A Guide to Bounce Boards for Video Lighting

You have probably worked out for yourself by now that lighting plays a crucial role in shooting good looking footage for your projects.

Apart from the obvious effect it has on overall quality, it also plays a major role in determining the mood of what you shoot.

One of the basic lighting setups you will see mentioned over and over will be that of a “three point” or “two point” lighting arrangement.

Both of those setups are based on a “key” or main light that shapes the shot and because it is a major factor in those setups, gets most of the attention.

The other light in this scenario is the “fill” light which acts as a sort of foil to the effect being created by the key light.

Very often a secondary light is used to fill this role but in many cases the added expense of a fill light is not actually where you have to go.

An alternative lighting tool you can use for this purpose is a bounce board.

Bounce boards are a cost-effective and versatile way to control and shape light and can be used in a variety of scenarios.

Whether you’re working on a professional set or a small-scale production, understanding how to use bounce boards effectively can significantly improve your video lighting setup while giving your wallet a rest!

What Are Bounce Boards?

Bounce boards, also known as “bounces” or reflectors, are flat, firm, lightweight surfaces used to reflect and manipulate existing light.

They can serve as an essential tool for controlling the intensity and direction of illumination providing a natural and adjustable lighting solution without the need for added (read expensive here) equipment.

By redirecting existing light, bounce boards help fill shadows, soften harsh lighting and enhance the overall visual appeal of a scene.

How Bounce Boards Affect Light

One of the primary advantages of using bounce boards is their ability to produce soft, diffused light.

For many video shooting situations, especially those involving shot of a subject’s face, soft light is that sort of Holy Grail everyone is looking for.

The softness and quality of the reflected light depends on several factors:

• The Size of the Board: Larger boards create a more diffused and softer light, making them ideal for subtle shadow fill.

• The Power of the Source Light: How strong the light is that is being directed at the bounce board then onto the subject.

• The Distance from the Subject: The farther the bounce board is placed, the softer the reflected light becomes. Conversely, positioning it closer to the subject results in more direct and concentrated light.

• Angle of Reflection: Adjusting the board’s angle alters the light direction, helping shape the look and feel of the shot.

By carefully positioning a bounce board, cinematographers can create a more balanced exposure and eliminate unflattering shadows without relying on additional artificial light sources.

Common Uses of Bounce Boards in Videography

Bounce boards are widely used across various shooting scenarios, making them a staple in film and video production.

Some of their most common applications include:

• Filling in Shadows: Bounce boards act as fill lights, reducing contrast and balancing light across a subject’s face.

• Enhancing Natural Sunlight: When shooting outdoors, bounce boards can redirect sunlight to brighten areas that would otherwise be underexposed.

• Creating Soft and Natural Looks: Instead of harsh artificial lights, bounce boards offer a more natural and aesthetically pleasing illumination.

• Utilizing in Tight Spaces: When there’s no room for bulky lighting equipment, a well-placed bounce board can serve as an effective alternative.

• Book Lighting Technique: This method involves bouncing light off a reflector before diffusing it, producing exceptionally soft lighting for cinematic shots.

Types of Bounce Boards and Their Effects

Bounce boards come in various materials and finishes, each offering a distinct lighting characteristic.

Selecting the right type depends on the desired effect for the scene:

• White Boards: These are the most common type offering soft, diffused reflection without altering the color temperature of the light source.

• Bead Boards: Made from expanded polystyrene (EPS), these have a textured surface that diffuses light even more than smooth white boards.

As a side note here it is important to bear in mind that Bead Boards, because of that textured surface, need a stronger light source to maintain adequate levels.

• Silver Boards: Reflect light more intensely than white boards, increasing brightness without significantly altering color temperature but at the expense of softness.

• Gold Boards: Add warmth to the reflected light, making them ideal for matching tungsten lighting or enhancing golden hour scenes.

• Combination Boards: Some reflectors have silver on one side and gold on the other (often called “sunlight” or “checkerboard” reflectors), allowing for versatility in different lighting conditions.

• Black Boards: Used to create negative fill, reducing unwanted reflections and deepening shadows for added contrast.

• Collapsible Reflectors: These portable, multi-surface reflectors often feature interchangeable covers, offering white, silver, gold, and black options. While convenient, they can be difficult to manage in windy conditions.

DIY Bounce Board Options

While professional-grade reflectors are widely available, budget-conscious filmmakers can create effective DIY bounce boards using simple materials:

• Foam Core or Rigid Insulation Board: White foam core provides a lightweight, affordable alternative to store-bought reflectors.

• Aluminum Foil: Attaching foil to a rigid surface creates a reflective silver bounce for a stronger light effect.

• Multiple Boards for Durability: Taping multiple foam core boards together can increase their strength and longevity.

• Cheap White Bedsheets: Some creators like to hang plain white cotton bedsheets from aframe and use them as diffusers to get soft light.

These can similarly be used as reflectors producing soft light however they still need a fairly powerful light source to be effective.

Best Practices for Using Bounce Boards

To kick things off, here’s a quick video showing some of the possibilities for when it comes to using a bounce board in the real world.

To maximize the effectiveness of bounce boards, consider the following usage tips:

• Mounting on C-Stands: For hands-free operation, securing a bounce board to a C-stand with a duckbill clamp ensures stability and precise positioning.

• Hand-Holding for Flexibility: When a stand isn’t available, an assistant can hold the board and make real-time adjustments based on the lighting needs.

• Testing Placement and Angles: Moving the board closer or farther and changing its angle allows for fine-tuning the light effect.

• Maintaining Consistency: When hand-holding a bounce board, keeping a steady position prevents unwanted shifts in lighting.

• Considering Environmental Factors: Wind, direct sunlight, and surrounding surfaces can all impact the effectiveness of a bounce board, so adjustments may be necessary on set.

Finally, bounce boards are a simple yet powerful tool for videographers looking to enhance their lighting setup without investing in expensive equipment.

By taking the time to understand how to select, position and use different types of bounce boards, you can achieve professional-quality lighting in a variety of shooting environments.

The real key here is to experiment and practice to see what results you can get and learn how to improve them.

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