Gel Organization... Ugh...

[ORIGINALBAG]

Does anyone know of any good program or website for figuring out what number each gel is? I have to organize a distressingly large collection of gels at work over the next few weeks, and I'm hoping beyond all reason that I can find something that'll identify them by using their opposite color. Any suggestions?

[rochem]

I'm not entirely sure what you mean. If you're asking for some tool or program that can automatically identify a gel, then sorry I don't believe there's any of those on the market. The best way to identify gels is to grab a swatch book and go through and compare each gel to the swatches. Then WRITE THE GEL NUMBER ON THE GEL so that you don't ever have to do this again. I believe there's a number of threads on here about identifying manufactuer based on feel and thickness.

[ORIGINALBAG]

If only we were so advanced to have a swatch book. And I'm not really looking for anything to automatically identify it. I've been writing down the numbers on the gels I can successfully identify, but there are literally HUNDREDS with no numbered match. I'm just curious to see if there's any website that has all the colors listed and DISPLAYED (that's the tricky part; no one wants to show them, they just talk about them) so I can try to use the complimentary colors to identify them. Viewing the complimentary color on an LCD should make the gel appear neutral, in theory...

[Wolf]

well there is virtual light lab, while not the best color software out there (at least for mixing) but it does have most of the gels from each manufacturers. The demo version limits you to two fixture but not any problem for you with this project. I would even suggest put the gel on the top and bottom cyc to get a larger visual surface to look at the color and open a blank writing document and hold the gel up to the screen for a "clean" surface.

Virtual Light Lab (mac and windows)

I've never actually tried this so check it with known color before trying a long search.

hope it helps

[soundlight]

Contact your nearest local Rosco dealer. Tell 'em you want a swatchbook, they'll have some at their office. Or use the rosco swatchbook request form: Rosco US : Filters : Swatch Book Request

You really won't be able to get that good of a match off of a computer screen because of various color renderings of LCD screens, etc. It's much easier to sit down with a swatchbook, and you should have a swatchbook for personal reference anyways.

[Grommet]

its good habits that help with organization. Cut gel and label in one motion.

my friend took apart a swatch book and mounted each one. i found it very useful when i can just look at all the colors rather then rifle through a little book.

My idea was to make a big wheel to spin when i'm undecided on which color i want.

[derekleffew]

If only we were so advanced to have a swatch book. ...

You're seeking a complex solution to a simple problem. As soundlight said, the best method is to sit down with the swatchbooks and start comparing. Then label diligently!

I doubt even the iPhone app, Wybron iSwatch, would be better or more efficient than using swatchbooks.

See also http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/g...ting-tips.html, and the threads: http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/l...l-storage.html, and http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/l...t-storage.html.

[gafftaper]

I don't think anything you find on-line will be as accurate as a swatch book. From what I've seen the pictures on websites don't always accurately match. Contact your nearest theater dealer and they will have books. Try calling Rosco directly and ask them how you can get one the fastest. (800) ROSCO LA or (800) 767-2652. I believe Kelite's on vacation right now so this won't help immediately... but if you send him a PM with your address I'm sure he can hook you up with an Apollo swatch book and conversion chart as soon as he's back.

Love the wall chart Grommet. I may have to do that for my students. If nothing else it's pretty.

[Grommet]

the wall chart is great. i still can't navigate the swatch book effectivally. In my head "i want some flavor of blue for this...". with the various addons/upgrades to roscoe or lee's selection the colors of blue will be in 4 places in the little book.

some times i just want to throw darts at it to help me pick a color.

[gafftaper]

I'm thinking the wall chart would be great for students to be able to compare colors by seeing them side by side. It can be very hard to decide "which of these three blues do I want?", when they are crammed in the tiny book.

[achstechdirector]

I always take the plastic pin out of the swatch book and put that little brad chain or whatever that is in ceiling fans through it

[Grimtheatre]

well there is virtual light lab, while not the best color software out there...
I've never actually tried this so check it with known color before trying a long search.

It's always been my experience that VLL isn't the best as far as color matching goes. It's never actually given me a good representation of a gel color, particularly if you're putting it in an instrument to try and match with a real gel (the whole additive vs. subtractive color thing). As everyone keeps saying, swatchbooks are the way to go. I just recently had to reinventory my gel so i feel your pain! Good luck!

[ORIGINALBAG]

Thanks for all the tips! Had I been the one running things before, it never would have gotten to this point. But, alas, it has, and now it's my job to fix it while still maintaining my LD duties... I'll have to get a Swatchbook. And if there isn't a computer program to help me identify gels based on their complimentary color, then maybe I'll just make one myself...

[derekleffew]

I just thought of this: SeaChanger - ColorBug. Hmmm, $950 vs. a free swatchbook. Tough decision.