Bounce Board
Definition
A Bounce Board (or "bounce card") is a reflective surface — typically a white foam core board, a silver reflector, or a purpose-built reflector panel — used to redirect and soften light onto a subject. Rather than pointing a light source directly at the subject, the gaffer or grip will point the light at the bounce board, which then reflects a softer, more diffused version of the light back toward the subject. Bouncing light is one of the most effective and affordable ways to create soft, flattering illumination.
Contextual Usage
The DP explains the lighting approach to the gaffer: "I don't want to use any direct light on the actor's face for this scene. Let's bounce the 2K tungsten off a large white foam core board positioned just outside the frame on the left side. That should give us a very soft, natural-looking source that feels like it's coming from the window."
About this section
Production — or "principal photography" — is the phase in which the film or video is actually shot. It is the most visible and, typically, the most expensive phase of the entire process. Every day on ...
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