Bounce card.

A small white plastic or paper card either attached to the flash head of an electronic flash unit or built in as a flip-out panel.

The card is usually attached to the rear side of the flash housing so that its flat side faces forward when the flash head is pointed upwards. It’s there to direct a bit of light forward to the subject if the flash unit is in bounce mode and thus directing the bulk of its light upward.

Light from the bounce card is used to provide a little fill light on the subject, perhaps fill in shadows on the face, maybe add some catch light to the eyes, etc.

cf. bounce flash, catchlight, fill flash, flash unit.

Entry last updated 2002-04-24. Term 150 of 1487.

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