Half-circular black matte aluminum screen mounted in front of lights to block a precise semicircular light segment.
Technical Details
Standard Half Apples are available in diameters of 4", 6", 8", and 10", matching the common filter holder sizes for tungsten and HMI fixtures. The cutting edge creates a penumbra of 2-8 cm depending on the distance to the illuminated surface. Professional versions are made of 0.8 mm thick, matte black-lacquered aluminum or stainless steel with an operating temperature up to 200°C. Magnetic variants adhere directly to fixture housings, while standard models are attached via clamps or clips.
History & Development
The Half Apple evolved in the 1940s from improvised masks in Hollywood studios, where gaffers initially used cardboard stencils. Mole-Richardson introduced the first industrially manufactured Half Apple sets in 1952. Arri established the European standard in 1978 with the "Set of Flags," which also included Half Apples in standardized sizes. Since 2010, modern LED panels have increasingly used magnetic barn door systems with integrated Half Apple functions.
Practical Use in Film
Cinematographers primarily use Half Apples for half-face shading in thriller and film noir aesthetics. In "The Godfather" (1972), Gordon Willis created the characteristic eye shadows using Half Apples in top-light setups. For interviews, the Half Apple selectively limits background illumination without requiring complex masks. The hard light cut-off works optimally at focal lengths from 50 mm distance to the fixture; at shorter distances, the transition becomes too soft.
Comparison & Alternatives
Unlike barn doors, the Half Apple creates a precise circular segment rather than adjustable rectangular shapes. Full Apples block all light, while Quarter Apples block only a quarter of the light exit angle. Modern LED panels offer digital masking functions that electronically simulate Half Apple effects, but without the characteristic analog light quality. For moving camera shots, programmable moving lights with iris apertures are increasingly replacing mechanical Half Apples, as they can track automatically.