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DIY Electronic Flash Bounce Cards

A flash bounce card is useful to reduce harsh highlights and shadows on your subject. Rather than illuminating your subject directly with a bright flash, a bounce card allows you to redirect the light and illuminate your subject with softer, more diffuse light. This helps to reduce shadows, get rid of glowing, white highlights, and stop red-eye. While bounce cards specially fitted to your flash are available for sale, it is also possible to construct your own do-it-yourself flash bounce card with household materials.
  1. Material

    • Several different materials can be used to construct a flash bounce card depending on the effect you wish to achieve. The most common bounce card is an index card, which can be bent and folded to direct light in any way. Because index cards are inexpensive, they can also be discarded and replaced if they no longer hold your desired shape. A thin layer of modeling foam, usually found in craft stores, can also be used. These tend to be highly reflective and, like index cards, can be folded or bent into a variety of shapes. In a pinch, a sheet of paper can also be used.

    Color

    • You will typically want to use a white material to construct your flash bounce card. If your material is any color other than white, you will notice a color cast on your images that matches the color of your bounce card. If this is a desirable effect, colored cards can be useful. Additionally, slightly off-white bounce cards can be used to match the tint of the flash to the temperature of the room. A yellowed card, for instance, can help match the bright, white flash light with the yellower incandescent bulbs in a room. Keeping a variety of grayscale cards on hand can also be useful for reducing the amount of flash light that is bounced on your subjects. If a white flash card is reflecting too much light, a darker gray card can be substituted.

    Attachment

    • The way you attach your flash bounce card to your flash will depend on the material used. Photographers who use bounce cards extensively may consider using velcro tape to connect the bounce card to the flash. If you wish to leave no leftover parts on your flash when you remove your bounce card, you can also use an elastic band, like a rubber band or hair tie, to temporarily connect your card to the flash. Flexible materials like modeling foam work best in this case. If the flash card is temporary, you may also consider attaching the card with tape, or simply holding the card in the appropriate place while you take the photo.


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