Custom Gobos

[DHSLXOP]

Hi everyone

I'm TD for an upcoming show at my high school and the director decided that she wants a gobo to be made of the show's logo to be on the main curtain while the house is entering.

I have found the rosco custom gobo page with all the directions but was wondering if someone could give me some better instructions than what they give:

1) They say email to the local dealer - who would be my local dealer? (I'm in Florida)
2) We are using a Source Four 575 Watt fixture - would a steel gobo be what we need?
3) What is the approximate cost for a custom gobo?
4) In general, once I have compiled all of my information, who do I send this all to?

Thanks so much for your help!

[ScaredOfHeightsLD]

Originally Posted by DHSLXOP

Hi everyone
I'm TD for an upcoming show at my high school and the director decided that she wants a gobo to be made of the show's logo to be on the main curtain while the house is entering.
I have found the rosco custom gobo page with all the directions but was wondering if someone could give me some better instructions than what they give:
1) They say email to the local dealer - who would be my local dealer? (I'm in Florida)
http://www.rosco.com/us/retail/index.asp that will help you find a rosco dealer. But don't discredit other manufacturers out there. I have had very positive experiences with Apollo custom gobos as well as some other companies out there. This company in particular has been very good in the past. They make their gobos out of a much thicker steel which tends to last longer. They charge about 50-60 dollars a piece and you get three cuts of each gobo. Shipping is usually very fast and reasonable.
2) We are using a Source Four 575 Watt fixture - would a steel gobo be what we need?
If you are just doing a show logo in black/white this should be perfect. Just make sure you have the correct lens. If your show logo has colors which you would like projected as well, you could look at glass gobos or the Rosco Image Pro If you do go with steel, keep in mind that you need to leave connections in the image for letters like O. SOmetimes the company will take care of this. But the artwork needs to be "Gobo Ready" Also, think about what you want to be lit and what you want to be dark. Make sure this is clear on the artwork.
3) What is the approximate cost for a custom gobo?
I find they can run anywhere from 50 dollars and up for a custom steel gobo.
4) In general, once I have compiled all of my information, who do I send this all to?
Your artwork should meet the specs asked for by whichever company you are having produce the gobo and then it either goes directly to them or to your dealer. Your dealer will have better information in regards to this.
Thanks so much for your help!

Let me know if you have any more questions. Good Luck!

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by DHSLXOP

...
1) They say email to the local dealer - who would be my local dealer? (I'm in Florida)
2) We are using a Source Four 575 Watt fixture - would a steel gobo be what we need?
3) What is the approximate cost for a custom gobo?
4) In general, once I have compiled all of my information, who do I send this all to?

Thanks so much for your help!

1) Looks to be about 30 dealers in Florida.
2) Steel would be the least expensive. May need to go to glass if the design is intricate or multi-color
3) Between $50-$150 for steel; higher for glass.
4) Here's where I hijack you and suggest allowing Apollo to serve your needs. Link to Apollo's Ask the Expert. Might also want to read about their artwork submissions criteria. Also have you looked through the extensive catalogs of stock gobos from Apollo, DHA, Goboman.com, and Goboexpress.com? It's possible the title from your show has already been made, and a copy could be had for $12-15. Good luck. Be sure to get a holder and a donut also if you don't have those.

[cutlunch]

Originally Posted by ScaredOfHeightsLD

Let me know if you have any more questions. Good Luck!

Scaredofheights do you think you could change the colour of your post? On a standard CRT display I find I can't read anything you wrote in the yellow.

And I would be interested to read your opinions on this topic.

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by cutlunch

Scaredofheights do you think you could change the colour of your post? On a standard CRT display I find I can't read anything you wrote in the yellow.

And I would be interested to read your opinions on this topic.

It's the 90s, get an LCD screen for goodness sake. Seriously, is it just the bright yellow or can you not read the orangish yellow links, either? Try this, hit reply, then scroll down to previous posts. For me, all of ScaredOfHeightsLD yellow turned red.

