Gel filters question

Nikolai

I never had or worked with any before, so I feel like I'm missing a basic info.

I currently have the following flash/strobe untis:

1) standard issue on-camera Canon 580EXII - 1 unit
2) "potato masher" SunPak Auto 555Ex - 2 units
3) Profoto Compact-R monolights - 2 units (600 and 300)

I'd like to get a set of gel filters (both color and ND) that I can use with any of those. I understand, however, that I may be out of luck, since the shape of monolights is very different from the battery-powered 580 and 555. Morever, when I look at b&H or Adorama gel selection I can't see if there is a set of filters to fit my monolights at all.
For 580 and 555 I think I can use pretty much any flexible one and simply tape them over the heads, correct?

Can anybody help me to clear this issue out?

TIA! :thumb

Scott_Quier

Nik,

You can purchase gel material in rolls - looks kinda like window film - and cut it to size. For your strobes, you might be able to find gel holders. If not, then cut it a little large and hold it in place with rubber bands or tape.

The gel material is not expensive either, so it's not going to hurt to buy a lot of it and cut it over-sized.

Nikolai

Scott_Quier wrote:

Nik,

You can purchase gel material in rolls - looks kinda like window film - and cut it to size. For your strobes, you might be able to find gel holders. If not, then cut it a little large and hold it in place with rubber bands or tape.

The gel material is not expensive either, so it's not going to hurt to buy a lot of it and cut it over-sized.

Scott,
thank you!
this sounds a my way to go.. :-)
Now, where do I get them rolls for cheap? ;-)

John Mueller

I found a template to cut the gels to fit right over the heads of the 580 and 580 MK2 no velcro or rubberbands
SOMEWHERE HERE

darkdragon

Scott_Quier wrote:

Nik,

You can purchase gel material in rolls - looks kinda like window film - and cut it to size. For your strobes, you might be able to find gel holders. If not, then cut it a little large and hold it in place with rubber bands or tape.

The gel material is not expensive either, so it's not going to hurt to buy a lot of it and cut it over-sized.

I hold gels on my lights with C-47 clips (aka clothespins).

Nikolai

John Mueller wrote:

I found a template to cut the gels to fit right over the heads of the 580 and 580 MK2 no velcro or rubberbands
SOMEWHERE HERE

Thanks John!
Where do I get a good variety of small size sheets at a reasonable price?

Scott_Quier

Nikolai wrote:

Thanks John!
Where do I get a good variety of small size sheets at a reasonable price?

Where do you get the rest of your photographic equipment? At B&H, of course. At least, that's where I got my (CTO and green) gels.

Here's a start (link)

Art Scott

Nikolai wrote:

Thanks John!
Where do I get a good variety of small size sheets at a reasonable price?

If you have a threatrical supply house near you ....then you are in luck or order directly for Rosco.....I use what used to be called a Z-Frame(that was a Spiratone name not sure what they are called by who ever sells them now....I believe I saw them on Adorama or B&H site) for holding my gels in from of my studio strobes and also in front of my sunpak 622's while on light stands.....Gels for the bakcground are the perfect way to create and unlimited amount of backgrounds with the least effort...you can transform a blak background into nearly any color imaginable.......

Nikolai

Art, Scott - thanks, guys!

Art - did you mean "white"? Or gray? I mean, black will prolly stay black no matter what you do to it, or at least it will be too dark to notice..

cmason

Nik, I bought this for use on my 430EX and 420EX, works perfectly...will work on the 580 as well. Perfect size for a flash, and every gel you could want.

Roscolux Swatchbook: $0.01 (no kidding)

with this you can then choose which larger sizes for your monolights too

Art Scott

Nikolai wrote:

Art, Scott - thanks, guys!

Art - did you mean "white"? Or gray? I mean, black will prolly stay black no matter what you do to it, or at least it will be too dark to notice..

Nik.......
black absorbs the color






The top photo is a blk bckgrnd with a magenta gel high and low (2 lights on bckgrnd) the second is the same configuration with an orange (do not remember the rosco number bi=ut it was an orangey-orange........

here is a shot taken on the stage I used to work on..the floor is a rolled "plastic" called marley(black in colour) and the backdrop is called a cyc (off -white muslin)



It looks really saturated but there are 6 1000 watt halogen lights just out of sight line.....My first background was a savage paper ...thunder grey....which according to the salesman this dark grey would "hold the colour".....well the results weren't what I wanted.....white also reflects too much of the light...but black absorbs and holds the color.....

