Organizing gels

[Roy G. Biv]

I Just got my Rosco book. The problem is that I took it apart to take out my CTO's and Window Greens. How do I organize the rest? How much abuse can these things take?

[joshr03]

I'm interested how people do this also. Do people just cut out the ones they want, take apart the plastic pin or what? After you take them out how do you keep them organized knowing which is which?

[jeromego]

i just take out the ones i use and use more often and put them in a separate wallet type case

[joshr03]

Do you keep the label with the individual gel or do you not worry about knowing which is which and just experiment?

[S-Man]

I thought THIS (http://strobist.blogspot.com/2009/08/rosco-thinks-big-by-thinking-small.html) was great. I think I might get me one.
But, how do you connect it to the flash?
On mine, I've extended the edges with clear packing tape folded over, cut to size, then use a thick rubber band to hold it only the head.

Oh, and as far as organizing? I keep my instruction manual to my XTi in my bag and put the gels in between the pages- one per page. I can flip through and choose a color. The white pages also provide an easy color reference.
Oh, and I didn't keep each label, although on some recent ones I did cut the code and name out and place it in between said packing tape so that I can reference the color number later. Maybe some pics are in order. I'll see what I can do.

[jeromego]

I thought THIS (http://strobist.blogspot.com/2009/08/rosco-thinks-big-by-thinking-small.html) was great. I think I might get me one.
But, how do you connect it to the flash?
On mine, I've extended the edges with clear packing tape folded over, cut to size, then use a thick rubber band to hold it only the head.

Oh, and as far as organizing? I keep my instruction manual to my XTi in my bag and put the gels in between the pages- one per page. I can flip through and choose a color. The white pages also provide an easy color reference.
Oh, and I didn't keep each label, although on some recent ones I did cut the code and name out and place it in between said packing tape so that I can reference the color number later. Maybe some pics are in order. I'll see what I can do.

http://lumiquest.com/products/fxtra.htm or you can just DIY. try searching in this forum for Gel holders

[mufutau55]

Read this thread and you will see how some of us do it.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=683062

And I use this gelholder below to hold the gel to my flash: Canon 580EX, 580EX II, Sigma EF-500 DG SUPER, and (2) Yongnuo YN460 (Manual flash)

http://www.gelholder.com/gelholder/

Mufutau

I Just got my Rosco book. The problem is that I took it apart to take out my CTO's and Window Greens. How do I organize the rest? How much abuse can these things take?

[cpforyou]

Is there any such gel holder shaped like a Stofen, but with an open top and a slit to allow the gel to slide in? I'd much rather have a holder that fits on the flash without using velco.

[mufutau55]

Buy the cheap Stofen-imitation on ebay for $2-$3 and slice/cut open on top or edges to slide gels.

Mufutau

Is there any such gel holder shaped like a Stofen, but with an open top and a slit to allow the gel to slide in? I'd much rather have a holder that fits on the flash without using velco.

[will-san]

I keep the book intact and just rip out the one I need. Then I write the number on the edge of the gel and keep it in the case with my flashes and pocket wizards.

[JCH77Yanks]

^That's probably the simplest way to do it, and it's basically what i do.

[Kevin Song Photography]

I took out the plastic pin and replaced it with one of those lamp string thingies, you know the stuff that has like a bunch of little metal balls that you can remove at a joint thing?

I then wrote 8 CTO, 4 CTO, 2 CTO, or CTO, etc etc etc on the gels in the corner, and I use a homemade, DIY version of the gelholder mentioned above.

(uh yes, to avoid possible confusion, no I did not magically make about a .5% transmittance 8CTO gel, I meant 1/8CTO, but it saves space to write 8CTO, and obviously no chance for confusion, lol)

[Kevin Song Photography]

Oh and I hear a CD case works wonders.

[TweakMDS]

- CD case.
- Rolodex (business card holder type).
- Business card booklet
- Printed address labels (cut into small strips).

[verymagicalguy]

CD Case sounds like an amazing idea.

[craftygeek]

if you're using gels from the sample packs, have a look at this:
How to make a simple gel holder (http://www.craftygeek.co.uk/photography/23-how-to-make-a-simple-strobe-gel-holder.html)

There is also a couple of images near the bottom showing how I store & organise my gels.