How are y’all using gels with COB lights?

[Fahnon Bennett]

I have a couple of Aperture LED lights, and I love them, but when not using barn doors I’m having trouble using gels. I figured out a basic way to do it but these lights are popular enough that I’m wondering if I’m missing something. For example if you’re using a lantern or octagon, how would you personally add CTO?

 

[Anthony Chambers]

The newer octagon, Light Dome II has a gel holder inside the dome itself. It works well with the 300d/120d, although if you are using the 600d it will toast the gel in the holder.

 

[M Harvey]

The lantern and many other modifiers are still a pain-- almost as much as they are when using a tungsten source. I don't have a good solution for the lantern-- in my experience, if you want the light to all be one color, than you still need to most cover the interior in gel. I've tried taping the gel across the interior of the lantern, but the frame in the middle prevents that from really working. Would love to hear other techniques but, if you find yourself doing this often, it might be a sign you need the bi-color version!

On the bright (haha) side, COB lights do at least run much cooler than tungsten sources, so you can get the gel closer to the light source. That's the reason the gel holder in the Light Dome II can work. But keep in mind that you do need some distance from the chip-- these chips do get very hot, and I believe it'd be dangerous to tape the gel right across the face of the fixture.

 

[Phil Toran]

I'd do a quick gaff job with some partition holds. Susan approves at TVB -- and she's a real tool

 

[Fahnon Bennett]

The lantern and many other modifiers are still a pain-- almost as much as they are when using a tungsten source. I don't have a good solution for the lantern-- in my experience, if you want the light to all be one color, than you still need to most cover the interior in gel. I've tried taping the gel across the interior of the lantern, but the frame in the middle prevents that from really working. Would love to hear other techniques but, if you find yourself doing this often, it might be a sign you need the bi-color version!

On the bright (haha) side, COB lights do at least run much cooler than tungsten sources, so you can get the gel closer to the light source. That's the reason the gel holder in the Light Dome II can work. But keep in mind that you do need some distance from the chip-- these chips do get very hot, and I believe it'd be dangerous to tape the gel right across the face of the fixture.

Yeah I’m almost thinking the solution is to go with an RGB or bi-color light instead when using a lantern. I’m going to have to rig something myself...

 

[Fahnon Bennett]

I'd do a quick gaff job with some partition holds. Susan approves at TVB -- and she's a real tool

Cool! What does this look like?

 

[Fahnon Bennett]

The newer octagon, Light Dome II has a gel holder inside the dome itself. It works well with the 300d/120d, although if you are using the 600d it will toast the gel in the holder.

Yeah I’m using a different brand octo, and the Lantern 90 (great size), so no gel holders.