At 2010 NAB show in Las Vegas, Zylight presented Active Diffusion – a flexible and lightweight panel which allows you to control the amount of diffusion on demand. It was a long time ago, but it seems that it was worth the wait – in 2017 they are finally launching it for sale.
Active Diffusion is a solution that enables you different types and levels of diffusion in a single product. It’s flexible, lightweight and looks like a rollable sheet of Plexiglas. But, it’s actually an LCD panel, which you can adjust by using a simple hand controller with a 9 V battery. With a little dial on top, you can change the amount of transparency of the panel from milky to completely translucent, with all the shades in between.
Zylight presented three sizes at NAB Show: 2×2 panel, 4×4 panel and a smaller version attached to the IS3 LED panel. According to their website, Active Diffusion will be available in standard sizes 2×2 and 4×4, but there will also be custom sizes available. You can attach it on a frame and use any cool light behind it. If you attach it onto Zylight’s IS3 panel, it will also be possible to control the diffusion amount through the back of the panel.
The prices mentioned in the video are around $400 for the 2×2 panel and around $1200 for the 4×4. But it’s been over six years since they presented the product, so let’s wait and see if it stays like that. Anyway, I think it’s an interesting, practical and useful solution that can save you from buying and carrying too much equipment, and this way it may save you some money, too.