I think it's time for some adjustment/calibration on your part. Go to Apollo Gel's site. Can you see all the colors, esp. the yellows?

(kelite, shouldn't I be able to display the list sorted by number? When I try to change "More Display Options" I get a 404 error. Stop stuffing those gel kits and work on your website!)

DHSLXOP, sorry the link to Rosco dealers above returns CT dealers. I had FL on the screen. Use this link, and scroll to FL, or enter your zip code.

[cutlunch]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

It's the 90s, get an LCD screen for goodness sake. Seriously, is it just the bright yellow or can you not read the orangish yellow links, either? Try this, hit reply, then scroll down to previous posts. For me, all of ScaredOfHeightsLD yellow turned red.
I think it's time for some adjustment/calibration on your part. Go to Apollo Gel's site. Can you see all the colors, esp. the yellows?

I am glad that ScaredofheightsLD has changed the colour scheme to red which is a lot easier to read. That is why when you scroll down in the reply option you see his text in red.

Yes Derek I am not colour blind and can see the yellow Apollo swatches. It was the yellow on a gray / blue background with a small font that made it hard to read.

To read posts on Control Booth you shouldn't need to keep resetting your colour schemes.

Thanks again ScaredofheightsLD for changing the colour because I found your post very informative.

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by cutlunch

...To read posts on Control Booth you shouldn't need to keep resetting your colour schemes...

Totally agree, and didn't mean to offend, if I did.

Back to topic, have we discussed the methods of "rolling your own" custom gobos here on CB before? It's an exercise, involves muriatic acid, and the results were disappointing when I tried it, years ago.

[DarSax]

Two quick things; one's going to be something you'd want to hear, the second, something you wouldn't.

Since its a high school show, meaning probably not too many performances and not too much use of the gobo, you could probably create your own out of a pie tin, an exacto (or similar) knife, and some time. You can get a pretty good looking gobo out of those simple ingredients, and chances are the audience wouldn't know the difference.

The second thing is the use of the logo. I'm not positive, but I think my high school might have been hit when we used the (copyrighted) logo of [some hit show] as a gobo sometime in the past. I'm not exactly sure if this occurred (am I already senile?) but its something you should be aware of.

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by DarSax

Two quick things; one's going to be something you'd want to hear, the second, something you wouldn't.

Since its a high school show, meaning probably not too many performances and not too much use of the gobo, you could probably create your own out of a pie tin, an exacto (or similar) knife, and some time. You can get a pretty good looking gobo out of those simple ingredients, and chances are the audience wouldn't know the difference.

The second thing is the use of the logo. I'm not positive, but I think my high school might have been hit when we used the (copyrighted) logo of [some hit show] as a gobo sometime in the past. I'm not exactly sure if this occurred (am I already senile?) but its something you should be aware of.

Good advice on both points there. As a suggestion for the first, try to find disposable aluminum baking sheets (cookie sheets) as they have more flat surface area than pie tins.

As to "not much use of the gobo" if it is for a curtain warmer it could be on for as long as 30 minutes, so take some care in the fabrication. I was amused the first time I came to Vegas and every show had a gobo of the Hotel's logo on the main during walk-in.

And I'm reminded of using a 360Q-6x16 with a 1200W FEL AND a "BASH-booster" (a buck-boost transformer) to project a gobo on a main for a corporate show.

[cutlunch]

I don't know if you have a local supplier of Selecon Pacific lights. You might be able to rent a suitable one from them and do your Gobo on overhead transperency. You can use inkjet or laser printers.

I have included the link to their site about making gobos.

http://www.seleconlight.com/index.ph...159&Itemid=372

You might be able to rent the light for the cost of a factory made gobo which you can't use again.

You could also talk to the supplier and see if they will loan you a suitable Pacific so that the drama teachers / admin can what they are like. All suppliers are keen on setting up future sales.