the-techi Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 Hello Blue-room I apologise if people think I am being incredibly stupid but we all have to learn somewhere - Does anyone know how we colour code lighting Gels? I have been wondering for so long and thought I should do something about it. Thanks Jamie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 I assume you don't mean 'colour coding' as such but are looking for a way to identify your gels once they've been cut from the sheet. I can think of several ways (all of which exists within my gel stock)... 1) Sticky paper label in one of the bottom corners with manufacturer, gel number and if wanted, colour name written on. 2) Number written in white Chinagraph in big writing across the centre of the gel so you can read it from ground level. 3) Details written with Sharpie, or my favourite, one of those opaque 'silver' pens, in a corner. For odd sized gels I often write what lantern they fit as well. I number mine thus:- just a number = Leean 'R' plus a number = Roscoan 'HT' plus a number = Lee HT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_the_LD Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 I always do gel number in one of the bottom corners and then the lantern it is to fit in one of the top corners. This is usually done using sharpie or one of the white Chinagraph penicls. I then use white tape to stick the roll together and write the gel number on that in black sharpe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadhippy Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 Roll the gel sheets so the little sticky label is the last bit to get cut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 Are you asking how to mark and identify cut pieces of colour? (In which case you've already had a couple of pretty good answers!) Or are you asking for an explanation of the various manufacturers' numbering systems? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-techi Posted December 7, 2009 Author Share Posted December 7, 2009 Are you asking how to mark and identify cut pieces of colour? (In which case you've already had a couple of pretty good answers!) Or are you asking for an explanation of the various manufacturers' numbering systems? I do apologise I should make myself much more clear. Basically I hear different technicians, when explaining a lighting plan saying I have, in this light Gel 048 or 705? A specific number. Is there a way of knowing what colour that is without having to ask? A specific coding system where I could work it out via common sense? Thanks Jamie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 Try here and here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-techi Posted December 7, 2009 Author Share Posted December 7, 2009 Try here and here. Much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oli Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Are you asking how to mark and identify cut pieces of colour? (In which case you've already had a couple of pretty good answers!) Or are you asking for an explanation of the various manufacturers' numbering systems? I do apologise I should make myself much more clear. Basically I hear different technicians, when explaining a lighting plan saying I have, in this light Gel 048 or 705? A specific number. Is there a way of knowing what colour that is without having to ask? A specific coding system where I could work it out via common sense? Thanks Jamie As far as I have figured out there is no logic to the numbering, short of sitting with swatch books and memorizing each colour name and number you will never know them all. I do know a few people that have a very broad knowledge and can usually tell you what a gel is without looking it up however I am fairly sure they have photographic memories! Whenever I am going in to rig a show I sit down with the LX plan and a swatch book and try and memorize as many as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvenprince Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 I find just using the gels themselves makes me remember them. Whenever I'm rigging a new show, and I look at the plan, most of the time, I'll have no idea what colours are which, but then by the end, I'll know by heart that 119 is a deep blue, 180 a nice lavender etc, and that's stuck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the kid Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 if you have a search there was a topic on this. IIR things like 101 are such becasue 01 was the original colour and 1 was added when the company changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjammy83 Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 hi CHAP I see swatch books have been mentioned but have you got one. get on the websites and click on the contact page or request pages and request a Swatch book and anything else they give out for nothing. swatchbooks are not far short of being the Lighting techs bible. after a while you soon learn to talk numbers. always ask never guess James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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