Stretching diffusion/gels on a 4x4 or 2x3 frame

omnikron

omnikron

Well-known member
Does anybody have any 'best practices' recommendations for how to attach gel or diffusion to a Matthews flag frame? It's the one with rounded edges... or is that the wrong kind of frame for diffusion and gels and only meant for fabric?
 
Frames for diffusion or gel are flat. Typically 'Snot Tape" is applied to the frame & diffusion/gel is stretched over.

Flag frames can be used but then you'd use tape for the connection.
 
I used to only have flag frames and this is what I did:
I made Velcro tubes by getting some long wide Velcro strips - I think either 1-inch wide or 1.5-inches wide - I wrapped the Velcro around the top and bottom rods on the flag frame - actually I just folded it over the rods and then I stapled all along the flat Velcro edges together so that the Velcro held as tightly to the rod as possible. Make sense?
This Velcro tube can now obviously just slide right onto the top and bottom rods, but it still basically stays put.
Then I used narrow Velcro stripping - like 1/2-inch - and either stapled it along the 2 matching edges of the gels/diffusor or used the sticky-backed type.

The Velcro on the edge of the gels really had no impact on their general use, and I could them throw them on the flag frames in two seconds flat. Slip the Velcro tubes on the rods, and then stick the Velcro'ed gels right on.

On later duplicates I put Gaffer's tape on the back of the wide Velcro so that when I made it into a tube it would grip the flag frame rods a little better.

I hope this makes sense. I know it would be easier to just show you a picture, but I don't think I have any of them left right now.

*Diffusion is often sort of just "torn off as needed" but that's where the sticky-backed thin Velcro comes in - you can spool off a few strips, peel the backing off, and stick it on your edges in about the same time it takes to use paper tape or clips.
 
I gaffer tape mine on, it's a slow and laborious process to then change diffusions, but it keeps everything rock solid for transport and in the wind.
 
Thanks everyone. What is the advantage of the flat frame? Are the round frames meant for sewing fabric around? If I go ahead with the round frames, are there any tips for not getting wrinkles? Start from one corner and work my way out?
 
I prefer knife edge frames for this, but have used extra round frames when I had to. I always tend to use 3M ATG snot tape for this. Yes start from one corner and work your way out.
 
omnikron said:
Thanks everyone. What is the advantage of the flat frame? Are the round frames meant for sewing fabric around? If I go ahead with the round frames, are there any tips for not getting wrinkles? Start from one corner and work my way out?
Click to expand...
Flat frames have more surface area for tape to adhere to and they are much less flexible than the round ones. Skinning them up is best done with two people holding two corners each. Tape two corners down, keeping tension on the material as you stick it on, then tape the other two corners. Then get all the edges, keeping a little tension towards the middle of each side.
 
Thanks everyone, I did it today and it worked great on my round frames. I'm thinking of buy 3.5x3.5 knife blade frames since they can fit in a car unlike the 4x4 frames. Any thoughts on that?
 
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