Fluorescent Lighting

 

Let's Talk about the bulb!

Globally introduced in the early 1980's Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) have steadily increased in popularity in photography due to the advent of Digital camera's during the last 5 to 10 years, largely due to improvements in product performance and stable brightness and colour renditions achieved. The most important advance in fluorescent lamp technology has been the gradual replacement of magnetic ballasts to electronic ballasts which Interfit bulbs now use: This has removed the flickering and slow starting traditionally associated with fluorescent lighting, we recommend that you switch them on around 5 minutes before you start taking pictures so they reach the optimal colour rendition and brightness.CFLs tend to last for 5 to 8,000 hours. CFLs use about a quarter of the power of incandescent bulbs which also means these are good for the planet. For example, a 15-watt CFL produces the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb (approximately 900 lumens or 60 lumens per watt). with a CRI of 95.

Equivalent light output
Incandescent CFL
40 W
8–10 W
60 W
11–15 W
75 W
18–21 W
100 W
22–26 W
Electronic Ballest built in to the base of the lamp

Interfit Daylight balanced Fluorescent lighting.

Interfit currently has one head available with a second and third heads to be introduced in early 2007, The Cool-lite is the lowest cost option which has 3 x 24 watt CFL's and comes complete with a special "shower cap type cover" to further soften the light when required.

Cool-lite is available as a single head (INT103) or in 3 kits with a pop up light tent and 2 x INT103's and 2 x light stands. INT321 60cm (24") kit, INT322 90cm (36") kit , INT323 120cm (48") kit

Below, we show you how to use this combination of kit.

 
Pro-lite range available from January 2007
Cool-lite
Cool-lite pop up kit
The new Pro-lite range has been built out of demand for a solid professional product based on the Cool-lite with additional features. The Pro-lite range features a plexiglas cover to soften the light to produce an even light source removing specular highlights on reflective surfaces when used in conjunction with a pop up light ten or light pod. Each Pro-light has a detachable mains cable and a metal light stand socket and tough metal reflector with a treated surface to stand up to professional life in the studio. Pro-lite 3 shown right is an excellent choice for small object product photography such as Jewelry , food and Web based applications or even portrait photography.

INT330 Pod kit ideal for smaller objects with polished surfaces like glass, silver or gold items. provides a cove type infinity back drop to your product photography. Pro-lite 3's are also available with Pop up light tent's in kits with two heads,2 x stands and a pop up of you choice in size. INT324 60cm (24"),INT325 90cm (36") or INT326 120cm (48")

Pro-lite 3
Pro-lite 3 Med light pod kit INT330
Pro-lite 5 at approximately 1 f~stop less than the Pro-lite 9, the Pro-lite 5 and 9 are the perfect match for larger product or portrait photograph when you require the second head to provide the fill in light to soften shadow areas. Made to the same specifications as the Pro-lite 3 to stand up to professional life in the busy working studio. Simplicity is the keyword with the Prolight range as, what you see is what you get in the final image. Both the Pro-lite 5 and 9 are the same size and weights. Reflector dia 47 cm (18½") Depth 33cm (13") 3.1kg (6.8lb)

Pro-lite 5

5 x 24 watt CFL's is Eqv to 500 watts Daylight balanced to 5000- 5200k

Pro-lite 9 is an ideal tool for the professional video or digital photographer having enough power to operate in many environments in the work place to wedding receptions. A major feature of the Pro-lite 9 is the cool running of these heads which give off little or no heat enabling them to be used in many applications when conventional Tungsten or Halogen units may be a problem due to the heat generated by these heads. Pro-lite 9 also comes with a plexiglas front panel to soften the light which can be easily removed for a more contrasty level of lighting for effects when required.

Pro-lite 9

9 x 24 watt CFL's is Eqv to 900 watts Daylight balanced to 5000- 5200k

How to use Cool-lite's for product photography! (or Pro-lite's)

Set up image
Arrows show angles of light

Here we are photographing a typical product that would be sold on the web, with both lights placed to each side of an Interfit light table(INT300 & INT301 leg set).

The right hand light shown in the set up image is positioned to illuminate the edge of the meter and the background.The Left hand light has been positioned a little forward of the right hand light to illuminate the face of the meter, and part of the background. (see the legs on the table and light stands for reference).

The Final image Final image

So here we are, a simple and effective product photograph using the INT300 INTERFIT Studio table and two INT103 Cool-lite's without covers being used.

Camera : Nikon D2x with 17-55 2.8 lens

White balance: Set manually to 5000k

Exposure: 1/125th second shutter speed, F4 f~stop without a tripod. No adjustments were made in Photoshop apart from resizing the image for the web.

Easy job done and dusted in lest than 10 minutes BUT!

Let's now do the same shot in a Pop up light lent!

 

 Set up image Angles of light

Using a 60cm (24") Pop up light tent INT318 again sitting on our "light table" but this could be your Office desk or a small table in the home.

We have the INT103's in different positions in this set up image on the right. The right hand light this time is high up illuminating the top and side of the pop up box. The Left hand light this time is pushed right up to the edge of the Pop up. We are basically shooting the same shot but, the Pop up provides us with a much softer light. This can be seen when comparing the two final shots.
Final image

The white dome is now white and reflection free and screen of the meter can now be seen clearly.

Note that we no longer have a shadow on this image.

Camera : Nikon D2x with 17-55 2.8 lens

White balance: Set manually to 5000k

Please note the exposure has changed by 1/3 rd of an f~stop to: 1/100th second shutter speed, still at F4 f~stop without a tripod. No adjustments were made in Photoshop apart from resizing the image for the web.

Again all done in less than 10 minutes.

Interfit Pop up are shipped with a blue background cloth made to fit inside with velcro, but you can quite easily make a new background or just use the inside of the tent dependent on the shots you are taking.

Enjoy being creative with Interfit
Look out for the new Super Cool-lite 5 Available in February 2007
 
Folding a Pop up is easy just follow the video above:

Interfit Cool-lite

Continuous
These units offer a convenient yet economical method of modern studio lighting, suitable for use with conventional still digital or video cameras. They provide a soft uniform diffused light. Idea for Portraits in a confided area or web based product photography when combined with a light pod or pop up light tent. for your convenience we offer twin head kits which feature our light tents or pods.
Single Head item no Power
Cool-lite
Cool-lite
Item No : INT103 3x 24 Watts  

24 watt CFL are Eqv to 100 watts approximate in Incandescent lighting therefore:

3 x 24 = 300 watt output approximately.
Compact fluorescent bulbs can take up to 5 minutes or more to reach full brightness.
Replacement Bulb no Watts
Bulb No : INT033 24 watt x 3
   
Cool-lite kit
features at a glance:
Long life bulb (6000 - 8000 hours)
Flicker-free noiseless operation.
Video Compatible
Low power consumption.
Uniform illumination.
 Digital Compatible

Specification:

Model

INT103
Output range
Full Power power only
Lamps

3x24 Watt Fluorescent (eqv 300 watts)

Colour Temperature
5000-5200 K
Working Voltage
EUR 230V/50Hz USA 110V/ 60Hz
Total size including
reflector & stand mount


Weight - Kg (lbs)
Correct @ June 2005
Expanding your creativity with