Honeycomb grid of black metal or plastic mounted in front of a light fixture to narrow the beam and prevent spill light.
Technical Details
Standard grids are made of anodized aluminum with cell sizes between 6mm and 20mm and a depth of 15-40mm. The ratio of depth to aperture width determines the beam angle: 10°, 20°, 30°, or 40°. A 30° grid with 10mm cells and 30mm depth weighs approximately 180g for a 6-inch reflector. The black interior coating absorbs 98% of side light and prevents internal reflections. Magnetic mounting systems allow for tool-free attachment to Fresnel spotlights and LED panels.
History & Development
Grids were developed in 1962 by the company Arri in Munich, originally for television productions with low ceiling heights. The first application was in the ZDF production "Das Halstuch" (1962). In the 1970s, the technology became established in Hollywood through cinematographer Gordon Willis on "The Godfather" (1972). Modern variants have used carbon fiber composite materials since 2010, which are 40% lighter while offering the same stability.
Practical Application in Film
Roger Deakins extensively used grids in "Blade Runner 2049" (2017) for the characteristic light shafts in interior scenes. The grids eliminated lens flares in extreme wide-angle shots and controlled LED wall lighting. For portraits, 40° grids create soft key light without spill onto the background. The light loss is 0.8 stops, so the base lighting must be compensated accordingly.
Comparison & Alternatives
Barn doors offer variable shading, but with soft edges and less precision. Snoots create circular cones of light instead of the defined rectangular shape of a grid. Modern alternatives include digital gobo projectors and programmable LED arrays with electronic beam shaping. Softboxes with grids combine soft illumination with directed light control and are increasingly replacing separate grid systems for beauty shots.