Strobe Lighting Gel GTG?

[twoeyesopen]

Hi all,



Warm late afternoon sun. Trying to isolate the single flower with flash while darkening the background. The CTO gel that comes with SB800 was not up to the task. You can see the blue color of the flash. Fixing it with a stronger gel would have been much easier than fixing in post.

So, I need some gels for my strobes. I looked on Ebay and there are some packages, but none that I liked. And after some investigation I figured out the Ebay sets are not cheap. I am CHEAP!!!!!

20” X 24” gels can be bought locally for $6.25 each. In stock at Texas Scenic on Jackwood near 410 and Bandera. Each sheet would make 40 2” X 6” gels that would fit most strobes. That’s about 17 cents each. But I don’t need 40 1/4CTO and 40 1/8CTO and 40 1/2CTO etc.

I want 6 – 8 of each of these:
CTO 1/8,1/4,1/2, full
CYB 1/8,1/4,1/2, full
PlusGreen 1/8,1/4,1/2 full

And some Red,Blue,Double Blue,Magenta,Yellow, Primary green

I need 3 to 6 co-conspirators. My list above is about 150 2” X 6” gels. I figure $20.00 to $30.00 buys enough gels for a lifetime. You have to provide your own velcro dots or gaffer tape for attachment. I have a rolling print cutter which should do the cutting.

Anyone up for a “Gel Cut and Shoot GTG”? After we cut the gels we could get in some practice outside for warming flash to match the sun. Some shots inside for matching fluorescent. Blue or red backgrounds. Ideas welcome.

Anybody can join in and increase the selection list. If there is a desire for a specific color you have to find the ones you want on the Rosco website. Or we can decrease the selection list if you think it’s too many.

I will front the money ($120.00) for the list above, so I would really need your commitment for your share. If the project gets too big for my up front budget, I would ask someone else to step up and help with the initial purchase.

We would also need a date and a place to cut and shoot. An EXPERT would also help. Ideas welcome

If you are interested, add a post or PM me or do whatever the protocol is

May 9, 2009 12:00 noon

Participants
1.Schlitz - Dave -
2.Toby - Bryan Maybe
3.Allen - ASPhoto
4.
5.
6.

[Schlitz]

David - I was watching some Strobist videos the other day, and have been thinking about getting some gels for different background colocrs. I'd be interested in jumping in.

[Toby]

I'm willing to pay my part for a set. Thanks for offering! Let me know when you need the money.

[twoeyesopen]

Allright Dave and Bryan. I'm pumped about this.

[asphoto]

I might be game depending on the date.

[twoeyesopen]

Allen, I will gladly nominate you for official date setter, if that will help. I know your schedule is not set in stone and I am flexible on pretty much any weekend.
Are you in on splitting the cost for gels?

[hotshot38]

Wow...you guys are cheap. You know, I was down to Texas Scenic a few weeks ago to buy some gels (yep, I had an extra $25 laying around) and they have plenty of Rosco pallet samples in a fish bowl as you walk in the door. They're free! And, if you grab 4 of them you could probably rip out the samples and tape 4 of them together with invisible tape. Of course, you'd still incur the cost of fuel, tire wear, possibly wear and tear on your windshield wipers, etc.

But seriously folks. Another solution might be to buy a variety pack of gels from AlienBees. Although, pound for pound I'm not sure if it would any cheaper. They come in an 8x10 or 8x11" format (I haven't measured because I'm too cheap to buy a measuring tape). AND, your color selection would not be as customized as you might wish, although probably come very close to covering your needs. Just my one cent worth (hey, I found I can get twice as many opinions by splitting the costs).

http://www.alienbees.com/filters.html#CF20

Good luck in your colorful quest.

p.s.- The road coming out of Texas Scenic can be a little tricky getting back on 410 due to some construction backups....try not go during heavy traffic periods (including lunch time).

[Toby]

Allen,

I too am fairly flexible on dates given a week or two ahead of time. Looking forward to it!

[asphoto]

May 2nd or 3rd should work for me. I was looking at getting gels for my speedlights and my Profotos.

David - The gels you're looking at, can they handle a good amount of heat?

[KdLaneJr]

Allen, the roscolux gels and the other brand texas scenics sells are commonly used for stage productions in front of spot lights. They handle heat pretty well.

[twoeyesopen]

Sean, thanks for the heads up about the AB gels. You are probably right about the cost beiing about the same, but the reason I dreamed this idea up was to get the colors I wanted in the quantity I wanted. I hope it fits for everyone else.

twoeyesopen added 6 Minutes and 33 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

See you throw out the questions and the knowledge just comes pouring in. Thanks Ken

Allen, what size will fit the Profoto? They may make a size cut specifically for a specific brand.

May 2 or 3 is fine with me. Now we just need a place and time.

[asphoto]

I live on the NE side of SA and my studio floor will be in by then.

Looks like 16" by 16" would work on the Profotos on the zoom reflector.

[twoeyesopen]

I went to Texas Scenic today and got 15 different shades and colors. They have an almost uncountable array of colors.

Allen, they did not have a specific size for the Prophoto. Rosco probably makes them but the cust service person was unaware of that size.

Looking forward to splaying the world with color.

[asphoto]

This weekend is no good for me, I have to finish my flooring and do some other things.

[Toby]

I leave for a three-week gig in Argentina on the May 10th, so if we can get together before then, that would be great. Thanks again for offering this up!