A system flash is an external flash that is designed to communicate with a specific brand of camera. This cooperation allows automatic functions such as "through-the-lens" exposure metering, abbreviated TTL, in which the camera itself determines the necessary flash power for a properly lit scene. In the context of softboxes, the system flash acts as a light source. The softbox itself does not create any light, it only shapes and softens the light that is put into it. For use with a softbox, the system flash is usually placed outside the camera, most often on a tripod using a special mount that also serves to secure the softbox. The combination of flash and softbox achieves the conversion of the small and sharp light from the flash into a large and soft illuminating area. The resulting light is then diffused, eliminating hard shadows and is softer, which is used to achieve a more natural look when photographing people or subjects.