Rectangular aluminum light modifier (approx. 5" × 3") mounted via gel frame to fixtures, producing hard-edged light for precise spotting and separation.
Technical Details
Quarter Apples are typically manufactured from anodized aluminum with a material thickness of 2-3 mm and weigh approximately 180-220 grams. The inner edges are lined with black velvet to eliminate unwanted light reflections. They are mounted using standardized gel filter frames or special barndoor adapters on tungsten and LED lights ranging from 150W to 2.5kW. With optimal positioning about 15-20 cm in front of the light source, the light falloff from the center to the edge is approximately 2-3 f-stops. Variants exist as Double Quarter Apple (10" × 6") and Mini Quarter Apple (2.5" × 1.5").
History & Development
Mole-Richardson developed the first Quarter Apples in 1987 as an addition to their 600-series Fresnel lights. The inspiration came from gaffer Conrad Hall, who required more precise light control for "Tequila Sunrise" (1988) than conventional barndoors provided. ARRI adopted the concept in 1994 for their Compact series and standardized the dimensions still in use today. With the LED boom starting in 2010, magnetic variants emerged for frameless panels, while the classic clip-on versions continue to dominate.
Practical Use in Film
Roger Deakins extensively used Quarter Apples on "Blade Runner 2049" (2017) for the precise illumination of faces in neon scenes, where every beam of light had to remain defined. In portrait lighting, they create the characteristic "window light" without complex location adjustments. A typical workflow involves basic lighting with Fresnels, followed by Quarter Apples for selective accents on eyes or objects. Disadvantages become apparent with moving cameras, as the rectangular light contour can become visible in pans. With LED panels above 3000K, they increase the magenta shift by approximately 150-200 Kelvin.
Comparison & Alternatives
Unlike snoots, Quarter Apples create hard edges instead of circular spots, while barndoors only allow for rough light shaping. Iris apertures offer variable openings, but without the characteristic rectangular shape. Modern alternatives include digital gobos on LED lights like the ARRI SkyPanel or the Aputure Light Storm series, which can project any shape. For budget productions, homemade "flags" made from Cinefoil replace the function but do not achieve the precise edge sharpness of industrially manufactured Quarter Apples.