 Angie M. Nemanic |
GELS/FILTERS ON STROBE LIGHTS I have been wanting to purchase gels/filters for my strobes, but I'm not sure where to start. I've done some research but I'd like some thoughts from people who have used them before I head to the photo store. Any suggestions on the types of gels to use with strobes and if I need any special attachments other than the gel and some clothes pins to hold them to the light. I have two 750 calumet travelites. Thanks...
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Mark Feldstein |
Howdy. Before you rush down to the store, consider what you plan on using these for and how you plan to use them. Gels are available for all sorts of different effects color and black and white. They're also available for different sizes. The best way to attach them to studio lights is using a "gel holder" which is nothing more than a hinged metal frame the gel sits in and then clamps/attaches to the reflector on your light. Different size reflectors use different size holders and you can also place them in clips that are provided on modifiers like barn doors that also ride on the rim of a reflector. They can also be attached to various light modifiers like scrims, gobos, cutters and flags depending on what you're shooting and how. Calumet would be a good source for the holders for Travelites but there are also generic knockoffs from other manufacturers like Bowens that makes Travelites I believe, also Lowell and Norman Enterprises. The holders are available at fairly reasonable prices from places like B&H. Just measure the diameter of the rim of your reflector and most commercial holders can be adjusted to fit the rims of most similar sizes. You can use clothes pins or gaffers tape to hold them in place but real holders work best for obvious reasons and cause less wear and tears to the gel itself. You can get sample packs of various kinds of gels in a single size of one type or another. Again which depends on your intended use. The best source for that I've found is a motion picture supply house, theatrical lighting stores, etc. The industry standard (both for still and motion pix gels) IMHO is Rosco cinegels or Roscolux gels. They work well on hot lights and studio strobes because they're fairly durable, made of heavier material than most other gels and don't fade quickly. Also, a gel can be trimmed to size to work on smaller lights like on-camera flash units, say a Nikon SB or Vivitar, etc. AND you can place them behind a retaining ring in a lens shade or lens filter pack. Nice touch, to use them just for shooting without strobes. Here's a link to get you going Rosco makes a swatch book with samples of all their gels. Some dealers will give you the book others charge you for it but before you start buying them in bulk or even sample packs you should get one to see what's generally available and score a few brochures to show you which sample packs are available in what sizes.
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John H. Siskin |
Hi Angie & also Mark, I use gels pretty frequently. I like to use Rosco tuf gels as they do not burn, they melt but they don’t burn. I tend to use the warming gels 1/4 through full CTO and blues. The CTO for people and the blue for backgrounds. I have used other colors including a deep magenta, but I find myself in the blues more often. I have used gel holders and small spring clamps, both work. In a windy place the gel filter holders work much better. Gels are fun! Thanks, John Siskin
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Oliver Anderson |
I use Rosco as well. bought them off EBay. Only guy good quality otherwise they melt. the Rosco's are expensive but work it...Blue and Red are my most used but I've got lucky and bought out an old studios collection.
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