Labelling Gels

[dvsDave]

Once a gel is cut, it no longer has it's manufacturers identification label on it for colour. Therefore they should be labelled to ensure that all of the same colour gel's remain together. Using a Chinagraph (wax based) pencil, the colour number and manufacturers name(if more than one is used) can be written on each gel. If the numbers are big enough and central, then they can be seen and checked from the ground.

from http://www.the-lighting-crew.fsnet.co.uk/intro.htm

[tm1000]

When we frame them is usually when we label them, and it's a weak labeling system we use. Just R for red, M for magenta, etc.

[delnor]

I always label my gels I feel its a must. Otherwise you wont know what they are when you take them down and that’s important if u want to reuse them. I always do L for Lee or R for Rosco and then the swatch book number that corresponds with the color. That way you can look them up later and sort them out.

[Fraser]

Labling should always be done!!! When you have a large inventory of gels you have to know what they are for incoming designers/artists. If you plan to work as a pro this is a basic skill.

[delnor]

Agreed...

[Jo-JotheSoundDog]

Gel should always be labeled. But the problem with labeling in the center is faster burn-out. Yes it is nice to be able to check from the floor, but it generally cuts the life span in half. Also it starts looking bad when add diffusion to color(two numbers right on top of each other. It is best and most commonly labeled in a corner.

[teksalot]

I tell people to label in the corner all the time too. But my coworkers all insist on being lazy. Luckily, if a gel isn't labeled, our master electrician can tell you the correct # (rosco only) what it is just by looking at it.

[TechDirector]

We don't even label our gels. Since I'm practically the only person that tech's, I'm just too lazy to label them. I pretty much memorized them inside and out (how arrogant of me, lol).

[ship]

"We don't even label our gels. Since I'm practically the only person that tech's, I'm just too lazy to label them. I pretty much memorized them inside and out (how arrogant of me, lol)."

And when you are gone or sick someone else is going to have a large headake.

It just takes a few moments to mark a gel be it with Sharpee, Paint Marker, Printed Labels or China Marker/Grease Pencil. If you are concerned about what will be left for the next person that takes over for you, you will invest some time in fixing the problem you have caused.

As for center burn out, I have heard that before but do not believe it as fact. Might be, but it's not general knowledge so if accurate, it must have been very recently proven to be so. I would like to see the verification of that say in a Rosco Tech Note for it to be more than Urban Legend.

There is certain advantages to being able to see what's actually in the instrument at any time easily for verification purposes, especially if there is a lot of gel changes. That said, labeling the gel frame instead of the gel with the same grease pencil to designate the color for instances when there will be gel changes is just as usable as a method to see what it is. But for a large show, when gel is pre-pulled and in frames already, it certainly is much easier to just look at the gel without opening the frame to see what is what.

In a gel file on the other hand it is much easier to find a certain gel if they are labeled in one upper corner than trying to open a tightly packed set of gels large enough to see what it is. This is the method I currently use for my own gel, but if in a larger installation with much gel being pulled and placed in equipment at the same time, I would not use that method as I believe the company I work for also does not, nor has any other company I have worked for - usually.

On the subject of gels, making a gel file that's sized to the pre-cut gel sizes makes it much easier to find what you are looking for. Could be as simple as a lumber box cut to the pre-cut size, than a bunch of cardboard and labeled dividers to seperate them. Looking for Rx 54, go the the #50-60 section and start counting up. That would be as opposed to Roscolene, Lee, Gam, and many other gel types that companies acquire that should not be mixed. One box for the 7.1/2" size, another for the PAR 64 size etc so that when looking for a specific size, you don't have a bunch of PAR 64 or larger gels stuck in with the Inkie gels and constantly a mess. I hate a file folder system where smaller gels are concerned.

[wolf825]

>>As for center burn out, I have heard that before but do not believe it as fact. Might be, but it's not general knowledge so if accurate, it must have been very recently proven to be so.>>


I have only seen center burn out on gel marked with Sharpie... Grease pencil/china marker & crayon does not burn out from my experiences. FWIW...I like to mark my gel on the lower corner anyway...

-wolf