Honeycomb Grid
A cellular insert placed over a light that narrows its beam by absorbing rays travelling at wide angles.
Measured in
degrees (10°, 20°, 30°, 40°)
In depth
Grids give control without a snoot's hard circle: the beam has a soft-edged falloff and the number stamped on the grid is its approximate beam angle. Fitting one to a softbox keeps the softness of the large surface while stopping the light spilling onto the background, which is how photographers light a face without lighting the room.
Examples in practice
A 30° grid on a 60 cm softbox lights the subject's face and leaves the wall two metres behind almost black.