When I'm shooting in a small room I often use walls to bounce light. Recently I enjoy using daylight trough windows with a curtain. Actually one of the best ways to get soft light.
I know many people are just bouncing the light of the ceiling or using cheap Diffusors and shower curtains but i personally try to use softboxes (often with a grid) as much as i can. Otherwise i would waste so much of my light output that does not directly hit my subject. Sure, there are situations for both solutions but i prefer the more controlled setup.
Just today we used an Aputure 300d II as a key to bounce off a silver reflector onto our talent. We also setup two 4x4s with opals, one over the talent's head and one behind the talent. We then fired 2 other LED fresnels through these opals to give a nice soft hair and back light.
I have a friend who is possibly the best unknown gaffer. Anytime he's shooting something, I encourage other friends to be on set to learn from him. I use lite mats, that were gifted to me from another friend due to my will of showing determination to be a better film maker. Love watching you guys. Thanks for making this channel.
When budget and space are tight, I find book lighting to be an amazing solution for that soft look by just using a white wall and a 5 in 1 reflector. Love this technique, it has saved me so much time and effort!
Que : How do you soften your light My Answer is : Apparently I found an extremely budget friendly diffuser in Ikea store ..I bought a set of white shower curtains ..they work wonders to diffuse the light and create soft light on the subject ...I have a couple of people hold the shower curtain in front of the light ...if I need further diffusion then I just ask them to double fold the Shower curtain ..that's it
I run a low cost setup myself and I use frosted shower curtains with diy flag frames and neewer 5 in 1 Light reflector to bounce the light when needed, it works well for what I do for now .
My secret sauce is to work with natural light and help shape what's already there. So if I'm near a window put some curtains to control it and then take a 300d II with a dome and use it to "wrap" it even further. Then I take a shower curtain and throw it in front of the window and the 300D as close to my subject as possible (which makes it one source). With this right out of frame, it makes your light fall off smoothly. Your interview subject will feel more at ease with this because it also works to hide the "scary space light" and feels more natural. **Bonus Tip: I recommend not using a second light to fill the other side but whiteboard that you can pick up from home depot. If you use it as an eye-catch. then you can cut it into a different shape to show up in their eyes. Like a stop sign or get crazy with a star shape (just make it big).
I have softened the light for a interview by bouncing two softbox cfls on to the ceiling of a room on each side and for a sketch video placed two layers of parchment paper in front of a 1000 w harsh light 4 ft away.
A while back while i did a piece on a strawberry company, we forgot the 250 diffusion back at the office. But then we came up with the brilliant idea of using the soft fabric they put over the strawberries when they grow. from that on allways carry a extra bit of fabric as backup cause it takes no space and its also great for putting between gear when traveleing so it dont chafe.:)
When I first got into cinematography in high school, I would use a really bright desk lamp, diffused by a sheet of parchment paper, bounced it off my white ceiling through a white bed sheet I had tacked to the ceiling and back onto the talent. Creativity goes a long way. if you want the desired results like you would from professional grade gear while on a low budget - ya just gotta put in a little more effort. sure the set may look like chaos but the image on camera will be pristine
That's so cool how I'm teaching my lighting unit to my high schoolers and you're making videos for my lessons. We just learned about hard and soft lights last week. Then, key/rim/fill. Today, we learned color temperature of lights. Let me guess, is that the next video? LOL!!! Anyhoo, I want that MC light to go with the M9. So, the way I soften my light is use a shoot through umbrella. I know I can't control light as well as soft boxes, but that light wrap is sooooooooooo pretty!!!
Wow that's so crazy! I hope the episodes have been helpful for your students. You're right about the umbrella. There's something about indirect light that's always better than direct light.
@@aputurelighting , definitely very helpful and keeping the videos short helps a whole bunch too. Keep doing these four minute film school tutorial videos.
Of course, I use the diffusion box included with the Aputure MC! ;) Jokes aside, I don't have one "go-to" way of diffusing my light. During daytime I like shooting with dirty windows as my primary source of lighting if the windows are not dirty enough I either use white paper or a thin sheet to cover them up and soften the light!
LOVED this episode. Not only explains WHY Aputure lights do great work, but also shows you how to get great results with your existing lights. Great find for me! Subscribing now.
