General

• What are Soft Egg Crates® and what purpose do they serve?

  Soft Egg crates® are made up of cells that control off axis light in four directions while maintaining the soft quality inherent in a large light source. A secondary effect of Soft Egg Crates® on a large light source is that the near to far light variation is reduced (relative to the cell size used): as the subject moves closer to the light source, reduced amounts of light reach the subject due to the occluded angle of the cells.

• Why use Lighttools® to fit light banks?

  Our patented fabric design offers light weight, durable and collapsible Soft Egg Crates® supported by up to six years of warranty. Lighttools® manufactures over 400 models in up to 7 different degrees of light blocking to fit most manufacturers' light banks.

Sales, Rentals, and Lighting Tests

• Where can I purchase Lighttools® Stretch Frames® and Soft Egg Crates® to fit light banks?

  All of our products can be purchased directly from Lighttools®. Lighttools® to fit Specific Brands can be purchased at dealers for Chimera, Lowel, Wescott, Briese and Rololight products.

• Where can I rent Lighttools® Stretch Frames® and Soft Egg Crates® to fit light banks?

  Most Lighttools® models and sizes to fit Chimera lightbanks are available for rent directly from the extensive Rental Inventory at Lighttools®.
  
  Lighttools
  9513 56 Avenue
  Edmonton, Alberta, T6E 0B2
  Canada
  +1-780-438-3860
  +1-780-433-3224 fax
  1-800-417-7431 (North America only)
  sales@lighttools.com
  
  

• Where can I purchase Lighttools® to fit Butterfly and Overhead Frames?

  Lighttools® Soft Egg Crates® to fit Butterfly and Overhead Frames can be purchased directly from Lighttools®.
  
  

• Where can I rent Lighttools® to fit Butterfly and Overhead Frames?

  All Lighttools® models and sizes are available for rent directly from the extensive Rental Inventory at Lighttools®. See our Lighttools Weekly Rental Calculator on this site for rental pricing information, or call Lighttools® rental at 1-800-417-7431 Ext. 1 for additional inquiries.
  
  Most motion picture equipment rental companies also keep an inventory of Lighttools® to fit Butterfly and Overhead. Please consult your local listings.

• What does a "no charge demo or lighting test loaner" include?

  This includes any Soft Egg Crate® model of your choice for a one week, no charge and no obligation lighting test. Shipping is not included.

Technical

• What is indicated by the cell size degree designation?

  The off axis portion of the light is controlled by the cell size. The cell size (measured in degrees) describes the maximum cutoff angle of the off axis light. A 20° Soft Egg Crate® is our tightest Soft Egg Crate®, giving the most ability to focus a soft light and aggressively control the spill.

• I love the dramatic control of the 30° Soft egg Crate® on my light bank, but I want to experiment with a larger source. On an 8'x8', what degree would give me the same look?

  A specific Lighttools® cell size designation gives the same cutoff of light whether it is on a light bank or an Overhead, or Butterfly Frame. The only difference would be the square footage of light coverage determined by the light source size variation.

• How much light is lost with the use of an egg crate?

  Light loss at the center axis is minimal at a distance 3 to 4 times the diagonal dimension of the light source. On most models it is less than a 1/4 f-stop and 1/2 f-stop on our most dramatic 20° model. Soft Egg Crates® block and control off axis soft light, while permitting maximum light output to the focused area. Use our Lighttools® EggCalc , Exposure Calculator to determine the distribution of light through Soft Egg Crates® at any distance.

• How do I use the Lighttools® EggCalc Exposure Calculator?

  Please click Lighttools® EggCalc

• What is a 30/50 or 20/60 Degree Soft Egg Crate®?

  The 30/50 and the 20/60 degree models offer two variations of light cutoff in a single Lighttools® Soft Egg Crate®. The photographer can vary the amount of soft light spread in four directions by simply rotating the egg crate®

• How do the Lighttools® Stretch Frames® work and why use them?

  Stretch Frames® are a light weight, portable and easy to assemble "frame" which holds a Soft Egg Crate® perfectly taut. Lighttools® Stretch frames® with the larger fabric light banks will optimize the Soft egg Crate® efficiency. One Stretch Frame® can be used for numerous Soft Egg Crates® of the same dimensions, each with a different cell size.