Spotlight Diffusion

[Spader]

I need a diffusion gel for the spotlights on the next show. The spotlights (2 Altman 1000Q's) are currently focused to a hard edge, and I want to soften the edge of the beam without too much light loss (as they are not very bright) and with little spread. My problem is that I have little to no idea of what the right diffusion to use would be. The theatre's throw is relatively short (only about 75 feet).

Gels that I think might work are L258, GAM 10-10 or 10-20, or maybe even R132.

[rochem]

I finished a show a couple weeks ago where I used R119 in Altman 1000Q spots from about an 85' throw. The edges were just a touch softer than what I wanted, but it wasn't so bad that I needed to place a new gel order. I'd guess R119 or R132 should work, but the best way to tell would be to get a number of sheets of different diffusions and drop them in and see which you like best.

[derekleffew]

So I'm not the only one on a quest for the perfect followspot diffusion? See this thread: http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/l...ighlight=baggy.

Spader, I'd recommend testing R132 against GAM 10-20, 10-30, and 10-40. I DO NOT recommend trying a baggy in any incandescent followspot.

[reggie98]

You could diffuse it through artificial silk, stretched tight over a frame. Keep the silk away from the front of the fixture. Something like this: Flag & Cutter Frames - CinemaGadgets.com , you aren't going to use a gell frame for this.

[lazor]

Depending on how much diffusion you want there are a couple of different diffusions by Rosco that I use.
R101 just takes the hardness off the edges but you can still see a defined spot
R132 takes just a little bit more
R114 I use this when I really need things to blend, not sure I would use it in a spotlight

I stick to Rosco diffusion usually and for your case I would recommend the R101 or the R132.

As mentioned above, I would also not recommend the baggy technique.

[spiwak2005]

I agree with all that has been said above. I just did a show with the intention of using R119, but found that I had cut it to the wrong size for the venue's Supertrouper. The venue already had R132 in it so we used that, and the director never knew the difference. Everyone was happy with the look.

[SteveB]

We use a frost called FBF.

Freezer Bag Frost. A single side of a Ziploc bag sized/trimmed as a cut of color.

Slightly less diffusion then R132 and enough to take a bit of edge off.

Cheap too.

Steve B.

[quarterfront]

Originally Posted by SteveB

We use a frost called FBF.

Freezer Bag Frost. A single side of a Ziploc bag sized/trimmed as a cut of color.

Slightly less diffusion then R132 and enough to take a bit of edge off.

Cheap too.

Steve B.

...and it really, really works.

[ScottH]

How does it keep from melting?
I would think it would go up in no time.

[SteveB]

Originally Posted by ScottH

How does it keep from melting?
I would think it would go up in no time.

A lot of spots have a cooling fan for the gel assembly.

We use the FBF and a cut of R132 on the "dipstick" of a Lycian 1293. The dipstick is a 2 holed accessory holder that functions much like a template holder on an ellipsoidal, if you can imagine a gobo holder having a reversable upper section for a 2nd gobo. It slips in to a slot on the top of the unit on the lamp side of the gel assembly. I assume it could be used for a gobo, just never seen a gobo in that size (4" ?). It was also intended at one point I was told, that Lycian would have a DMX controlled dowser that would fit this slot, never swa anything come of that.

SB