I often like to put modifiers infront of a hard light, just to really spread the source of light evenly. My favourite 2 modifiers are opal frost and soft frost frames. Simply because it gets the job done but we dont lose the quality of the light too much. Gets the job done easy and fast
When I’m on a budget I try and soften harsh lights using the diffusion layer on the inside of those photography disc reflectors. Works a treat when used in front of a hard source and is as cheap as chips!
For diffusion, I have also used a cheap white diffusion umbrella (mounted on the light stand) , that I had used in the past for flash photography, and used that umbrella with a video light for diffusion
I’m using a LSD II with the light dome II as my key light and in the between of that and the subject I’m using a 5in1 reflector and I choose the white part that softens the light! Amazing video thanks for the great content!
at my workplace we rarely have diffusion material, so i often went to convenient store to get a plastic bag (yes we still using plastic bag) then just put it over our lights that soften the light to produce a pleasing result :)
My main lights are 120Ds, so I love putting the Light Dome in them shooting through a silk. However I’m going to be trying a parabolic umbrella with Joker 1600 with no diffusion soon. Excited to see soft light without a rag 🤞🏽
i used to use shower curtains but i found that white bed sheets from walmart gives a softer falloff similar to the magic cloth and bounce board book light you demonstrated, i think that was the most appealing setup
Loving the new style of tutorial! Now perhaps the previous concept of tutorial can be a Lighting 201, and instead of just mentioning the placement of light, perhaps we can talk more about the intensity used, or ratio between each light, and type of diffusion used and why/why not. That'll be GOLDEN
I usually start off with some words of encouragement. "You really light up world. I seriously couldn't do this without you." After some words of encouragement, sometimes I have to give my light a good massage... At this point, my light is really soft - it's usually beaming with appreciation. That is how I generally soften my light.
Great video, I'm really liking the new format. I actually use a combination of diffusion (softboxes, bounce boards, and diffusion cloth) it really depends on the situation and the amount of space I have to work in.
Que : how do you soften your light? A super cheap way to soften the light is to take like a target or Walmart bag and then open it up and set it on the light. It defusses the light quite a bit and makes it much softer. Note - only use this for led lights otherwise the bag can start in fire
Really depends on the situation im shooting in, Bouncing off walls or the ceiling, light dome II, and or book light with a bounce board and white bed sheet.
I use shear curtains and windows to diffuse natural light. I have a silk bag for diffusing my hue light. And finally my white T-shirt to take care of my key light.
I often use full density diffusion foil about 50-80cm from the light source and when it's too harsh I bounce that light with a styrofoam or deprom. On no budget productions I often use shower curtain and white walls (if available)
We can’t always have a big light source due to the limitation of the available space on set. In this kind of situation, I use a dome diffuser to effectively and evenly spread the light.
When I first started out I used wax paper wrapped around my led lights accompanied with a 4 in 1 bounce to soften the light even more 😊 when I’m quickly setting up and don’t have access to silk or a bounce board I use a soft box with a grid... but I am not to shy to bring out the wax paper if I’m in a pickle and need a solution 🤘🤣
I use the ceiling and a piece of silk: I direct the the light towards the ceiling and then i place a silk close to the subject in order to have a very slow falloff :)
I've tried a variety of ways to soften the light depending on the project and the budget. My favorite, and probably the most common one was using a frosted shower curtain from a dollar store mounted on a shower rod, held by 2 assistants! The light we were using was a small work lamp from Home Depot. Luckily the interview only lasted about 15 minutes. We were on a super tight budget, but the results turned out amazing!
On photography sets I mostly use a soft box or when i need an even bigger lightsource I bounce of a white collapsable background. If you do a deeper dive on this topic in the future I'd love to see a comparison between soft diffused and soft focused light (by using grids etc.). I know it's sometimes a little hard to grasp because it adds another part to the equation but knowing when to use either can be really beneficial especially when lighting faces.
I like to bounce my hair or rim light from a large bounce slightly opposite of the rim. It gives a nice hard edge to the subject while breaking up the light considerably for a key.
I use shop lights from Home Depot ($12) with led bulbs. I made barn doors for them to help control the light. I diffuse with either a bounce ($1), shower curtain ($10), or both. Depends on the needs. I also like using different bulbs 5000K or 2700k and varying brightness levels. Some day I’ll upgrade to real lights.
Sometimes, when I'm in a pinch for time, I'll take the diffusion material that comes with my soft box, fold it in half (doubling its thickness) and clip it on the barn doors. I may have to boost the brightness a bit, but I do get a soft light as a result.
