The secret behind the beautiful light of Elinchrom Rotalux lies in the perfect combination of unique materials, thoughtful design, and the wide light distribution of Elinchrom flash units, made possible by their protruding flash tube and reflector positioned behind it. Together, these elements create soft, even, and beautifully controlled light, giving you greater creative freedom – from delicate portraits to precisely illuminated products.
What makes the light from an Elinchrom Rotalux so special?Its beautiful softness, smooth transitions, and ability to bring shape and dimension to a subject all begin with something very tangible: the materials used in the softbox and the way the flash fills it with light.It is the interaction between Rotalux and the Elinchrom flash unit that gives the light its distinctive character.
An essential part of the secret lies in the Rotalux material. Developed exclusively for Elinchrom, it plays a crucial role in defining the softbox's lighting characteristics. It is not simply the shape or size of the softbox that matters, but also how its materials reflect and distribute light.Combined with the softbox's design and diffusers, these carefully selected materials help produce beautifully soft, even illumination with smooth, natural transitions between highlights and shadows.
The design of Elinchrom flash units is another essential part of the equation. Their protruding flash tubes distribute light widely inside the softbox, illuminating even the outer edges of its reflective interior.This allows the entire surface of the softbox to be used effectively, from the centre all the way to the edges.
With flash units featuring a more recessed flash tube, the light may instead be directed primarily forwards. Depending on the design, this can create a bright hotspot in the centre of the softbox while leaving the outer edges less illuminated. A large softbox does not automatically mean that its entire surface contributes equally to the light.
This difference becomes particularly important when using a technique known as feathering: aiming the softbox slightly past the subject and using the light from its edge rather than directing the centre straight towards it.
Feathering allows you to fine-tune the quality of light, control reflections, and create beautifully smooth transitions between light and shadow. It is especially useful when shaping a portrait without introducing harshness, or when carefully controlling reflections across the surface of a product.However, this technique places particular demands on the light modifier. When working with the edge of a softbox, that area also needs to be well illuminated. If most of the light is concentrated in the centre, the result will be different, making it more difficult to achieve the gradual transitions you are looking for.
This is where the combination of Rotalux materials and the wide light distribution of Elinchrom flash units truly comes into its own.
Start by positioning a Rotalux close to your subject, slightly off to one side. First, aim it directly at the subject, then slowly rotate it away. Observe how the highlights, shadows, and reflections change as you move from direct illumination to using the edge of the softbox.
In portrait photography, even subtle adjustments can change how the light follows the contours of the face and how gently the illuminated areas transition into shadow. In product photography, the same technique allows you to shape reflections that reveal the texture, material, and contours of an object.
It is a precise and rewarding way of working, where rotating the softbox by just a few degrees can make a greater difference than adding another light source.
The exceptionally beautiful light of Rotalux is the result of a carefully considered combination: exclusive materials, intelligent light-shaping design, and a studio flash that distributes light widely and evenly.
Together, Elinchrom and Rotalux allow you to make full use of the entire illuminated surface – revealing just how much you can transform and shape your light by taking advantage of every part of the softbox.