Skimmer & Diffusion Cloth
Silk and grid diffusion cloth for softening sunlight and film lights, in full, half and quarter strengths and every standard size from 4x4 to 20x20.
40 products
Silk or grid cloth?
Silk is a woven diffusion fabric: it spreads light evenly and gives a smooth, even look. Grid cloth is a ripstop fabric with a visible grid weave: it is tougher, handles wind better outdoors, and gives a slightly more directional soft light. Both come in strengths that decide how much light they cut.
Full, half or quarter?
- Full softens the most and cuts the most light - roughly two stops. Use it to turn hard sun into soft light for close-ups.
- Half is the everyday choice - roughly one stop. Softer shadows without losing much light.
- Quarter takes the edge off harsh light while keeping most of its brightness - roughly half a stop.
Exact figures vary with the fabric and how far it is from the subject, so treat these as a starting point.
Which size do you need?
Sizes are width by height in feet, so a 12x12 cloth is 12 feet square. As a rule of thumb: 4x4 and 6x6 for close-ups, interviews and product shots; 8x8 and 10x10 for one or two people in medium shots; 12x12 to 20x20 for full-length shots, groups and overhead sun control on outdoor sets. A cloth needs a matching frame - see our silk frames in the same sizes.
Frequently asked questions
What is a skimmer cloth?
A skimmer cloth is a diffusion fabric - silk or grid cloth - stretched on a frame between a light source and the subject to soften the light. Filmmakers in India also call it a silk or diffusion cloth.
What is the difference between full silk and half silk?
Full silk diffuses more and cuts roughly two stops of light; half silk diffuses less and cuts roughly one stop. Half silk is the more versatile first buy.
Do you sell the frame with the cloth?
The cloths and frames are sold separately, in matching sizes, so you can use one frame with several cloths.