Thank u so much for sharing these tips..hugely helpful & i will use these techniques. I hv only one led light & i use a softbox to get a soft light on the subject. I try to place it at an angle of about 45 degree. ...i want to use a backlight & a hair light too.but i hv only one light. love frm India 🇮🇳
A: If shooting near windows I like to use mirror boards to focus the sun through some 216, and use very see-through curtains to just give that second layer of spread. Interior I'm a huge fan of softboxes (the Domes mainly), or shooting it through unbleached muslin for a more diffused source. :P
I have very low power led panel, to achieve soft light and enough brightness I simply put it as close to subject as it possible. Relative size of this panel will change, and the light will be softer. It's not perfect, but for small objects like bottles, cups or lenses it does look greate.
I usually diffuse my light by bouncing it off the ceiling or other surfaces but recently I’ve found that a white hydro flask carrier is great for my bright LED’s.
I always like bouncing off surfaces to soften my light...and in some cases where I have absolutely no resources for softening, I just move the light further back :)
I soften my key led light with a big shower curtain I bought in a local store. Best budget friendly option out there until I can afford a softbox or somethig similar I guess!
I guess it depends on the situation but i would say that in desperate situations, white shower curtains that you can find in any store can save your shooting quite well.
I soften my lights with a light dome II as primary diffusion and then put that thru a 4x4 or 8x8 with a silk. super soft, sometimes i need 2 lights to punch through especially on the 8x8. cant want to buy the 600d you guys.
I’ve diffused light using shower curtain. I recently did a morning/breakfast table scene at 7 pm, shooting light through the window with 1/2 CTO (I believe). I placed a couple of shower curtains over the window and it turned out nice. Can I have that MC now?
When I'm shooting in a small room I often use walls to bounce light. Recently I enjoy using daylight trough windows with a curtain. Actually one of the best ways to get soft light.
I know many people are just bouncing the light of the ceiling or using cheap Diffusors and shower curtains but i personally try to use softboxes (often with a grid) as much as i can. Otherwise i would waste so much of my light output that does not directly hit my subject. Sure, there are situations for both solutions but i prefer the more controlled setup.
Just today we used an Aputure 300d II as a key to bounce off a silver reflector onto our talent. We also setup two 4x4s with opals, one over the talent's head and one behind the talent. We then fired 2 other LED fresnels through these opals to give a nice soft hair and back light.
Bounce up into a white ceiling has given me some really nice results, also using curtains already in place can help to nail a “sunny exterior” feel
I have a friend who is possibly the best unknown gaffer. Anytime he's shooting something, I encourage other friends to be on set to learn from him. I use lite mats, that were gifted to me from another friend due to my will of showing determination to be a better film maker. Love watching you guys. Thanks for making this channel.
When budget and space are tight, I find book lighting to be an amazing solution for that soft look by just using a white wall and a 5 in 1 reflector. Love this technique, it has saved me so much time and effort!
Great to hear! The 5 in 1 has endless possibilities
Que : How do you soften your light
My Answer is :
Apparently I found an extremely budget friendly diffuser in Ikea store ..I bought a set of white shower curtains ..they work wonders to diffuse the light and create soft light on the subject ...I have a couple of people hold the shower curtain in front of the light ...if I need further diffusion then I just ask them to double fold the Shower curtain ..that's it
Haha yes! Ikea for the win
I run a low cost setup myself and I use frosted shower curtains with diy flag frames and neewer 5 in 1 Light reflector to bounce the light when needed, it works well for what I do for now .
My secret sauce is to work with natural light and help shape what's already there. So if I'm near a window put some curtains to control it and then take a 300d II with a dome and use it to "wrap" it even further. Then I take a shower curtain and throw it in front of the window and the 300D as close to my subject as possible (which makes it one source). With this right out of frame, it makes your light fall off smoothly. Your interview subject will feel more at ease with this because it also works to hide the "scary space light" and feels more natural.
**Bonus Tip: I recommend not using a second light to fill the other side but whiteboard that you can pick up from home depot. If you use it as an eye-catch. then you can cut it into a different shape to show up in their eyes. Like a stop sign or get crazy with a star shape (just make it big).
I have softened the light for a interview by bouncing two softbox cfls on to the ceiling of a room on each side and for a sketch video placed two layers of parchment paper in front of a 1000 w harsh light 4 ft away.
