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Gel Questions

1. What are gels used for?gel-sheet-image.jpg
Lighting gel sheets are used primarily to change or filter the color of light. There are several categories of gel sheets, including color effect, color correction, diffusion, reflection and scrim. Gel sheets are typically used by theatre directors, technical directors, production managers, and stage crews to change the color of light in theatrical or stage productions. Gels are also used for TV, film and movie production purposes. Gel sheets can also be used to block unwanted light, with the use of black foil, from a shoot.

2.  Are lighting gels fire-proof? 
Standard lighting gel sheets are not fire-proof and the user must use the product carefully so as to avoid fire hazards when working with light fixtures. A gel sheet should never be placed directly on or in close proximity to a lighting fixture. The light fixture could cause the gel sheet to catch on fire.To attach a gel sheet safely to a lighting fixture, the user must attach the gel sheet to a gel color frame which is compatible with the lighting fixture in use.

3.  What size (dimensions) are Lee Filters gel sheets? Are gels available in a format other than a gel sheet?
Lee Filters gel sheets are available in many different sizes:   Lee Filters gel rolls are also available in different sizes:quick-rolls-random-2018.jpg
  • Gels are also available in rolls:
  • Some gel colors are also available as "quick rolls." Quick rolls are available in 2 inch increments (2,4,6,8 inches in height) and are 25 feet in length. The customer selects the width inch increment that they need for their application.
4.  What if I have a competitors gel sheet number?  How do I locate the Lee Filters gel sheet number that is the came as a competitor's product?
The Lee Filters website has a great function, which is named "gel comparator", which allows you to plug in the name of any make of gel sheet and find the comparable Lee Filters color.  You can find the gel comparator at the following link: GEL COMPARATOR
 
5.  What if I am trying to adjust for a certain type of lamp or fixture?  What about light diffusion?
If you would like to figure out which gel sheet would work best with a specific type of lamp or fixture, then you can consult the Lee Filters "mired shift calculator" at the following link: MIRED SHIFT CALCULATOR. You will input the original source value and the converted source value, in kelvin, and the mired shift calculator will recommend the appropriate gel filter color.

Lee gels are also a common way to diffuse or soften light.  You can learn more about gel diffusion HERE or by using Lee's Diffusion app (for iOS and for Android):
 
6.  Is there an easy way to see all the colors?   
a. The best way to view the full line of Lee Filters products is to order a Lee Filters swatchbook which has a small (roughly 2 inch by 1/2 inch) sample gel sheet for each gel. To find all Lee Filters gel sheets offered on the GoKnight.com website, you can simple type "Lee" or "Lee Filters" into the internal search (the search bar within the website) and all Lee Filters gel sheets will display. This is the safest method because you do not have to guess on the accuracy of your screen color resolution.
 
b. Another excellent way to see the colors is by using one of Lee's "Swatch" apps (for both iOS and Android).  Here are the links: 
Lee Swatch App for iOS     Lee Swatch App for Android
 
7.  How do I attach a gel sheet to a lighting fixture?
The recommended method for attaching a gel sheet to a lighting fixture is to use a color frame or gel frame. The color frame/gel frame is attached to the light emitting end of the lighting fixture.The gel sheet is then placed in the color frame.
 
8.  At what temperature do gel sheets work?  
A standard polyester gel sheet should sustain temperature up to 180 degrees Celsius/356 degrees Fahrenheit. A high temperature gel sheet should sustain temperatures up to 280 degrees Celsius/536 degrees Fahrenheit. There is not any published information regarding the various wattages of sources and how they affect the filters. The best we can offer is the melting points/max temperature which is 356 Fahrenheit for the polyester gel and 536 Fahrenheit for the poly-carbonate (high temperature).
 
9.  What material is a gel sheet made from?  
Gel sheets are made from a few different types of materials. Standard gel sheets are made from a very thin polyester material. Gel sheets are also available in dichroic and glass forms.
 
10.  Can I cut a gel sheet?  
Yes, a gel sheet is made of very thin material which can be cut easily with scissors or a box-cutter. The gel sheets can be cut down to whatever size dimensions you should need.
 
11.  Why should I buy gel sheets from GoKnight.com?  Knight Sound & Lighting tries to stock, at all times, the full line of Lee Filters gel sheets to ensure that our clients will have available to them, always, whatever gel sheet it is that they need. Also, Knight Sound & Lighting's technicians are available via phone or chat to help you determine which gel sheet might be the best for your needs.  We ship gel sheets in a sturdy mailing tube which keeps the gel sheets well-protected and minimizes the risk of wrinkles or nicks. We can also place large or custom orders of gel sheets directly through Lee Filters. Knight Sound & Lighting is an authorized Lee Filters dealer.
 
12.  What if I need help selecting the right color of gel sheet?
The selection of a gel sheet color is a very personal process. Everyone sees colors in a slightly different way. It can sometimes be difficult to communicate exactly which color you are envisioning in your mind's eye. For instance, one person's definition of the color "plum" will not necessarily be the same as another person's. For these reasons, we would definitely recommend that you consult the Lee Filters website and use their many tools to help guide your color selection. It is also very useful to use a Lee Filters swatchbook to guide your product selection. Please also bear in mind that the picture images online of all gel filters are best viewed at a depth of 256 colors or more. Knight Sound & Lighting can provide you with a range of gel sheets that might meet your color needs. You can contact us via phone, email or chat if you need support with your gel sheet color selection.
 
13. How thick are gel sheets?
  • Most Polyester colored effect filters are 0.08 mm thick
  • Diffusion filters vary in thickness
  • Zircon gels are 0.18 mm thick
14.  The Lee Gels High Temperature gel sheet line has been discontinued in the year 2019.  
We will continue to offer our customers our remaining stock of the high temperature gel sheets. Once a high temperature color is sold out, then we will not be able to order any additional quantities of that color.

15.  Lee Filters has introduced an LED specific line of filters called the Zircon gels.  
Zircon gels are great for use with LED lighting applications.  To see the full line of Zircon gels, you can go to the Zircon product section. This is a new concept in LED filter design. With a lifespan of up to 200 times longer than standard lighting filters, the new Zircon range is designed to last. Zircon is a new concept in LED filter design that has been designed from the ground-up for exceptional performance with LED Lights.  

 
16.  Looking for inspiration with which gel colors would work best for your project?  Use the Lee Filters "Mood Boards" for some common themes.  For instance, would you like a "Vibrant Fall", "Music Hall", "Passion", "Candlelight", or "Spirituality" Mood?  
 
Want to learn more?  Check out Lee Filters YouTube channel for helpful videos and tips!