© Jeff Cable

In photography, a reflector is a tool with a reflective surface that is commonly used to redirect or bounce light onto your subject. The intent is to act as a fill source, opening up the shadow values; however it can also be used as the main light source. There is a physical limitation to the effect of a reflector in the field or studio, and this is where the Reflector Efex filter in Color Efex Pro 4 is a great option. It simulates using a reflector in the field and enables you to open up the shadows and add some fill to you image with additional controls.

Taking a closer look at the filter controls will provide some insight on using this filter.

Reflector Efex filter control options

The Method drop down menu contains three different color options: Gold, Soft Gold, and Silver. Each option adds its own amount and type of light into the shadows. Gold and Soft Gold add different levels of warming light, while Silver adds a neutral effect.

Method options

The Light Intensity slider controls the amount of light the reflector will add to the shadow areas. The slider works on a range of 0% to 100% and is set to 50% by default.

The Light Falloff slider controls how abruptly the effect falls off. This is the transition between the added light and the original image. It is set to 50% by default, and works on a range of 0% to 100%.

The Position slider determines where the falloff begins and is set to 50% by default. It also works on a range of 0% to 100%.

The Source Direction slider specifies the point at which the reflector begins its effect (i.e. where the reflector position is in relation to the camera). The Source Direction is set to 0° by default and works from 0° to 360°.

Tip: This is a great filter to use to add a little directional light into a portrait! It will open up the shadows a bit and add a warm (or cool) tone to your subject.