Lighting gels/ Which ones are worth having?

Steve Shovlar

Steve Shovlar

DVXuser Sponsor
There's a hell of a lot of different colours and diffussers out there.

Which ones would you buy or do you use the most? What are the best ones to have in your library that may be needed from the list below?

10 - meduim yellow

15 - deep straw

19 - fire

46 - dark magenta

48 - rose purple

79 - just blue

101 - yellow

102 - light amber

104 - deep amber

109 - light salmon

113 - magenta

116 - blue green

139 - prim green

141 - bright blue

151 - gold tint

157 - pink

165 - daylight blue

170 - deep lavender

179 - chrome orange

180 - dark lavender

181 - congo blue

189 - cosmetic silver moss

200 - double CT blue

201 - full CT blue

203 - quarter CT blue

204 - full CTO

207 - CT orange + .3 neutral density

208 - CT orange + .6 neutral density

209 - .3 neutral density

210 - .6 neutral density

212 - LCT yellow

213 - WF green

213a - flame green

214 - full tough spin

216 - white diffusion

218 - eigth CTB

219 - fluorescent green

220 - white frost

225 - ND frost

226 - UV filter

228 - brushed silk

237 - CID to tungsten

238 - CSI to tungsten

243 - fluourescent green 3600 kelvin

245 - half plus green

247 - lee minus green

250 - half white diffusion

270 - scrim
 
The party color gels are a matter of personal taste. For me, I can't go without CTO and CTB gels of varying strengths. That's required for me.
 
I have a couple of Arri HMI's, and a few tungsten fresnels. If I want to get the fresnels the same colour temp as the HMI's, what would I need?
 
Full CTB gels on the tungstens, and be prepared to lose about 2 stops of output. Or you can Full CTO the HMIs and you'll lose far less light. It all depends on whether you need to light at 3200k or 5600K.
 
I think a healthy supply of CTO and CTB quarter, half, and full each is essential. As is some form of diffusion. I use opal for smaller lights and something a little stronger for larger lights (usually whatever I have stolen from a past film shoot). On rare occasions, straw is nice. But fact is, unless you are shooting film and going back to film without a DI, most every other look can be achieved with relative ease in post.

I do use some lens filters however, as there are some things that they do that post FX just can't do as well (in my opinion). Black Pro Mist 1 and a Polarizer to start.
 
I find 1/4 CTO is more than enough in mosts cases for warming up lights. I'll also carry 1/2 CTB. With weaker strengths you can always double up. When used for coloured effects it's all personal taste. A good mix of CTB and CTO is good for correcting colour balance.

With diffusion I find 216 too heavy. 250 is nice. Opal (410) is my favourite. Even when doubled up it still seems better than 250...again it's all preference.
 
every gel has its use, plan your shoot then buy your gels. If you want just a color correction gel set, get the ctb, cto and minus green.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top