Alternative to Obscene Amounts of Gel?

T

tommygdawg

Well-known member
Hey all,

So, a little while back I bought a huge roll of ND gel. As I've used this on windows (works well most of the time), it has become more and more unwieldy. I can't simply roll it back up, instead I have all these randomly sized huge sheets of ND gel that are just ridiculously awkward. On top of that, they've become fairly crinkled and it tends to show. Does anyone know of good alternatives to using gel on windows? Also, the same question applies for if I want to CTO my windows. I simply don't have the budget for HMI's to compete with sunlight, so my best bet is using CTO on windows...but I run into the same issues: wildly unwieldy gels. Thoughts?
 
Stretched black net is one alternative to NDs.

Another is letting the windows blow out, possibly with some white sheers covering them.

Or net(s), & sheers, combined.
 
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Yeah, cheap black mosquito net is what I use - doesn't solve your CTO problem though, but enough for NDing the windows down.
 
I've used NDs on windows a lot. And I hear you on the wrinkles problem. It show very quickly. I've been thinking about this for some time now but haven't actually tried it yet. Has anybody tried ironing these gels? I know it sounds silly but, if you put a cloth under the iron and do it really carefully, maybe you could smooth the gel out?
As for having multiple cut out filters, you have to look at it this way. This filters aren't meant to be used on and on. You have to buy new sheets.
You can't just buy one sheet (usually 7m long) and expect it to last a few years:) When it gets wrinkled and cut up beyond of what you can use it's time to buy new ones. They aren't all that expensive - app. 70€ for 7m x 1.5m or something like that.
 
Thanks for the thoughts everyone! Has anyone tried using large frames for this? For instance, instead of using a 4x4 frame for silk, is there any way to use it with some sort of ND and/or CT color filtration? If I could buy a few frames and just keep them for permanent usage like this, that would be really helpful.
 
I roll them up and sometimes I can get a couple or a few uses out of them. They look so darn good new that if they get abrasion scratches on them, I don't like to use them. Same thing with wrinkles. Then I cut them up and use them for knocking down practicals. They don't call them "expendables" for nuthin' ;)

Postmaster said:
Yeah, cheap black mosquito net is what I use - doesn't solve your CTO problem though, but enough for NDing the windows down.
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Mosquito net, huh? That sounds interesting. Where can you get it? Any idea, approximately, how many stops?
 
You can buy that in any supermarket or hardware store here in Germany.
It's a black (or white, but I only use black) nylon net, much like the stuff you use on flags.
Depending on the brand, one layer is between a 1.5 to 2 stops. If that is not enough you can use a second layer, like a double net scrim.
It comes on rolls of 4 meters by 1,50 meter and is about 5-8 bucks a roll.

Works also great to ND down china balls.

Frank
 
Black net is really handy - in the US there's all kinds in the fabric stores. If you use flo's, you can just wrap it around 'em to tone 'em down.

For windows though, you have to watch it - it can act like a polarizer if it overlaps itself. Stretch it fairly tight and watch shooting it an extreme angles. Even soft wrinkles will give you the polarized effect, since you're looking at the "holes" through varying angles. Gives you weird moire patterns.
 
I cant believe that you use mosquito nets:) It really sounds like moire waiting to happen. And you can shot at the window and the net wouldn't get noticed at all?

Postmaster said:
Depending on the brand, one layer is between a 1.5 to 2 stops. If that is not enough you can use a second layer, like a double net scrim.
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This isn't much. Usually one would need 3 to 5 stops. But then again it's better then nothing:)
 
Get 2 large pieces of clear plexi from Home Depot, 4x6 or cut smaller. Sandwich nd gel between and seal. Put it outside of windows. You can tilt slightly to get rid of reflections. No wrinkles.
 
Michael Carter said:
Man, two layers of that stuff - it must have moire like a psychedelic 60's poster?
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Usually they are out of focus. I never had my talent close enough to a window, to have moire popping up.
Maybe in a car shot - but I don't hang bobinette on cars anyway, I use adhesive foil for that.
 
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