Lighting for infinity cove

[Ben Rickert]

Hey Todd,
Thanks for the fast and thorough response to my questions about white and green screen fill lights. It is much appreciated! Using your input, I created a similar setup and I’ll be sure to post my results after I’ve used them a couple of times on a shoot.

In case you were curious, or this benefits others:
I ended up choosing the Lithonia Diamond Plate 2-Light Shop Light for T8 Flourescent bulbs. Of all the 2 bulb displays with 4′ tubes, this one appeared to emit the most light because of the reflective silver interior. It also takes T8 bulbs with tend to provide (ever so slightly) more lumens than similar T12 tubes. This difference probably isn’t really perceptible, but I figured, “Why not?”.

I bought partially-threaded 1/2″ hex bolts, along with washers and nuts, cut the hex-end off with a hack saw and used a metal file to remove the rough edges from the bolt. I installed these in the center of the shop light, but the diamond plated metal wasn’t very thick and it flexed a little when I picked up the fixture by the bolt. So, I headed over to Lowe’s and bought a 1-3/8″ x 8″ steel “strap” (a bar of metal used for binding wood planks / deck building) from the lumber area, along with some smaller 8-32 sheet metal screws. I drilled a 1/2″ hole right in the center of the 8″ bar, placed it on the inside back of the shop light and bolted it back together with the brace in place. I used the smaller screws to fasten down the ends of the 8″ brace and distribute the load when hanging from the bolt. It feels a LOT more stable now than it did before.

Here is the shopping list:

Lithonia 2LT Diamond Plated Shop Light ($29.97 x 2)
1/2″ Hex Bolts ($2.15 x 2)
Washers ($0.33 x 4)
Hex Nuts ($0.38 x 2)
10 PK of PLC 4FT T8 32W Daylight Deluxe Flouresecent Tubes ($33.97)
1-3/8″x8″ steel strap ($1.98 x 2)
1″ 8-32 Machine screws, nuts and washers ($3.54)
Grand Total: $108.55 (plus tax)

Overall, I probably paid a little more than I needed to, but only because I wanted to see how those diamond plated fixtures would work and I bought several extra bulbs.

Thanks again, Todd, and have a great day!

Ben

[Todd Terry]

Cool, Ben… glad they worked out.

[Ben Rickert] “metal wasn’t very thick and it flexed a little … bolted it back together with the brace in place”

We did exactly the same thing, you might be able to see that strut in the pics of ours… that was one of the things I left out in my very abbreviated DIY instructions. Our fixtures have a very similar aluminum stock brace on both the inside and outside… no flexing anymore.

[Ben Rickert] ” this one appeared to emit the most light because of the reflective silver interior.”

Yeah it might. We bought the cheap white fixtures, but I painted them silver on the inside, and black on the outside.

Looks like a successful project… I think they will work out well for you.

T2

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Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com