Creative Mask Mode: Quick Setup & UsageUpdated 17 days ago

Creative Mask Mode lets you capture multiple unique lighting setups quickly, giving clients more looks in less time. It’s perfect for high-volume, fast-paced photography or maximizing variety in a single session.

What Is Creative Mask Mode?

Creative Mask Mode is a feature that allows you to program different strobes or lights to fire in specific sequences across multiple frames. By assigning your lights to fire in different frames, you can change the look or background quickly without adjusting your setup between shots.

Why Use Creative Mask Mode?

• Save Time

  • Capture multiple unique styles in one quick session.
    
    

• Increase Sales

  • Offer clients more options, from varied backgrounds to distinctive lighting, boosting final product appeal.
    
    

• Adaptability

  • Whether you’re shooting sports teams with limited access to athletes or high-volume portrait sessions, it provides a range of looks efficiently.

How To Set Up Creative Mask Mode

1. Dial-In Exposures

• Pre-set each light’s power in manual mode "M" and confirm correct exposure before assigning them to sequences.
• Creative Mask Mode is only available when the strobe is set to manual "M"
• Adjust exposures from your trigger, any power adjustments made on the strobe itself will be overwritten by the connected trigger. 
  
  

2. Activate Creative Mask

• Press the menu button on the top right of the touch screen until "Menu 3" is displayed. You will also see “Mask” at the top of the listed settings.
• Turn on Creative Mask by touching the "Mask" setting then select "On".
• If the option is Grayed out double-check that the strobe is set to manual "M"
• You will know the setting is activated when you can select "Frames" and "SEQ". Additionally, when you press the Home button the Creative Mask icon will be displayed on the bottom left of the touch screen (a box with a silhouette).

3. Select the Number of Frames

• Under the "Frames" tab in Menu 3, choose how many frames or scenes you want. For example, set 6 frames if you plan to use 6 different lighting variations.

4. Assign Lights to Frames

• All: If you need a light to fire every time, set it to fire in all frames.
• 1-6: Tell each strobe which frames to fire in (e.g., a background light fires only on frames 1, 2, and 3; an edge light fires on frames 4, 5, and 6).

5. Take Photos!

• Now that you have your lights placed, and exposures dialed in, the amount of frames is designated on each strobe, and each strobe is assigned to a frame sequence, your strobes will now fire in the order and sequence you assigned.
• Your first photo will be frame 1, the second will be frame 2, and so on until frame 6 when the cycle will repeat. Getting you the different looks you set up in seconds!

Shooting Tips

• Posing Changes: Ask your subject to change expressions or poses after a set of frames to maximize variety.
  
• Background vs. Subject Lighting: You can switch backgrounds (gels or patterns) or alter main lights for a different look each time. Consider using a white background and lights with colored gels to get different colored backgrounds.
• Recycle Times: Spacing out the usage of high-power lights across frames can help avoid misfires due to recycling delays.
• Do Not Skip Individual Light Setup: Always confirm exposure and power levels separately before assigning sequences.
• Always Use The Trigger for Adjustments: Rely on your FJ wireless trigger for power changes to streamline workflow.
• Optical Triggering Will Be Disabled: When using Creative Mask mode, optical triggering will not be available.