Using Colored Gels

[minatophase3]

I am very new to studio lighting and have a question about using colored gels. I just recently bought 2 AB800's and a pack of their colored gels. I have tried a few shots with them and so far have gotten mixed results.

Can anyone tell me the best way to use the colored gels to turn my white background into the color of the gel? Do I place the strobe unit really close to the background or is it better to have it farther away. Also, should it be set stronger or weaker than the main strobe.

Again, I have tried some shots but have not been able to really focus as I was taking pictures of my 4 year old and 2 year old and was more concerned about them breaking something so I didn't pay close attention to light placement or power settings. And on the display of my D60 it is really hard to get a good idea of what is happening.

So, some general guidelines or tips for changing the color of the background would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tim

[cmM]

how about a different color backdrop?
Unless you want the whole scene (including the people and everything) in the photo to be colored, some of the white light will still fall on your background and wash out some of the color of your gel.

[robertwgross]

I saw a photo of a musician once that inspired me to create the same effect. There was the musician with a mostly-black background. Then, in the middle of the background over his shoulder, there were some colored blobs of light.

Well, I had a young musician for a subject, and I had a black background cloth. I was having trouble putting the colored light on the front of the background, so I shifted everything around.

Instead, I put up a gray background cloth. Then I had some colored lights shining on the back of the background cloth so that the colored light was diffused and would show through the cloth. Then I chose the color of the colored lights to coordinate with the clothing of the young musician. That worked.

---Bob Gross---

[Jon]

First and foremost, you'll want to minimize spill from your frontlights and sidelights onto the backdrop, hitting that only with your coloured backlight. You'll also want to keep the backdrop exposure fairly low so it doesn't blow out.