Spotlight Diffusion

Spader

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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
How does it keep from melting?
I would think it would go up in no time.
 
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
 
I like R119. I tried R101 for my last show with spots and it spread the beam too much for me. The R119 seemed to soften the edge without making the size of the spot much different. R101 seemed to double the size of the beam on stage.
 
Try the Freezer Bag first before you buy any gel I bet with the short throw it will look great if it's not enough try adding another layer of freezer bag. I use two layers of freezer bags in my frost frame everyday and and i'm on different lights every night with the show i'm on right now. It usually looks best with a shorter throw. I'd be willing to bet I've actually had it in the same fixture you have at some point in time it's hard to remember now though. It'll give you that little bit of "smoosh" on the edge i think you are looking for. Good Luck!
 
How would the bag not melt? There isn't a fan on the gel assembly, and the tungsten lamp is pretty hot.

I dunno if I would trust it.
 
Last I looked, the Q1000 had a fan mounted below the front of the unit, blowing cooling air on the gel changer.

SB

It does not. And I would rather spend $6 on the diffusion than try the bag and risk covering the lens in melted plastic...
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If you insist that the bag is going to melt then most likely the purchased gel would melt too it's truly your choice. Try R132 will give you less diffusion than R119.
 
It does not. And I would rather spend $6 on the diffusion than try the bag and risk covering the lens in melted plastic...
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Perhaps you have a model that's not a Q1000 ?, which according to my memory of having used these for years, as well as the Altman doc's, has 2 fans, including a large blower with a 1" tube that cools the gel frame assembly. Possibly the fan(s) on your's have been removed

SB
 

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Perhaps you have a model that's not a Q1000 ?, which according to my memory of having used these for years, as well as the Altman doc's, has 2 fans, including a large blower with a 1" tube that cools the gel frame assembly. Possibly the fan(s) on your's have been removed

SB

Oh! Yes, I know exactly what you are talking about. Ours do not have that tube (which up until now I had thought would be for support, keeping the weight of it off of that back fan), nor do I know what happened to it. Perhaps our dealer sent us faulty spotlights...again...we've already replaced one, but for a minor reason (the bolts keeping the gel assembly in place had odd sizes and wouldn't thread properly).
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