A while back while i did a piece on a strawberry company, we forgot the 250 diffusion back at the office. But then we came up with the brilliant idea of using the soft fabric they put over the strawberries when they grow. from that on allways carry a extra bit of fabric as backup cause it takes no space and its also great for putting between gear when traveleing so it dont chafe.:)
When I first got into cinematography in high school, I would use a really bright desk lamp, diffused by a sheet of parchment paper, bounced it off my white ceiling through a white bed sheet I had tacked to the ceiling and back onto the talent.
Creativity goes a long way. if you want the desired results like you would from professional grade gear while on a low budget - ya just gotta put in a little more effort. sure the set may look like chaos but the image on camera will be pristine
That's so cool how I'm teaching my lighting unit to my high schoolers and you're making videos for my lessons. We just learned about hard and soft lights last week. Then, key/rim/fill. Today, we learned color temperature of lights. Let me guess, is that the next video? LOL!!!
Anyhoo, I want that MC light to go with the M9. So, the way I soften my light is use a shoot through umbrella. I know I can't control light as well as soft boxes, but that light wrap is sooooooooooo pretty!!!
Wow that's so crazy! I hope the episodes have been helpful for your students. You're right about the umbrella. There's something about indirect light that's always better than direct light.
@@aputurelighting , definitely very helpful and keeping the videos short helps a whole bunch too. Keep doing these four minute film school tutorial videos.
I usually hang up the diffuser part of a collapsable round light reflector to soften the light. Easy and quick, and works well !
Yes! When I started I had a 1k tungsten light and that diffuser and it worked great
Of course, I use the diffusion box included with the Aputure MC! ;)
Jokes aside, I don't have one "go-to" way of diffusing my light. During daytime I like shooting with dirty windows as my primary source of lighting if the windows are not dirty enough I either use white paper or a thin sheet to cover them up and soften the light!
LOVED this episode. Not only explains WHY Aputure lights do great work, but also shows you how to get great results with your existing lights. Great find for me! Subscribing now.
Really great video. This video is clear, concise, informative and helpful !!!!
Thank you!
I often like to put modifiers infront of a hard light, just to really spread the source of light evenly.
My favourite 2 modifiers are opal frost and soft frost frames. Simply because it gets the job done but we dont lose the quality of the light too much. Gets the job done easy and fast
Bouncing the light is usually what I do, I mostly work on low to no budget projects so I need to work with what I have. Thanks for the tips.
As I have just started shooting my first short I have used my trusty old white T shirt to soften the light. Love learning with these helpful videos!
on my last shooting I used a huge thick white sheet on a backdrop stand for diffusion and it worked pretty well
Probably the type of Diffusion i use the most: clouds
Lol same
When I’m on a budget I try and soften harsh lights using the diffusion layer on the inside of those photography disc reflectors. Works a treat when used in front of a hard source and is as cheap as chips!
For diffusion, I have also used a cheap white diffusion umbrella (mounted on the light stand) , that I had used in the past for flash photography, and used that umbrella with a video light for diffusion
Awesome !! I use the light dome mini 2 for creating soft light .
Umbrella and 5in1 reflector, the most underrated modifiers.
I’m using a LSD II with the light dome II as my key light and in the between of that and the subject I’m using a 5in1 reflector and I choose the white part that softens the light! Amazing video thanks for the great content!
Thank you! Sounds like a great setup
at my workplace we rarely have diffusion material, so i often went to convenient store to get a plastic bag (yes we still using plastic bag) then just put it over our lights that soften the light to produce a pleasing result :)
My main lights are 120Ds, so I love putting the Light Dome in them shooting through a silk. However I’m going to be trying a parabolic umbrella with Joker 1600 with no diffusion soon. Excited to see soft light without a rag 🤞🏽
i used to use shower curtains but i found that white bed sheets from walmart gives a softer falloff similar to the magic cloth and bounce board book light you demonstrated, i think that was the most appealing setup
Loving the new style of tutorial! Now perhaps the previous concept of tutorial can be a Lighting 201, and instead of just mentioning the placement of light, perhaps we can talk more about the intensity used, or ratio between each light, and type of diffusion used and why/why not. That'll be GOLDEN
That's a great idea! Thanks for the feedback!
Most times I work with soft light it is through a soft box, but I really like the idea of bouncing the light too! I’ll be trying that out soon!