I know the cyc looks great but it takes all 6 of those lights with the same gel to achieve that kind of saturation.....

The first 2 shots were done with White Lightning 5000's on either 1/2 or full power and about 4-6 feet from the background and the main lights were also WL 5000 at full power.........

HTH

Nikolai

cmason wrote:

Nik, I bought this for use on my 430EX and 420EX, works perfectly...will work on the 580 as well. Perfect size for a flash, and every gel you could want.

Roscolux Swatchbook: $0.01 (no kidding)

with this you can then choose which larger sizes for your monolights too

Awesome! Exactly what I needed to start!!
(...and of course they are out of stock...)

Nikolai

Art Scott wrote:

Nik.......
black absorbs the color
...
HTH

Art, got it, thank you very much!

Art Scott

Nik,
Glad I could be of help........


Peruse thru this page...it shows all the colors currently available in the Roscolux line.....if you go up to the top of the page there is some really great info on gels.....here is a link to gobos also
...........link to roscolene gels............

Last a link to all the gels they sell....this is whewre you can decide if you want the most popular type (roscolux) or the most expensive....it is a great site for those with a wild imaginative mind.....if you ever want to paint your own bkgrnd....then the rosco line of paints are the best...especially the Super Saturated line...this stuff can be diluted like no other paint and still hold the color very well...........

I almost forgot about GAM GELS...
{Great American MarketingHome page}.....this is an interesting page.....

ChatKat

GREAT INFORMATION!!!

Hey, Nik - I am in the market for Gels too. If there is a big quanitity I'd be interested in going halfs with you.

I do have the gel holder for the profoto monolights. It is the same piece that holds the barndoors and you need to hold the snoot. Otherwise, Gaffer's tape works great - cut and tape the gels.

Art Scott wrote:

Nik,
Glad I could be of help........


Peruse thru this page...it shows all the colors currently available in the Roscolux line.....if you go up to the top of the page there is some really great info on gels.....here is a link to gobos also
...........link to roscolene gels............

Last a link to all the gels they sell....this is whewre you can decide if you want the most popular type (roscolux) or the most expensive....it is a great site for those with a wild imaginative mind.....if you ever want to paint your own bkgrnd....then the rosco line of paints are the best...especially the Super Saturated line...this stuff can be diluted like no other paint and still hold the color very well...........

I almost forgot about GAM GELS...
{Great American MarketingHome page}.....this is an interesting page.....

Nikolai

ChatKat wrote:

GREAT INFORMATION!!!

Hey, Nik - I am in the market for Gels too. If there is a big quanitity I'd be interested in going halfs with you.

I do have the gel holder for the profoto monolights. It is the same piece that holds the barndoors and you need to hold the snoot. Otherwise, Gaffer's tape works great - cut and tape the gels.

Kathy, that's great! Thanks for the info.
BTW, I was looking for the holder/snoot/barndoors, but could not find anything for compact series. Which ones are they, if you don't mind? I'm about to order a next batch from B&H, it would be great to include those...
EDIT: nm, found it: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/141149-REG/Profoto_505_523_Grid_and_Filter_Holder.html

Nikolai

Art Scott wrote:

Nik,
Glad I could be of help........
...

Art, you're a wealth of knowledge! Thank you very much!

ChatKat

That's it!
Yes, Nik - that's it! I got the snoot too. Next for me are some grids.

Art, yes, the infor is priceless. I am thinking of creating some backdrops too. Thank you so much.

Nikolai wrote:

Kathy, that's great! Thanks for the info.
BTW, I was looking for the holder/snoot/barndoors, but could not find anything for compact series. Which ones are they, if you don't mind? I'm about to order a next batch from B&H, it would be great to include those...
EDIT: nm, found it: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/141149-REG/Profoto_505_523_Grid_and_Filter_Holder.html

Nikolai

ChatKat wrote:

Yes, Nik - that's it! I got the snoot too. Next for me are some grids.

