White or colored reflector card made from rigid cardboard. Bounces hard, direct light back onto the subject — a cost-effective substitute for professional reflectors.
Technical Details
Show Cards accurately reflect 90% of incident light uniformly across the entire color spectrum (5600K daylight to 3200K artificial light). The surface has a matte texture with a material thickness of 0.3-0.5 mm to avoid reflections. Professional versions from Kodak or X-Rite meet the ISO 12233 standard for optical reference materials. Variants include foldable 30 x 40 cm versions for outdoor shots as well as waterproof plastic cards for extreme weather conditions. Reflection values remain stable over 500 application cycles with proper storage.
History & Development
Kodak developed the first standardized Show Cards for Hollywood studios in 1927 to ensure consistent exposure measurements. With the introduction of color film technology in 1935, Eastman Kodak expanded its product range to include spectrally neutral variants. The transition to digital film technology from 2000 onwards made Show Cards a standard tool for white balance and color calibration in post-production. Modern LED panel sets often include integrated digital Show Card functions with variable reflectivity.
Practical Use in Film
In "Blade Runner 2049" (2017), DoP Roger Deakins systematically used Show Cards for consistent skin tone reproduction in neon-dominated scenes. Standard workflow: Position the card in the main light, spot meter for 90% reflection, set aperture two stops below the card's value. Show Cards enable precise exposure control in changing lighting conditions and reduce color grading effort by an average of 30%. Disadvantages arise in very dark scenes where the bright reference surface can be disruptive.
Comparison & Alternatives
Unlike Grey Cards (18% reflection), Show Cards are specifically suitable for highlight areas and skin tone calibration. Color Checker charts offer more comprehensive color references but require more complex workflows. Modern alternatives include digital reference displays and spectrometer-assisted measurements. In high-end productions, calibrated OLED monitors are increasingly replacing physical Show Cards, while these remain standard for low-budget productions due to their low purchase cost of 15-50 Euros.