How to Make an 8x8 Butterfly Frame for $100 | Professional Overhead Lighting Diffusion Frame

In this video, we look at how we made an 8x8 Professional Butterfly Frame for diffusing sunlight, bouncing light or even making large negative fill flags. Our version is an 8x8 Butterfly Frame however, it could easily be changed to 6x6 or 4x4 with a handsaw if needed. We also explore some tips and tricks on how to get soft lighting from the sun and get cinematic outdoor shots. Keep in mind, cinematography is a highly subjective craft, there are no wrong answers so let us know if you have other setups or methods! We'd love to learn!

This video also looks at the new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6k Pro and how it performs when dealing with sunlight.

If you use these affiliate links to purchase, I get a little back and it doesn’t cost you any more! Helps to support the channel and make more content like this!

DIY Butterfly Frame Materials:

🛒 L-Shape Square Tube Clamp Tube Connector Pipe Fittings

🛒 8ft 1in Square Aluminum Tubing

🛒 Matthews Super Mafer Clamp with Pin

🛒 C-Stand

🛒 FLIP FLOP EAR FOR 1" SQUARE TUBE (Instead of Super Mafer Clamp)

🛒 Matthews 8x8 White Artificial Silk

CAMERA:
🛒 Black Magic Pocket Cinema Camera 6k Pro

🛒 Black Magic Pocket Cinema Camera 6k (Non-Pro)

LIGHTING:
🛒 Nanlite FS300

🛒 Aputure 200D

🛒 Aputure Fresnel 2X, Bowen-S Mount Light Modifier

🛒 Glow EZ Lock Quick Octa Large Softbox w/ Bowens Mount (36")

CAMERA SUPPORT:
🛒 FLYCAM Flowline Master Professional Stabilizing Body Support - Handheld Support Rig

🛒 Manfrotto 502 Video Head - Tripod Head

Music Used from EpidemicSound

#Softlighting #CinematicLightingTechniques #ButterflyFrames

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DISCLAIMERS
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[maxhighstein]

Thanks! The connectors you're showing are 3-way. You only need 2-way for this purpose. Use 3-way if you're building a table or a box.

[balamina]

Thanks Jacob! Very helpful and informative! God bless you!

[markkut]

Very neat DIY frame setup. I enjoyed this!

[beef_franks]

Nice solve with the sanding. Smart and simple. Constructive feedback—for a "how to" video, it'd be great to see the build straight away, rather than ~4min in (well over halfway into the video).

[SiblingRivalry]

Gotta try this, thanks for the recommendation

[mediaproductionpro]

Awesome build at a great price, keep up the fantastic content.

[JacobVossFilms]

Some updates! It appears there's a slight controversy online regarding the actual definition of "Butterfly Frame". Some say it's only frames that have hinges in the center that allow them to collapse down, making them look like butterfly wings. Others say the Butteryfly name comes from the original shape of Butterfly Frames which were reminiscent of butterfly nets. Either way, I hope you find this information helpful and perhaps learned something along the way! :)

Do you have any go to DIY setups that you use often on set? I’m actually surprised how much use I have gotten out of this frame personally so let us know! We’d love to learn about it! Lighting is really one of those areas you can DIY and still get amazing results.




#Cinematography #ButterflyFrame #DIY

[filmyzrajdow]

Nice video. Would you recommend difusion with -0.7EV cut or -1.25 for outdoors shooting?

[CEODeliveryBoy]

I saw the aluminum tubes and am working on the same thing now. However, I do think it IS worth the extra money to get like the pro-aim clamps that go into the gobos and was really torn on spending the money for the connectors bcuz, well then you are getting close to the money you would spend just buying the glow 8x8. at 399 its pretty awesome and the bag, connectors all of it. BUT I WANT TO MAKE MY OWN just bcuz I think its effing ridiculous for them to charge so much. You do still save but u dont get the case n stuff. You're corner adapters are interesting though i really like them. I was also thinking of how id keep the ties (the bounce i have is an old school with the fabric laces instead of bungee type ties) from sliding down. I think a couple zip ties permntly around the tube close together will handle that though? If the bounce tie is really tight the width of the zip ties should be enough. Idk. Anyway thank you for the video!

[stevenuseda]

Awesome video and cool project. Lighting looks nice and soft but I'd definitely recommend a heavy shoulder rig or something to get rid of the jitter in the handheld shots you were shooting. Anyway, keep it up. You earned a subscriber!

[rodkisten]

The "ask for like is very much appreciated" is SO charming! Lovely! 😻

Anyway, excellent tips!!!!

[ToddBangz]

Great idea and video! Quick question…. Do you intend to swivel the frame any at all or is this just for overhead diffusion?

[oleschreiterdopac]

Ohhh Boy That Frame held up with 2 c stands looks dangerous. Do yourself and your talent a favor and use combo or overhead stands next time. This might be an option with 4x4 or maybe 6x6 but the size of 8x8+ it’s getting dangerous.

Your solution on the other hand looks very nice. Spent a pretty penny on a avenger butterfly frame because it’s much more collapsible than any solution with square stock or speed rail.

Peace ✌️
OS

[aaroncadena]

Wait did he talk at all about what’s used to hold the frame up??