Is this suff pricey or what .. Every single piece is $100 and above.. Holder, snoot, doors, grid... Just to get a set of these accessories it's like $700..
Man, I need a wedding call pronto..

mr peas

Nikolai wrote:

Is this suff pricey or what<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/eek7.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" > .. Every single piece is $100 and above.. Holder, snoot, doors, grid... Just to get a set of these accessories it's like $700.. <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/headscratch.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" >
Man, I need a wedding call pronto.. <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/rolleyes1.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" >

Go ghetto- fabulous and DIY.

http://www.diyphotography.net/studio_lighting_homemade_gridspot
<<homemade grid

http://www.diyphotography.net/diy-homemade-speedlite-snoot
<<homemade snoot

As for barn-doors, I remember looking at a set of cardboard clips that looks like a normal document clip but has two sides to it, so that you can connect two documents or two pieces of card board or.. one stuck to the strobe housing and the other to a piece of cardboard, get two or four of those and you can build a barn door.

I also made a very large soft-white screen to push the flash through, I haven't put it to use yet, when I do I'll show you how easy it easy to make one.

These things get mighty expensive but if you register your photography business, you can get a lot of tax reductions for they are for use in your business.

But trying to make something on your own isn't a bad thing, you'll be surprised how your homemade stuff can do.

: )

Let me know when you find those gel filters online or at a store, I'd like to purchase a set too to try out as a background or hairlight color adjuster.

Thanks to everyone who replied! Lots of good information here.

Nikolai

mr peas wrote:

Go ghetto- fabulous and DIY.

http://www.diyphotography.net/studio_lighting_homemade_gridspot
<<homemade grid

http://www.diyphotography.net/diy-homemade-speedlite-snoot
<<homemade snoot

As for barn-doors, I remember looking at a set of cardboard clips that looks like a normal document clip but has two sides to it, so that you can connect two documents or two pieces of card board or.. one stuck to the strobe housing and the other to a piece of cardboard, get two or four of those and you can build a barn door.

I also made a very large soft-white screen to push the flash through, I haven't put it to use yet, when I do I'll show you how easy it easy to make one.

These things get mighty expensive but if you register your photography business, you can get a lot of tax reductions for they are for use in your business.

But trying to make something on your own isn't a bad thing, you'll be surprised how your homemade stuff can do.

: )

Let me know when you find those gel filters online or at a store, I'd like to purchase a set too to try out as a background or hairlight color adjuster.

Thanks to everyone who replied! Lots of good information here.

Thanks! That's what Ihave been conjuring in my mind! Gels I will buy, but paying $700 for something I can do myself on a weekend - I'll think twice about that...

BTW, great DIY site, some amazing projects, I can't way to try them..:-)

mr peas

Nikolai wrote:

Thanks! That's what Ihave been conjuring in my mind! Gels I will buy, but paying $700 for something I can do myself on a weekend - I'll think twice about that...

BTW, great DIY site, some amazing projects, I can't way to try them..:-)

I've been building my own pieces for my home-studio, I'll post it up and give you a pm when I have it all ready. Its kind of fun. My white-screen cost me like 15 bucks to make and if I implement it correctly, it will work like a large softbox. Backgrounds are harder to come by, good muslins costs good money per yard, I think its just best to order them from Ebay or something similar.

Going to def try to find where to get some good filters to use for the black bg as Art said, I've been looking around for a while but still unable to find any place in town that may carry them. I was thinking about getting some glass pieces and have them stained or tinted different colors.

But yeah, show us what you got when you're all done. Its always fun to be working on your own home studio. My next stop is making that grid for my hairlight then a portable background hauling system. Ballin' on a budget here, we gotta' play our cards right!

ChatKat

Think high end
I think there are many things you can build on your own. But I also think that if you're targeting the upscale market and you show off your gear which includes things like tinfoil or other pieces that look like you are cutting corners you will make your clients think that you will cut corners on their work. These are things that can make a difference in your brand and marketing. You are selling image. Your image is important - think about the message you are giving to your client.

This is not meant to say that if you are capable of doing some of the creative stuff to end up with the same result you should not do it but to say that your finished product (studio or other gear) should reflect the same value you want the client to perceive about your business.

So for me, I am not handy enough to build a filter holder. I bought the best gear for the result. An extra $100-200 will eventually come out of my profit but my time is also worth something. If I can take the couple hours and market my studio and get another job that will pay for that piece of gear, then I'd rather do that.