I usually start off with some words of encouragement. "You really light up world. I seriously couldn't do this without you."
After some words of encouragement, sometimes I have to give my light a good massage... At this point, my light is really soft - it's usually beaming with appreciation.
That is how I generally soften my light.
Interesting technique. Just be careful that your light doesn't get too soft, or it won't be a badass on set
I use the good old white shower curtain. :D Awesome video!
I just started using the light dome II for diffusion and I love it!
When I need very soft light, I use a book light - bounce light off of a bounce board and through a sheet of diff towards subject. Looks awesome!
Great video, I'm really liking the new format. I actually use a combination of diffusion (softboxes, bounce boards, and diffusion cloth) it really depends on the situation and the amount of space I have to work in.
For sure! There are different tools for different situations. Thanks for the feedback!
5 in 1 reflektor - most versatile tool for reflecting, diffusing and bouncing
Que : how do you soften your light?
A super cheap way to soften the light is to take like a target or Walmart bag and then open it up and set it on the light. It defusses the light quite a bit and makes it much softer. Note - only use this for led lights otherwise the bag can start in fire
Really depends on the situation im shooting in,
Bouncing off walls or the ceiling, light dome II, and or book light with a bounce board and white bed sheet.
I use the book light set up for most of my shooting. Budget lights are very hard to control but using this method I can get the results I desire. :)
Haha yeah what light doesn't look good after you use it in a book light?
Aputure lol very true!
I have used shower curtains and paper a lot to difuse lights! 😂 also white walls are preaty usefull for this when you are on a budjet!
I use shear curtains and windows to diffuse natural light. I have a silk bag for diffusing my hue light. And finally my white T-shirt to take care of my key light.
I often use full density diffusion foil about 50-80cm from the light source and when it's too harsh I bounce that light with a styrofoam or deprom. On no budget productions I often use shower curtain and white walls (if available)
I normally use softbox because my cheap light doesn't have enough power to bounce back xD
Thank you for these awesome videos by the way!
We can’t always have a big light source due to the limitation of the available space on set. In this kind of situation, I use a dome diffuser to effectively and evenly spread the light.
I WATCH EVERY EPISODE faithfully
I've been making all my soft light through book light set ups! a little clunky, but given enough space they look great
Light is definitely underestimated.
Great video 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Agreed! Thanks for the love
Great tips covering the basics! Well done : )
I use may 5 in one reflector to either pass through or bounce. 👌🏻
A softbox is my preferred was of lighting a subject!
When I first started out I used wax paper wrapped around my led lights accompanied with a 4 in 1 bounce to soften the light even more 😊 when I’m quickly setting up and don’t have access to silk or a bounce board I use a soft box with a grid... but I am not to shy to bring out the wax paper if I’m in a pickle and need a solution 🤘🤣
Don't use any yet hope to learn more about lighting. We are traveling fulltime and like to learn how I can use the outdoors with maybe one light.
I use a bed sheet when needed , and a black fabric from ikea as a negative fill.
Bounce, bounce, bounce all the way!
Real great content!
I use the ceiling and a piece of silk: I direct the the light towards the ceiling and then i place a silk close to the subject in order to have a very slow falloff :)
haha I guess that counts as a book light
I soften my light through book light. It’s always most preferred.
I use the lightdome 1 works like a charm with extra added diffusion its give me a smooth roll off
I've tried a variety of ways to soften the light depending on the project and the budget. My favorite, and probably the most common one was using a frosted shower curtain from a dollar store mounted on a shower rod, held by 2 assistants! The light we were using was a small work lamp from Home Depot. Luckily the interview only lasted about 15 minutes. We were on a super tight budget, but the results turned out amazing!
On photography sets I mostly use a soft box or when i need an even bigger lightsource I bounce of a white collapsable background.
If you do a deeper dive on this topic in the future I'd love to see a comparison between soft diffused and soft focused light (by using grids etc.). I know it's sometimes a little hard to grasp because it adds another part to the equation but knowing when to use either can be really beneficial especially when lighting faces.
Very cool! That would be a great comparison
Classic bounce the light off the ceiling, when possible, and it always does the trick when you need a nice soft overhead source in an interior space.
Paper towel sheets. I legit use paper towel. It’s cheap useful and for smaller lights offers some useful diffusion.
I like to bounce my hair or rim light from a large bounce slightly opposite of the rim. It gives a nice hard edge to the subject while breaking up the light considerably for a key.
