Wish you could deliver more variety without constantly tweaking your lights? Creative Mask makes it possible in seconds.
In this video, Brandon from Westcott shows you how he captured 36 unique looks in under a minute using Creative Mask on the FJ800 and FJ400 II strobes. With this powerful feature, you can create multiple looks for your clients in minimal time. In this guide, we’ll break down what Creative Mask is, how to set it up, and why it’s a must-have for your workflow.
What is Creative Mask?
Creative Mask is a lighting feature that lets you program strobes to fire in different sequences. With one setup, you can create up to 6 unique lighting combinations in seconds. It’s ideal for time-sensitive shoots like volume photography or working with high-profile clients on tight schedules.
By using Creative Mask, you can achieve multiple looks in a short amount of time, maximizing both your efficiency and potential sales.
- Maximize Variety – Offer your clients multiple options without rearranging your lighting setups.
- Save Time – Ideal for fast-paced shoots with professional athletes, executives, or high-volume sessions.
- Boost Sales – More variety means more chances of clients purchasing additional prints.
The Lighting Setup
For this shoot, Brandon uses a 6-light setup, all FJ400 II strobes. While that may sound like a lot, the results replicate what was previously done using multiple shooting bays.
- Main Light: FJ400 II with a 24” Beauty Dish Switch
- Fill Light: FJ400 II with a 7’ White Umbrella with Diffusion
- Edge Light: FJ400 II with a Rapid Box Switch 1×3
- Background Lights: Using in alternating frames for variety
- White Background Light: FJ400 II strobe with a 7” reflector
- Blue Background Light: FJ400 II strobe with a vivid blue FlexiGel and 7” reflector
- Optical Spot Background Light: FJ400 II strobe with an Optical Spot, adding a window pattern to the background
Setting Up Creative Mask on Your Strobes
The next step is enabling Creative Mask directly on the strobe heads. This entails setting how many frames to capture and when each strobe should fire within the sequence. For this setup, Brandon assigns 6 unique combinations. Before assigning lights to sequences, ensure each light’s exposure is accurate to avoid issues later in the shoot.
Lighting Sequence:
- Main Light, Fill Light, and White Background Light
- Main Light, Fill Light, and Blue Background Light
- Main Light, Fill Light, and Optical Spot Gobo Background Light
- Edge Light, Fill Light, and White Background Light
- Edge Light, Fill Light, and Blue Background Light
- Edge Light, Fill Light, and Optical Spot Gobo Background Light
Why Creative Mask is a Game-Changer
With Creative Mask, you can offer your clients more variety without adding time to your shoot. From clean portraits to dramatic lighting and dynamic backgrounds, achieve a full range of looks in a single session—without ever moving your setup.
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