Any DIY color gel setups?

[Lidor7]

I did a quick search and found a couple bulky and strange looking setups. I was wondering if you guys had some good ways of attaching color gels to your flashes.

Here's what I envision: Get some tiny pieces of velcro (do they sell little velcro dots somewhere?) and attach/glue/tape/etc it on either side of the flash. And then have strips of color gels with little pieces of velcro on it as well to stick onto the flash. Seems like a simple way to do it.

But are there any places that sell little pieces of velcro or do I have to fashion a few pieces by cutting? Also, where can I get cheap color gels (i.e. colored transparency sheets).

Also, if you guys have any other ideas or cool setups, please show them.

[Cybnew]

go to http://www.rosco.com/ and request a sample book...they are pretty much the same shape as the speedlight flash heads

[bieber]

I have velcro'd Rosco samples and velcro wrapped around the heads of all my flashes, works great.

[ghostman]

I've actually considered it, but haven't acted up on it yet. You can get color gels by ordering swatch books from Rosco, Lee, GAM or Apollo. It's a book of gel samples, but the samples are the size of most flashes. If you're not concerned about color accuracy, you can print colored rectangles on transparencies using your inkjet, or color them in with a marker.

You can go the velcro route, but I'm not a huge fan of sticking anything permanent (granted, velcro is not very permanent) to my flash. I'd prefer to take a cheap, front-of-flash diffusers (stofen, lumiquest or their respective knock-offs), slice out the front and allow the gels to slide in.

Please note though it's possible to melt gels with the heat on a flash. You might want to consider distancing your gels from the head or placing a UV/heat gel in between your flash and your gel. Of course, the further the distance the gel, the larger the gel you'll have to use since the flash spreads outward.... otherwise you'll end up with a colored snoot (which may be useful too).

If you do come up with an elegant solution, please post it!

[TMR Design]

If you mean Speedlites and shoe mounted flash, then take a look at this:

Although primitive in design it worked quite well.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=251705

[Curtis N]

My flash units are wrapped with adhesive velcro for a multitude of attachments.

This thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=218280)has a picture of how I attach my gels.

[thebrewer]

I use a rubber band; I do keep a spare rubber band in my bag.

[ghostman]

Oh, and if you're interested in cheap gels, B&H has the Roscolux gel swatches for $0.01 (+shipping):

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/45189-REG/Rosco_950SBLUX0103_Roscolux_Swatchbook.html

This thread reminded me to check B&H on my way home from work and sure enough, they had it in stock. So 1 cent out the door. The cashier didn't seem to happy about it though. Oh well, they'll get plenty of my money soon enough.

[Lidor7]

My flash units are wrapped with adhesive velcro for a multitude of attachments.

This thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=218280)has a picture of how I attach my gels.

Curtis N's setup is what I had envisioned. However, what ghostman said about melting gels makes me nervous. Curtis, have you had any experience with melting gels?

I guess if I'm using colored flash, I probably won't be taking repeated shots over and over again.

[rhys]

I've never seen a gel melt unless it got wet.

I'd say an elastic band is the best attachment method.

[thebrewer]

They are cheap to replace when they fail.

[ghostman]

Curtis N's setup is what I had envisioned. However, what ghostman said about melting gels makes me nervous. Curtis, have you had any experience with melting gels?

I guess if I'm using colored flash, I probably won't be taking repeated shots over and over again.

I've not seen it happen, but I'm a relatively new to flash photography. TMR Design can probably comment on it, since he mentions it in this thread:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=2613666&postcount=14

On that note, I doubt they cause any permanent damage to your flash. You may have to buy a new sheet of gel, but they aren't that expensive.

[Curtis N]

Curtis, have you had any experience with melting gels?No.

If you look at the picture carefully, you'll see there's a small gap between the gel and the flash for airflow. I would not recommend sandwiching a gel between the fresnel lens and the flip-down diffuser as that would trap the heat.

