Inflatable light diffusion dome — softens harsh sunlight into even, shadowless illumination across large areas. Essential for outdoor shoots without heavy rigging.
Suddenly you need large-scale, soft light on set – and have neither a crane nor time for rigging? The gonflage is your answer. This inflatable light tent works like a giant softbox, only instead of mounting it on poles, you simply inflate it. The frame – usually made of sturdy plastic or aluminum – is tensioned by air pressure, with the translucent membrane stretched taut around it. The result: harsh, direct sunlight is transformed into large-scale, even illumination, without harsh shadows.
In practice, it works like this: you place the gonflage between the sun and the subject, or position it from the side as a key light replacement. Sizes range from 2x2 meters to 6x6 meters – the larger the size, the softer the light, as the beam angle becomes flatter. However, you need an air compressor or a battery-powered blower; nothing works without it. Setup takes about 15-20 minutes with two people, teardown less. The big advantage: you can flexibly adjust the position at night without setting up new lighting systems. Especially for exterior shoots, where you can't wait for crane movements, a gonflage saves you hours.
Important to know: The gonflage is not windproof. In gusty conditions, you must sandbag it or secure it with stake lines – otherwise, it will blow away. Membrane quality varies greatly; cheap versions become porous after two or three seasons. Good gonflages (from established lighting manufacturers) last longer and diffuse more evenly. It's easy to transport to set – folded, a 4x4 fits in a car – but setup and teardown require space and helpers. In Southern European or Australian productions, gonflages are standard; the sun shines there intensely and constantly, and large diffusers are indispensable.
Technically, it works on the same principle as any other diffusion: the larger the surface area in relation to the light source (the sun), the softer the shadows. A 6x6 gonflage in front of the sun creates wonderfully soft facial light without unwanted specular highlights. Combined with reflectors or a second lighting system, you can adjust the contrast ratio quite precisely – ideal for beauty shots and emotionally demanding scenes outdoors.