dkCambridgeshire Posted May 4, 2013 Share #1 Â Posted May 4, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm planning some Leica portraiture and need to rejuvenate a 20 year old 1.3m square Lastolite Apollo softbox which has a slightly yellowed front diffuser panel. I have tried using ladies underwear whitener on a test piece but it had no effect. I do not wish to use domestic bleach. Has anyone safely succeeded in whitening similar man made fabric? Â As a last resort will sew two shower curtains together and attach to the softbox but would be easier to use the original panel. Â Thanks for reading. Â dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted May 4, 2013 Share #2 Â Posted May 4, 2013 Is there anywhere on the product a label which states the material the diffuser is made of? Have you tried asking a dry cleaner's? Can you handle the cast in PP? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl G Posted May 4, 2013 Share #3 Â Posted May 4, 2013 Hydrogen Peroxide works quite well as a whitening agent which is far less destructive than bleach. Worse case scenario, you will end up replacing the diffusion front panel which is really where you are starting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted May 4, 2013 Author Share #4  Posted May 4, 2013 Is there anywhere on the product a label which states the material the diffuser is made of? Have you tried asking a dry cleaner's? Can you handle the cast in PP?  Yes I could try a dry cleaner ... There is no label indicating the type of fabric used ... and the particular softbox is no longer available.  I could take a custom white balance or adjust via PP - but prefer to use a white diffuser  I'll also investigate hydrogen peroxide bleaching. I also have an even older Lastolite conical light tent which needs whitening - this also failed to whiten in the underwear whitener.  Best wishes  dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
120 Posted May 4, 2013 Share #5 Â Posted May 4, 2013 You can get diffuser fabric by the yard from Chimera; maybe there is a cheaper source. Might be better than shower curtains, but who knows. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted May 5, 2013 Author Share #6  Posted May 5, 2013 This morning the diffuser fabric was laundered in the washing machine on 'Easy Care' cycle using regular detergent plus 250ml of vinegar and 125g of baking soda. After drying in sunshine the diffuser is white and usable - now have to decide whether to sew the fabric back onto one side of the softbox from whence it was unpicked (the other three sides are attached via Velcro) - or re-attach using Velcro tapes - latter is easier as Velco tapes are self-adhesive. Thus the 20 year old softbox should soon be usable.  Now I'm contemplating making some reflectors to use in conjunction with the soft box. I do not necessarily need foldable/collapsible reflectors so will cut some art board to size (eg Daler board) and cover with uncrumpled kitchen foil - stuck on with cow gum - using the matt side of the uncrumpled foil as the reflecting surface. Regular white card will also be used as a reflecting surface. The reflectors should cost less than £7 each to make.  On Tuesday a secondhand Norman 400B portable studio flash arrives which should fit inside the soft box. No speedring is required as the flash will attach to the central umbrella pole - with the flash facing backwards. By judicious use of three reflectors - plus the softbox above and in front of my model - I hope to get some results. In effect a poor man's 'Triflector' arrangement.  Best wishes  dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl G Posted May 5, 2013 Share #7 Â Posted May 5, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Congrats dunk, and best of luck. Sounds like you have a plan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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