Light correcting gels?

onform

onform

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matt
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Me again :wave:

What with everyone going Nutty over off camera flash and the fact that half of us have got three hundred gels that we have no clue what each does I was wondering if any of you guys know of any resources which might help explain some of the technical sides of using the likes of CTO and such correction gels.

I for one am confused and I'm sure there is at least a few others that might benefit.. :thinking:
 
I'm sure I'll be the first of many to recommend getting on Strobist. It's all explained there.

This will get you started but there's plenty more on there.
 
CTO, GTG and CTB are the main correcction gels, the rest are for recreating that 1980s MTV look :nuts:
 
onform said:
I for one am confused
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I used to be too but here's a great simplification that my small brain enforced upon me one day after an overload:

1: You can either use a gel to make the flashes colour temperature match that of the available light.
(For example, most flourescent tube lighting is green :gag:, so, colour correct your flash with a fl.green gel and switch your white balance to fluorescent ;).)

or

2: Use a gel to make the flashes light a colour of your choosing, for effect or accentuation of mood for example.

Rosco and also Lee filters have swatch books but Lee filters will send you one for free :banana:
 
Ok, cheers guy's off to do some reading...lol
 
I have a set, and kinda know how to use em, but never have :S something I need to learn methinks
 
ScarySquirrel said:
Does using a flash with a diffuser (softbox/umbrella) still have the same effect?
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It's two different things really ScarySquirrel.

Gels can be used to change the colour (colour correction) or modify the flash temperature to match ambient or available light as well as adding effect.

Softboxes and the like are to shape and soften the light (diffusion) in a multitude of ways :thumbs:
 
Tomas Whitehouse said:
It's two different things really ScarySquirrel.

Gels can be used to change the colour (colour correction) or modify the flash temperature to match ambient or available light as well as adding effect.

Softboxes and the like are to shape and soften the light (diffusion) in a multitude of ways :thumbs:
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Sorry perhaps I wasn't very clear.

What I meant was is it possible to use a CTO filter on my flash whilst I am using a softbox and still get the colour correction? Or does the softbox cancel it out?
 
ScarySquirrel said:
Sorry perhaps I wasn't very clear.

What I meant was is it possible to use a CTO filter on my flash whilst I am using a softbox and still get the colour correction? Or does the softbox cancel it out?
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My apologies, the diffusion won't cancel the colour correction, you may lose a stop of light or so but that's it.
 
ScarySquirrel said:
Sorry perhaps I wasn't very clear.

What I meant was is it possible to use a CTO filter on my flash whilst I am using a softbox and still get the colour correction? Or does the softbox cancel it out?
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Just don't use a CTO if your subjects have tanned skin, otherwise they'll end up looking like David Dickinson :lol:
 
the free Lee swatch gels fit just right in a fong.... ;)


Especially where the sun don't shine
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Just don't use a CTO if your subjects have tanned skin, otherwise they'll end up looking like David Dickinson :lol:
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'Cheap as chips' and you've been tango'd folks!

onform said:
the free Lee swatch gels fit just right in a fong.... ;)
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Ouch, paper cuts are bad, just imagine what a 'gel cut' would be like, oh and btw, it's spelt 'thong' :nono:.............:lol:
 
Tomas Whitehouse said:
'Cheap as chips' and you've been tango'd folks!
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Indeedy - I made the mistake of cto'ing the flash before taking the pics of his replacement, who was not long back from his hols by the look of things. Took a bit of wb tweaking :whistling:

3515751968_e79f933391.jpg
 
They were both bright orange thanks to the gel - the plan was to switch the wb on the camera, but the lighting test shot became the only shot and :bang: :annoyed:
 
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