a portion of the support means.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said flexible sheet is provided with apertures to allow mounting of a further flexible sheet.

16. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein at least one of said elements includes engagement means for supporting at least a further one of said elements on the support means.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein at least a subset of said elements have complementary engagement means on opposite faces to permit each to be mounted on the support means either directly or indirectly, via another such element.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, wherein said complementary engagement means comprise magnetised and/or ferromagnetic metal elements.

19. An apparatus according to claim 16 or 17 wherein said complementary engagement means comprise patches of hook and loop fabric.

20. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 19, wherein the plurality of light modifying elements comprise one or more of a coloured filter; a neutral density filter; a diffusing filter; a reflector; and a pre-printed shadow pattern of transparent and nontransparent potions.

21. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 20, further comprising a plurality of shadow casting shape elements suitable for detachable mounting on the support means so as to partially obscure a light source.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said shape elements are adjustable in their position on the support means.

23. An apparatus according to claim 21 or 22, wherein said shape elements are mountable by magnetism on a frame of said support means so as to span a beam area defined by the frame.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said shape elements are made of ferromagnetic sheet material.

25. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 24, including at least one of shadow casting shape element which is adjustable in size.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said element is telescopic.

27. An apparatus according to claim 25 or 26 wherein said element is foldable.

28. An apparatus comprising a plurality of lightmodifying elements, wherein each element is provided with means by which it can magnetically adhere to a support so as to enable the rapid mounting and demounting of a selected element in front of a light source.

29. An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein a plurality of elements can be selected and mounted simultaneously.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein at least one element is provided with means by which said one element can be adhered to a further one of the elements.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the at least one element has magnetically adherable portions material provided on front and back faces.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31 wherein one face of the element carries permanent magnet portions, while the other face carries magnetically attractable portions.

33. An apparatus according to any of claims 28 to 32 further comprising a free-standing support having means for magnetically engaging the engaging means of at least one light modifying element.

34. An apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the support includes magnetised portions distributed peripherally of an area defined by the support for passage of a light beam.

35. An apparatus according to claim 33 or 34 wherein the support includes ferromagnetic material distributed within an area defined by the support for passage of a light beam.

36. An apparatus according to claim 35 wherein said ferromagnetic material comprises a steel wire mesh.

37. An apparatus according to any of claims 28 to 36 wherein the light modifying elements include one or more shadow casting elements whose position is adjustable within a beam area defined by the support.

38. An apparatus according to claim 37 wherein at least one shadow casting element comprises a permanent magnet.

39. An apparatus according to claim 38 wherein said magnet comprises flexible permanent magnetic sheet material.

40. An apparatus according to claim 37, 38 or 39 wherein at least one shadow casting element comprises ferromagnetic material.

41. An apparatus according to claim 40 wherein the shadow casting element comprises sheet steel.

42. An apparatus according to any of claims 28 to 41 wherein light modifying elements include one or more of a colour-modifying filter; a neutral density filter; a pre-printed shadow pattern; a diffusing filter; a reflector.

43. An apparatus according to any of claims 28 to 42 wherein the light modifying elements include a transparent screen suitable for adjustably supporting selected shadow-casting elements in a light beam.

44. An apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said transparent screen comprises ferromagnetic metal.

45. An apparatus for use in illuminating a subject for photography, cinematography or the like, the apparatus being separate from any specific light source fixture and comprising support means defining an area for passage of a light beam and providing support for selectable shape elements so as to obscure adjustable portions of the beam area.

46. An apparatus according to claim 45 wherein the support means is free standing.

47. An apparatus according to claim 46 wherein the support means includes a frame surrounding the beam area.

48. An apparatus according to claim 45, 46 or 47 wherein said support means includes at least one magnetic or ferromagnetic portion, outside the beam area.

49. An apparatus according to claim 45, 46, 47 or 48 wherein said support means includes means for holding shape elements adjustably by friction.

50. An apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 49, wherein said support means includes at least one patch of hook and loop fabric outside the beam area.

51. An apparatus according to any of claims 46 to 50 wherein the support means includes support for repositionable shadow casting elements at distributed positions within the beam area.

