Softbox
A fabric enclosure with a diffusion panel on the front that turns a small light source into a large, even one.
Measured in
cm
In depth
An internal baffle spreads the light before it reaches the front panel, which is what stops a hot spot appearing opposite the bulb. The black sides give control that an umbrella cannot: light exits forward only, so spill onto walls and background is minimal. Size and distance together set the softness.
Examples in practice
A 90×60 cm softbox at one metre gives soft, directional light on a seated portrait with almost no spill onto the backdrop.