DIY: Ripstop Nylon Diffuser
The ultra-bright light from a camera flash can be just what you need for the perfect picture. However, in many lighting conditions, the flash light is just too harsh and produces glare and sharp, unnatural shadows on your photo subject. Flash diffusers soften the light and are a quick solution. It's easy to make your own flash diffuser out of a small piece of white ripstop nylon.
DIY: Ripstop Nylon Diffuser
The most important consideration when making a ripstop flash diffuser is the color, texture and weight of the nylon. If possible, bring a digital camera and flash to the fabric store to test lengths of different bolts of fabric. Some whites won't be as bright, others will be so heavy or so lightweight as to adversely affect the amount of light that gets through the fabric. Cover the flash with each ripstop fabric choice in turn, take a photo of a colorful fabric bolt with each, then compare the results using your camera's display to view each shot. Check especially to see if the reds and blues have photographed true, and look for the quality of the shadows and the general brightness of each shot to decide which white ripstop fabric best shades the flash and allows the truest color reproduction.
Next, decide what kind of diffuser will work best for your camera. For most cameras, a simple square or rectangle cut from the ripstop and then secured over the flash will be easiest and will work well. However, you may find that sewing or gluing the fabric into a hood or tube will make for the most secure, most convenient diffuser.
Finish the raw edges of the ripstop diffuser, as the fabric does fray readily. The easiest way to do this is to melt the edges slightly over a candle: Have a soggy sponge nearby to quickly put out the flame when the edge is sufficiently melted so that it won't fray. A sewing machine zigzag stitch is another satisfactory option.
Finally, if you find that you need to temporarily secure the diffuser to the camera to use it, use adhesive-backed hook-and-loop tape in a color that will be unobtrusive against the camera finish. Adhere the soft "loop" side of the tape to the camera, and the spiny "hook" side to the underside or interior of your diffuser.
Tags: Nylon Diffuser, Ripstop Nylon, Ripstop Nylon Diffuser, camera flash, each shot, find that, flash diffuser