Remember, these gels are made for 1,000 watt continuous theatre lights. The're made to take a certain amount of heat and they're pretty tough. The adhesive that holds the velcro on would soften before the gel melted, and I've never had a problem.

[winkie]

the best I have used was made by a fellow POTN member.. http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=242019&page=42
post 626

[FurBurglar]

I am not a fan of sticking anything to my flash head so I have one of these:

http://www.honlphoto.com/servlet/the-8/speedlight-strobe-flash-nikon/Detail

He also makes a set of gels that are ready to go:

http://www.honlphoto.com/servlet/the-Lighting-Gels/Categories

I also have a swatchbook from Rosco headed my way to make other gels.

[speedracersong]

I am not a fan of sticking anything to my flash head so I have one of these:

http://www.honlphoto.com/servlet/the-8/speedlight-strobe-flash-nikon/Detail

He also makes a set of gels that are ready to go:

http://www.honlphoto.com/servlet/the-Lighting-Gels/Categories

I also have a swatchbook from Rosco headed my way to make other gels.

im sorry to sound mean, but 10 dollars for a piece of velcro?

[anshu]

Go down to your local theatre supply store and pick up a gel book from lee, apollo, rosco and gam. They are the perfect size for flashes, and rubber band em. Theres no way they would melt, the only time Ive seen Gel melt is with super sat colors on 1k fresnels etc. So dont worry about it too much. Take it from a theatrical lighting designer.

[FurBurglar]

im sorry to sound mean, but 10 dollars for a piece of velcro?

OMG, $10 for a piece of velcro? You say that after we spend $1200-$8000 for a camera body, $1800 for ONE lens, $350 for the flash, etc.? Yes $10 for a "piece of velcro". You may be so cheap that you want to deface your expensive equipment, but I sir/madam am not.

[ghostman]

OMG, $10 for a piece of velcro? You say that after we spend $1200-$8000 for a camera body, $1800 for ONE lens, $350 for the flash, etc.? Yes $10 for a "piece of velcro". You may be so cheap that you want to deface your expensive equipment, but I sir/madam am not.

Please avoid ad hominem. The HonlPhoto velcro loop is well-packaged and appears to have a rubberized back, so there's added value. People spend money where they think it counts. Let's leave it at that.

Actually, looking at the HonlPhoto gels, I can probably make something very similar for around $10 or less. If around 10 people can commit to buying it (to cover the high upfront cost to buy that much gel), I'd be more than happy to make it for you guys. No fancy packaging though ;)

[FurBurglar]

Sorry, didn't mean for that to sound like such a personal attack, rather a rebuttal to the implication that I am crazy to spend $10 for a "piece of velcro". It is more than a simple piece of velcro and can be used on as many different flash heads or any other objects it may fit around. If you were to add up all the velcro applied to things over a given lifespan I'm sure the value would be much more apparent.

Thank for the offer to make gels similar to the ones I posted. Expanding on the idea, if people are interested, maybe you could make different color "sets" depending on demand. I would be interested. Since I am still fairly new to all of this I would rather spend my time shooting/learning as opposed to working on a bunch of DIY projects so I am happy to pay a little extra for the "value"

[Village_Idiot]

Hey, that gave me an idea. We have a ton of the continuous velcro straps that we use use to bind wires and network cables. I can take a piece home with me.

[ghostman]

Here is a ridiculously simple color gel holder:
http://lightingmods.blogspot.com/2007/07/diy-lee-filters-flash-adapter_08.html

I made one yesterday with my sample gels and it works wonderfully. Of course, it doesn't hold as well as velcro-based ones, but it gets the job done.

[swimchic]

Here is a ridiculously simple color gel holder:
http://lightingmods.blogspot.com/2007/07/diy-lee-filters-flash-adapter_08.html

I made one yesterday with my sample gels and it works wonderfully. Of course, it doesn't hold as well as velcro-based ones, but it gets the job done.

Thanks for that link...I am going to have to try this way out!