I use shop lights from Home Depot ($12) with led bulbs. I made barn doors for them to help control the light. I diffuse with either a bounce ($1), shower curtain ($10), or both. Depends on the needs. I also like using different bulbs 5000K or 2700k and varying brightness levels. Some day I’ll upgrade to real lights.
Lightdome II does it for me!
Sometimes, when I'm in a pinch for time, I'll take the diffusion material that comes with my soft box, fold it in half (doubling its thickness) and clip it on the barn doors. I may have to boost the brightness a bit, but I do get a soft light as a result.
I usually go with a book light because I use pretty cheap, budget lights and I find that helps the most 👌🏻
Just got the light dome 2 and that’s been working so well!
Glad to hear it! Can't go wrong with such as simple diffuser
Awesome!
Thank u so much for sharing these tips..hugely helpful & i will use these techniques. I hv only one led light & i use a softbox to get a soft light on the subject. I try to place it at an angle of about 45 degree.
...i want to use a backlight & a hair light too.but i hv only one light. love frm India 🇮🇳
I use an umbrella kit and either shoot through or bounce off the umbrella depending on the look I want.
A: If shooting near windows I like to use mirror boards to focus the sun through some 216, and use very see-through curtains to just give that second layer of spread.
Interior I'm a huge fan of softboxes (the Domes mainly), or shooting it through unbleached muslin for a more diffused source. :P
Reflecting the sun that way sounds awesome! And unbleached muslin is a great diffuser because of how thick it is. Good stuff!
I soften with a soft box which is double defused, and I use a hard rim light.
I typically bounce the light, especially book light. Just looks more pleasing to me
Love to use the soft box
I use shower curtains. Clip them on a lightstand and you got a very big light source. Double the layer to further soften it ✔️
I have very low power led panel, to achieve soft light and enough brightness I simply put it as close to subject as it possible. Relative size of this panel will change, and the light will be softer. It's not perfect, but for small objects like bottles, cups or lenses it does look greate.
I use my standard 5 in1 reflector, and sometimes reflect the light in a white wall before.
On a budget I Bounce the light off a white wall. In close ups I even bounce it if the palm of a hand.
Bouncing is very powerful
I usually diffuse my light by bouncing it off the ceiling or other surfaces but recently I’ve found that a white hydro flask carrier is great for my bright LED’s.
I like to use octoboxes with double diffusion. Octoboxes give rounder catch lights than softboxes.
"how do you diffuse your light?"
I don't... yet, since I don't have lights yet :) I really need to step my game up massively!! :)
circular reflector / sheet is the best!
How I diffuse? I use a standard softbox or shower curtains for bigger scenes :D
I always like bouncing off surfaces to soften my light...and in some cases where I have absolutely no resources for softening, I just move the light further back :)
Are there an news on the sidus links bridge? Desperately waiting for that one to Come out!
In most cases I use the transparent side of those 5 in 1 reflectors to diffuse the light coming from the sun, because I'm in a budget :P
My favorite technique for diffusing light on a budget is a clear shower curtain!
I soften my key led light with a big shower curtain I bought in a local store. Best budget friendly option out there until I can afford a softbox or somethig similar I guess!
Yes! A lot of the times the cheap diffusions do the same job as the expensive ones. It all depends on how you use it
👍👍👍 thanks
I use a shoot through umbrella to soften light, since that's all I have at the moment. :)
I usually bounce it on a wall or I put a 250 or an opal diffusion sheet in front of it.
I guess it depends on the situation but i would say that in desperate situations, white shower curtains that you can find in any store can save your shooting quite well.
"how do you shoften your light?"
answer: I don't, that's why am here to learn.
I soften my lights with a light dome II as primary diffusion and then put that thru a 4x4 or 8x8 with a silk. super soft, sometimes i need 2 lights to punch through especially on the 8x8. cant want to buy the 600d you guys.
Haha sounds like a great setup! We can't wait for the 600D either :)
I’ve diffused light using shower curtain. I recently did a morning/breakfast table scene at 7 pm, shooting light through the window with 1/2 CTO (I believe). I placed a couple of shower curtains over the window and it turned out nice. Can I have that MC now?
mostly to soften my light I have some tiny softboxes. but aside from them boucing is the easiest way... I think. the booklight looks fantastic though
I use the mini dome II.