Trace around the front of your flash. Make sure it is centered on the bottom of the bowl.
Make 2 diagonal cuts to make the flaps
Fold the flaps back 90º.
(Trick – once the flaps are cut, fill your sink with hot water from the tap, let the bottom of the bowl sit in the hot water for about 5 min. to heat up the plastic making it easier to fold back)
Check to see how your flash fits.
Front view of fit.
Draw circle on foam board, about 1/2 the diameter of the bowl.
Apply aluminum tape on other side of foam board, making sure the aluminum tape covers a larger area than the circle on the other side.
Cut out circle with sharp box cutter knife.
Cut slits just big enough for the zip-ties to fit through every 90º.
Bend the zip-ties (you’ll see why)
Insert zip-ties through the holes you cut into the circle so the bends in the zip-ties face outward (radiating from the circle)
Front view
Cut slits into the plastic bowl just big enough for the zip ties to fit through every 90º
(Trick – you might have to insert a small flathead screwdriver into the slits to stretch them just enough to get the zip-ties through, the zip-ties should be held in place by the friction from the slits)
DO NOT MAKE THE SLITS TOO BIG SO THE ZIP-TIES MOVE FREELY!
This is how it looks finished.
With an omni-bounce on the flash.
Front view.
Illuminated (with omni-bounce on flash).
I might not be beautiful, but the light from the beauty dish looks good!
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Why did you use an omnibounce in your beauty dish?
And completely out of topic but I completely digg your wood tabletop.
@jean-francois – I used an omnibounce as a starting point. I knew that the light would be very even. I will be experimenting without the omnibounce and different center reflectors to see what the light looks like.
From what I understand, the table is made from reclaimed wood from an old ski chalet.
where did you buy your bowl? Thanks.
I got the bowl at Home Hardware (a Canadian hardware chain). You probably can find a similar bowl at a dollar store or some sort of department store.
Made your DIY Beauty Dish. It works like a charm! The results in my initial testing — nice, bright lighting that produces very well-exposed images with high contrast, yet amazingly without any “hotspots” or blown highlights. The Dish should complement my other Nikon Speedlight portable, wireless studio setup, which includes an Alzo softbox (great product), a snoot, a gridspot, as well as umbrellas (both reflective and shoot-through translucent).
In reply to Jean Francois: The stoffen or omni-bounce replicates a ‘bare-bulb’ light, which should work best with your beauty dish…which looks great btw.
Thank you!!
This is the best beauty dish how-to article I’ve seen yet.
Keep them coming!! =)
Just made your beauty dish, works very well. Thank you for the in depth tutorial.
Nice Hack! I followed your advice but used a CD and covered it with foil tape, then used 20 pound test fishing line to almost invisibly attach it. Spray painted the dish with flat white to eliminate any flare. Works great!!
These are the BEST directions yet!! (believe me I’ve been lurking sites for months and I KNOW!) Simplistic, no extras, no super tools (that NO one has just lying around) just straight to the point. Thank you. This a definite MUST try and it looks fun too!
Thank you sooo much!
Do you happen what type of plastic was used to make your bowl? I have a bowl that appears very similar to yours and it is made of polypropylene. When attempting to cut the opening the plastic splits and when attempting to fold the flaps back (even after the hot water treatment) they simply snapped off. Any suggestions? Thanks!!
I’m not sure of the exact name of the plastic, but it the same or similar to the plastic used for tupperware. I hope that helps. The plastic is not rigid or brittle.
Hi!
Awsome, i like what you made and i will som how find a big bowl in sweden somewhere and make my own beauty dish. Thanks
Hey Mikey (if thats your name)!
this is seriously the most simplified approach i’ve seen on youtube for the beauty dish! two thumbs up!
btw, did yod try adding one of those mirrors under the piece of foamboard? will it be more effective or will it throw our too much light?
i’m about to buy a flash and have been thinking of the Vivitar 383… suggestions ?
(i plan on buying a canon 550d/t2i, though i have been using nikon d80 since early 2007 but higher resolution for printing is the reason i’m opting for the 550d… any thoughts ?)
The reason I didn’t use a mirror is quite simple. I wanted the light to be soft. The mirror would make the light a bit harsher and more directional. I could have used the foamcore without the silver tape for an even softer light. The best part is I can make three different centre disks (white, silver and mirror) for a larger variety of light options.
The 550D/T2i has the same sensor as the 7D! I have the 7D and the image quality is stunning. The other thing to consider is the 550D/T2i also shoots full HD video. The video quality from these cameras is nothing short of spectacular. Do a search for 550D video samples and you’ll be blown away by what you find. Regarding the flash… if you plan on using the flash on camera I recommend getting a canon flash. But for off camera Nikon SB800 (discontinued) and SB900 are the way to go.
Regarding a Mirror, if you used a convex mirror do you think the light would be as harsh as a flat mirror?
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