What Does a Softbox Do?

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A softbox diffuses the light from your light source, creating a broad soft light. This can flatter your subject because soft light has the effect of smoothing shadows caused by facial lines and wrinkles. A softbox is also directional, especially if used with a grid, letting you direct the light where it is wanted and controlling light spill.

A softbox is a more advanced type of lighting and simulates what is known as North Light. That is the natural diffused daylight that comes from the north (or south, depending on your hemisphere). Which avoids the harsh shadows of direct sunlight. Next, I’ll explain how the softbox design produces soft light.

Last update on 2023-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How does a softbox produce soft light?

1: Light head

The light head/control box contains the wiring, safety fuse, control switches, and lamp holders.

2: Lamps

The lamps are screwed into the lamp holders and are normally low energy spiral compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs or LEDs. They are often daylight rated, meaning they have a color temperature of about 5,500K. However, warm lights with a color temperature of about 3,200K are also used.

3: Internal diffuser

A square or rectangle of diffusing material, normally white translucent nylon, is placed in front of the lamps to help avoid a hot spot (or hot spots) on the front diffuser.

4: The softbox enclosure

The lamps and the first diffuser are surrounded by the opaque fabric enclosure. This is usually black on the outside with a reflective metallic silver coating inside. The enclosure is stretched to the designed shape over stiff metal rods that are secured to the light head. The reflective coating has the effect of bouncing the light around the inside of the enclosure, helping to produce a soft diffuse light.

5: Main diffuser

The light is softened further by the final diffusing material stretched across the opening of the enclosure. The depth of the enclosure is important. The greater the distance between the lamps and the front of the softbox, the less likely it is that you will have any hotspots on the front diffuser. The diffuser should be evenly lit across its whole surface so that the softbox can produce good quality soft lighting.

6: Optional grid or eggcrate

Some softboxes have a final element attached in front of the diffuser. This is the grid or egg crate. A black cellular material that channels the light forwards, helping to make the light more directional.

The design of the softbox produces soft directional light and helps to prevent light spill. The closer it is is to your subject the softer the light will appear.

How to use a softbox

As a rule of thumb, if you want softer light, you should move the softbox closer to your subject. This will make the soft light from the softbox more effective at softening the shadows on your subject.

The actual placement of your softbox or softboxes is a matter of personal preference. But for more-or-less “flat” lighting most photographers and videographers would use two softboxes and place them at about 45-degrees to either side of the line joining the subject and the camera.

The height of the softboxes is raised so the center of the softbox is above your subject’s head height. The softboxes are then directed down and towards the subject.

Make any necessary adjustments until you have the look you want.

QUICK TIP: The closer the softbox to your subject the softer the light quality and its ability to smooth any shadows.

What size of softbox should I get?

You can get softboxes in a range of shapes and sizes from small hoods that slip over a flashgun to something much larger than a person.

Naturally, the smaller softboxes are easier to transport, so the larger softboxes are more likely to be found in studios.

You might be surprised to hear that whatever the size of the softbox the coverage is approximately the same. At about 6ft, the spread of the light from a softbox will be about 12ft. With a fall-off of light intensity towards the edges.

Despite having approximately the same light spread, the reason softboxes come in various sizes is that the size determines how soft the light is, or the quality of the light.

Assuming the distance between the light and the subject remains the same, a large softbox will produce the softest shadows. A medium-sized softbox will create slightly harder shadows. Meanwhile, a small softbox creates shadows that are more defined.

So your choice of softbox; small, medium, or large; can be an artistic choice. However, the available space in your home studio is also likely to influence your choice. In general, the larger the better.

But the size of your softbox also depends on your intended framing.

Because softboxes are directional and because the closer they are to your subject the softer the light, you should try to match your softbox size to that of your subject. Although a softbox that is larger than your subject will be better than a softbox that is smaller than your subject.

QUICK TIP: As a rule of thumb, the larger the softbox the softer the light it will produce.

Useful features to look for on a softbox

If your softbox has only one bulb the only way you can control the amount of light falling on your subject is to move the softbox closer or further from your subject.

A softbox that has multiple lamps that are each switchable, will give you different levels of light output. You can keep the softbox close to your subject but turn off some of the bulbs.

If you want to minimize light spill and make the softbox more directional you should choose one with a detachable black grid or egg crate. This will channel the light forwards rather than letting any spill off to the sides. There are some that are available separately from the softbox, but mostly you would have to buy a softbox kit that already includes a grid.

Another feature to look out for is the diffuser in front of the lamps and inside the enclosure. This helps to prevent light hotspots on the diffuser at the opening of the softbox.  Make sure this internal diffuser is included before you buy. Although, if the budget is important, you may choose to do without this internal diffuser.

Some softboxes can take longer to set up

Depending on the design of the softbox, it can take up to 10 minutes to assemble. My original softboxes have steel rods that shape the enclosures. They slot into the corners of the enclosure and the other ends pop into mounting holes on the light head. It’s fiddly and time-consuming.

A better design, or at least one that will save you time during setup, is the umbrella softbox type. Struts support the enclosure so the softbox is easy to open and fold down again. You can literally have the softbox enclosure set up in seconds. This is now my preferred type of softbox because of the ease of use and time-saving. Note that you will need to buy the light head and bulb separately.

Neewer produces 32 inch/80 centimeters and 47 inch/120cm Octagon Umbrella Softboxes that is suitable for portrait/product photography or talking head type videos.

Last update on 2024-03-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Softboxes are better for permanent indoor studio setups

Softboxes are probably better suited to permanent studio layouts. Most of the softboxes available on Amazon take their power from a mains outlet. Again, making them better for indoor studio spaces.  

If you do not have a permanent studio space but still want the control that softboxes offer, consider storing them as assembled lights. Store them in a large cupboard, spare room, or even in the corner of your room. This approach will save you time in setting up each time you do a video recording session.

Pros and cons of Softboxes

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Video tutorial about Softboxes

You may wish to view this video from Slanted Lens. JP Morgan speaks about using softboxes in portrait photography, but the principles are the same for using softboxes for YouTube videos.