52. An apparatus according to claim 51 wherein the support includes ferromagnetic material within the beam area.

53. An apparatus according to claim 52 wherein said support is transparent and comprises a steel mesh.

54. An apparatus according to any of claims 51 to 53 wherein the support within the beam area is demountable from the apparatus.

55. An apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 54, further comprising a plurality of shadow casting shape elements suitable for detachable mounting on the support means so as to partially obscure the beam area.

56. An apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said shape elements are adjustable in their position on the support means.

57. An apparatus according to claim 55 or 56, wherein said shape elements are mountable by magnetism on a frame of said support means so as to span the beam area defined by the frame.

58. An apparatus according to claim 57, wherein said shape elements are made of ferromagnetic sheet material.

59. An apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 58, including at least one of shadow casting shape element which is adjustable in size.

60. An apparatus according to claim 59 wherein said adjustable element is telescopic.

61. An apparatus according to claim 59 or 60 wherein said adjustable element is foldable.

62. An apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 61, further comprising a plurality of light modifying elements including one or more of a coloured filter; a neutral density filter; a diffusing filter; a reflector; and a pre-printed shadow pattern of transparent and nontransparent potions.

63. An apparatus according to claim 62, wherein at least one light-modifying element comprises a flexible sheet stiffened in one dimension only to permit rolling up when not in use.

64. An apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said flexible sheet is rectangular, and is provided with a stiffening member across two opposite edges.

65. An apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the stiffening member of at least one flexible sheet engages a spring clip or like formation provided on the support means outside the beam area.

66. An apparatus according to claim 64 wherein the stiffening member adheres magnetically to a portion of the support means.

67. An apparatus according to claim 65 or 66, wherein said flexible sheet is provided with apertures to allow mounting of a further flexible sheet.

68. An apparatus according to any of claims 62 to 67, wherein at least one of said elements includes engagement means for supporting at least a further one of said elements on the support means.

69. An apparatus according to claim 68, wherein at least a subset of said elements have complementary engagement means on opposite faces to permit each to be mounted on the support means either directly or indirectly, via another such element.

70. An apparatus according to claim 68 or 69, wherein said complementary engagement means comprise magnetised and/or ferromagnetic metal elements.

71. An apparatus according to claim 68 or 69 wherein said complementary engagement means comprise patches of hook and loop fabric.

72. An apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 71 transparent in the beam area for use with opaque shape elements.

73. An apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 71 reflective in the beam area for use with opaque shape elements.

74. An apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 71 non-reflective in the beam area for use with reflective shape elements.

75. A method of illuminating a subject for photography, cinematography or the like, to incorporate a desired pattern of light or shadow, the method comprising: creating a mask having a shape and position specific to the desired shadow pattern by means of a plurality of shadow casting elements which are adjustably positioned on single support; and illuminating the subject by means of a light source directed at the mask.

76. A method according to claim 1 wherein the elements are re-positioned while the support remains in place, so that the modified pattern is immediately visible.

77. A method of illuminating a subject for photography, cinematography or the like, wherein an apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 74 is employed to modify light by means of selected light modifying and/or shadow casting elements.

78. A method of illuminating a subject for photography, cinematography or the like, substantially as described herein with reference to any of Figs. 2 to 20 of the accompanying drawings.

79. A picture or motion picture recording wherein a subject has been illuminated by a method according to any of claims 75 to 78.

80. An apparatus for use in illuminating a subject for cinematography, photography or the like, substantially as described herein with reference to any of Figs. 2 to 20 of the accompanying drawings.

81. A picture or motion picture recording wherein a subject has been illuminated using a light source and selected light modifying elements using an apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 74 and 8.

82. A receptacle for lighting or other accessories, comprising one or more compartments for receiving such accessories, and further having a central channel permitting the receptacle to be mounted around a lighting apparatus stand or the like.

83. A receptacle according to claim 82, having a hinged construction wherein said channel can be opened for mounting or demounting from the stand.

84. A receptacle for accessories substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 14 of the accompanying drawings.

85. A receptacle according to any of claims 82 to 84 combined with an apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 74 and wherein the compartments are adapted to contain light modifying elements and/or shadow casting elements of that apparatus.