Profoto Umbrella Diffusers and Backpanels: Shaping Soft Light
By Borge's Imaging — Shop Photography, Printing and Studio Gear in Melbourne Borge's Imaging | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: ハウツーガイド
A step-by-step guide to fitting a Profoto umbrella diffuser and backpanel, plus the setup checkpoints that keep shoot-through light soft and contained.
Quick answer
Fit a Profoto Umbrella Diffuser (Small) over the front of a small shallow or deep umbrella to soften output, and add a Profoto Umbrella Backpanel (Medium) in shoot-through mode to stop light spilling past the edges. Check the diffuser is seated evenly and the backpanel drawstring is closed before you raise the light.
Why the diffuser and backpanel do different jobs
A diffuser sits in the light path and spreads the beam, which softens the edge of the shadow and reduces the harsh hotspot you get from a bare umbrella. A backpanel works behind a shoot-through umbrella, blocking the light that would otherwise travel past the umbrella and bounce around the room. Use the diffuser when the light itself is too hard; use the backpanel when the light is soft enough but is contaminating the background or filling the room with stray light.
- Diffuser: changes the quality of the light reaching the subject.
- Backpanel: changes where the light goes, not how soft it is.
- Using both is common in small rooms, but expect the diffuser to cost output.
Match the accessory to the umbrella size
The Profoto Umbrella Diffuser (Small) is listed for Small Shallow and Deep Umbrellas, so it is not a universal fit across the Profoto umbrella range. The Profoto Umbrella Backpanel (Medium) is a separate size, and the supplied catalog does not list compatible umbrella sizes for it, so confirm the fit with the umbrella you own before ordering. If you are unsure which umbrella size you have, measure the open diameter rather than guessing from the model name.
Shoot-through versus reflective setup
In shoot-through mode the umbrella faces the subject and the flash fires through the fabric, which gives a broad, wrapping light. That is the mode where a backpanel earns its place, because the same flash also throws light backward past the umbrella rim. In reflective mode the umbrella faces away from the subject and bounces light back, so a backpanel is not the tool for that setup; the diffuser is the relevant accessory when you want to take the edge off the bounced beam.
Step-by-step: fitting and checking your umbrella accessories
- Identify the umbrella and its mode: Confirm whether you are using a Small Shallow or Deep Umbrella and whether it is set up shoot-through or reflective. Mistake to avoid: fitting the small diffuser to a larger umbrella and assuming it is seated correctly. Measure the open diameter if the model name is not clear.
- Fit the diffuser before the umbrella goes on the stand: Seat the Profoto Umbrella Diffuser (Small) evenly over the front of the umbrella and check that the edge is not twisted or half-on. Mistake to avoid: stretching one side first, which leaves a gap that shows as a bright streak in the beam. Run a finger around the rim to confirm an even seat.
- Add the backpanel in shoot-through mode: Slide the Profoto Umbrella Backpanel (Medium) into place behind the umbrella and pull the drawstring closure snug around the shaft. Mistake to avoid: leaving the drawstring loose, which lets light leak past the panel and defeats the purpose. Check the closure by looking at the umbrella from behind the light.
- Compensate for the 1.5-stop loss: Meter or test-fire with the diffuser fitted and raise flash power or adjust exposure to recover the 1.5 stops it removes. Mistake to avoid: judging the softened light at the same power setting and concluding the diffuser is too dim. Re-meter after every diffuser change, not just at the start.
- Check spill on the background: With the backpanel fitted, look at the background and the room edges for stray light that was present before. Mistake to avoid: assuming the backpanel fixes spill in reflective mode, where it is not the relevant accessory. If spill remains, check the panel is seated flush against the umbrella rim.
Product facts
- Profoto Umbrella Diffuser (Small): For Small Shallow & Deep Umbrellas; reduces output by 1.5 stops. Plan on 1.5 stops of light loss, so raise flash power or open the aperture before you judge the softened result.
Profoto Umbrella Diffuser (Small) - Profoto Umbrella Backpanel (Medium): Stops spill light in shoot-through mode; drawstring closure. The drawstring lets you cinch the panel around the umbrella shaft, which is the check that keeps stray light off your background.
Profoto Umbrella Backpanel (Medium)
