Compact soft-light source with four individually switchable 2.5kW or 5kW halogen lamps (10–20kW total) for shadowless key lighting without multiple shadows.
Standard Quad Boxes operate with four 2.5kW halogen lamps (10kW total power) or four 5kW lamps (20kW total power). The housing is made of anodized aluminum with an integrated cooling system and weighs between 25-35 kg without bulbs. The color temperature is 3200K (Tungsten); modern LED variants offer 3200K-5600K with continuous color temperature control. Each lamp can be switched and dimmed individually, allowing for asymmetrical light distribution and soft fall-offs. Arri and Mole-Richardson produce the most commonly used models.
Mole-Richardson developed the first Quad Boxes in 1978 for large productions in Hollywood, aiming to replace the then-common individual Fresnel lights with a compact area light source. In 1982, Arri introduced a European variant with the "4-Light." In the 1990s, standardized dimensions and DMX control became established. Since 2015, LED Quad Boxes have increasingly displaced halogen versions, but only since 2020 have they offered comparable light output at acceptable acquisition costs.
Quad Boxes primarily serve as key lights for close-ups and interviews where a hard single light would be too contrasty. In "Blade Runner 2049" (2017), DoP Roger Deakins used LED Quad Boxes for close-ups in the apartment scenes to create the characteristic soft lighting without visible multiple shadows. Typical use is on stands at a distance of 2-4m from the subject or on cranes for overhead lighting. The disadvantage lies in high power consumption and the complex wiring of four separate circuits.
Compared to softboxes, Quad Boxes offer higher light output in a more compact transport size, but they produce harder shadows than textile diffusers. LED panels like the Arri SkyPanel S360 achieve similar light distribution with lower power consumption but cost three to four times as much. For budget productions, four individual 2.5kW Blondes in softboxes can replace a Quad Box at significantly lower rental costs. For extremely soft light, 12x12-foot butterflies with HMI through-light remain unrivaled.
Ich setze Quad Boxes ein, wenn ich weiches Keylight ohne die Unhandlichkeit großer Softboxes brauche – die vier einzeln dimmbaren Lampen geben mir präzise Kontrolle über Lichtabfall und Kontrast. Besonders bei Gesichtsaufnahmen kann ich mit selektiver Dimmung einzelner Quadranten die Lichtführung millimetergenau an die Gesichtsstruktur anpassen.
Die Quad Box ermöglicht mir natürlich wirkende Gesichtsbeleuchtung ohne die theatralische Härte von Einzelscheinwerfern – perfekt für emotionale Nahaufnahmen wo das Publikum nicht durch technische Lichtführung abgelenkt werden soll. Durch das gleichmäßige Licht kann ich auch bei spontanen Bewegungen der Darsteller die Beleuchtungsqualität halten.
Eine Quad Box kostet täglich 120-180 Euro Miete plus vier Dimmerkanäle, aber ersetzt vier Einzelscheinwerfer und reduziert den Aufbau um 30-45 Minuten pro Setup. Der Stromverbrauch von 10-20kW erfordert jedoch 63A-Anschlüsse und entsprechende Generatorkapazität, was die Standortauswahl einschränken kann.
1. Zu welchem Department gehört „Quad Box"?
2. Wie viele verschiedene Fachperspektiven bietet dieser Eintrag?
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