CTO gels, what are they used for?

[Muskydave22]

I know they convert the color temperature of the flash light, but why would someone want to do that? and when would one use these types of color temperature changing gels?

Dave

[gonzogolf]

To match ambient light in setting. For instance you are shooting a subject in a kitchen. There is a lot of dramatic tungsten lighting underneath the cabinets. By using cto gels, you set your white balance for the tungsten and the cto gels your color temps all match. Otherwise the existing light would be orange. You can also use them if you are shooting a sunset portrait, a little orange in the flash makes the flash falling on the subject match the golden sunlight.

[Muskydave22]

Oh, this might make my outdoor portraits around sunset look less "flashed". I didn't know that these gels would make my flash look more like the ambient light. Sweet! thanks for the info gonzogolf!

Dave

[GenuineRolla]

I use it for rim lighting when shooting outdoors. I love to replicate the look of the sun. I think it can add a very nice touch to a photo.

[FlyingPhotog]

In addition to CTO (Color Temperature Orange) you can use CTB (Color Temperature Blue) if you need to shift the spectrum of your flash in the other direction.

Voila! The Strobist Gel Pack (http://strobist.blogspot.com/2009/08/rosco-thinks-big-by-thinking-small.html)

You can also buy large sheets and roll your own...

[CliveyBoy]

And some photogs (eg Neil van Niekerk) prefer CTS - straw as there is a lower red content.

[FlyingPhotog]

Some also refer to it as "Bastard Amber"