Nikolai

ChatKat wrote:

I think there are many things you can build on your own. But I also think that if you're targeting the upscale market and you show off your gear which includes things like tinfoil or other pieces that look like you are cutting corners you will make your clients think that you will cut corners on their work. These are things that can make a difference in your brand and marketing. You are selling image. Your image is important - think about the message you are giving to your client.

This is not meant to say that if you are capable of doing some of the creative stuff to end up with the same result you should not do it but to say that your finished product (studio or other gear) should reflect the same value you want the client to perceive about your business.

So for me, I am not handy enough to build a filter holder. I bought the best gear for the result. An extra $100-200 will eventually come out of my profit but my time is also worth something. If I can take the couple hours and market my studio and get another job that will pay for that piece of gear, then I'd rather do that.

Kathy, I agree about high end, but...
1) I like DYI
2) I'd like to experiment first

Currently I have enough ideas to try that would cost me hundreds if not thousands of dollars if I start bying the top end stuff. I can test them for cheap on the TF* work and if I like it something, I can eventually replace it with a good solid pro stuff.

claudermilk

Hey, Nik, have you checked Irvine Pro Photo? I expect they ought to have some gels with all the studio gear they carry. It might even be cost competitive with the 'net (they've surprised me in the past). Just a thought.

Nikolai

claudermilk wrote:

Hey, Nik, have you checked Irvine Pro Photo? I expect they ought to have some gels with all the studio gear they carry. It might even be cost competitive with the 'net (they've surprised me in the past). Just a thought.

Thnk you Chris, I will check it out!

Stagehand

Another gel manufacturer is Lee filters...

http://www.leefilters.com/

I use both with equal veracity.

I especially use the color correction filters when lighting for cameras...

and this is useful. too:

http://members.aol.com/dazipguy/ColorConversion.html

Nikolai

Stagehand wrote:

Another gel manufacturer is Lee filters...
http://www.leefilters.com/
I use both with equal veracity.
I especially use the color correction filters when lighting for cameras...
and this is useful. too:
http://members.aol.com/dazipguy/ColorConversion.html

Thank you! Nice info!

mr peas

If you DIY right, you can build very professional looking gear. But lets face it, when you're just starting, you can't just be buying everything you see, you have to manage your funds. But I know a number of professionals using some of the oddest things in their arsenals but no-one can complain with the results they put out. When you accumulate more clients and funds come rolling in though, you have to 'upgrade' sooner or later.

There are things you can't flake on though, backgrounds, dependable lighting systems, camera bodies and lenses, etc.

But grids, flash diffusers, make-shift background stands, haha.. I have no problem with the ghetto-fabulous as long as the results are one less ghetto and one more fabulous.

Nikolai

mr peas wrote:

If you DIY right, you can build very professional looking gear. But lets face it, when you're just starting, you can't just be buying everything you see, you have to manage your funds. But I know a number of professionals using some of the oddest things in their arsenals but no-one can complain with the results they put out. When you accumulate more clients and funds come rolling in though, you have to 'upgrade' sooner or later.

There are things you can't flake on though, backgrounds, dependable lighting systems, camera bodies and lenses, etc.

But grids, flash diffusers, make-shift background stands, haha.. I have no problem with the ghetto-fabulous as long as the results are one less ghetto and one more fabulous.

My line of thoughts exactly.
I'm fairly handy and I think I can build those things in a way no one will get even a slightest idea when they come from - not that they will be looking for the diy-clues in the first place . I mean, unless I leave the white PVC pipe or a brown carton box with a UPS shipping label still attached to it in a plain site - who'd care what is that black light-emitting thingie made of or how much does it cost?

ChatKat

True

mr peas wrote:

There are things you can't flake on though, backgrounds, dependable lighting systems, camera bodies and lenses, etc.

But grids, flash diffusers, make-shift background stands, haha.. I have no problem with the ghetto-fabulous as long as the results are one less ghetto and one more fabulous.

Yes, that's true. I was lucky enough a year ago to take a lighting class at the Santa Fe workshops and experience all kinds of very high end lights and modifiers in their studio. I do think there are some things you can be creative with - but - I also think that depending on your clients awareness and knowledge, if you can't make it appear pro and you are charging high end dollars for the results - you need to have the right stuff.