page_title: Scrim (lighting)
section_title: Outdoors and photography
hierarchical_section_title: Scrim (lighting) / Outdoors and photography
caption_attribution_description: English: Collection: Painter (Milton McFarland, Sr.) Collection Call number: PI/1988.0006 System ID: 99446 http://zed.mdah.state.ms.us:81/ Pictures taken on trip to Canada and west 1915. Framework structure on movie set. Sign reads 'The name of this picture 'The Eagle' directed by Leon Kent, starring Hobart Henley.' Please see our &lt;a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/mississippi-dept-of-archives-and-history/"&gt;profile page&lt;/a&gt; for information on ordering. Scanned as tiff in 2008/08/29 by MDAH. Credit: Courtesy of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History
context_page_description: A scrim is a device used in the film and television industries, as well as by photographers, to modify properties of light. There are variations on types of scrim, depending upon its use, whether with natural light, or with man-made light sources. However, their basic use is the same – to reduce intensity and/or harshness of light.
context_section_description: A scrim can also be a translucent gauze type material that may be fastened onto a frame, and used outdoors to reduce the intensity of, and soften harsh light on subjects/people being filmed or photographed. They are available in a multitude of shapes and sizes, either small enough to be held in one hand by a photographer or assistant, up to almost tent like contraptions.
  In this context, a scrim can be used when harsh midday sun would otherwise cause people to squint, or “blown out” hotspots on people's skin, such as cheeks, foreheads and shoulders. The scrim is placed close to the subject, diffusing and reducing the intensity of light, which is much more flattering, especially for portraits.
  A scrim can be used indoors on a soundstage.  For example, a set may be built on a soundstage to include both the interior and exterior of a wall with a window, thereby enabling characters inside to see characters on what appears to be a patio or walkway outside.  The portion of the set that appears to be "outside" may have to be brightly lit to simulate sunlight.  A scrim is then attached to a frame overhanging the entire "outdoor" portion of the set between the lighting and the actors, in order to diffuse the light so that it appears more natural when it hits the actors' faces.
caption: Overhead scrim on a natural-light film set, 1915
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