Par38 Gels

what types of gels are you using?

I'm just using some of the ones that came with my Par64's.

You can do one of three things. First, try using name brand gel like Rosco, Apollo, Lee, or Gam. All of these are much better then the genertic gel that comes with the kit. I know Rosco makes a high heat version of their gel called Super Gel.

The next thing you can try is using less saturated colors. Try to stay away from dark greens, blues, and purples as they burn through the fastest do to blocking the most infra red light out of other gel colors.

With the weaker powered lamp, there shouldn't really be a need for highly saturated colors. Also try avoiding them being used as up lights. Heat rises, and the light sitting on the ground makes more heat hit the gel then if on it's side or focused down.

The last thing to try is a gel extender with a piece of heat shield at the front, though I don't know if they make gel extenders for Par 38 size frames.

Thanks SerraAva, I'll look into those gels. Sadly, we are using these lights as up-lights to wash the wall behind the stage. We are mainly using red gels.

Maybe consider going LED?

http://www.elationlighting.com/product.asp?ProductIDNum...0&cat=LED%20Lighting

http://www.elationlighting.com/product.asp?ProductIDNum...1&cat=LED%20Lighting

Best regards,

In the future we will switch to LED, it would look nice just having a slow color fade before services. For right now though we'll stick with the Par38's, we got them for $19 each, so they will suffice for a while longer.

I am with SerrAva if you go with Lee or rosco you might find that they last longer. They both offer high temp gel and a par 38 should not burn that fast. One old trick is to use a pounce wheel to poke small holes in the gel to let some heat out. If you go to your local sewing store or know a seamstress they will be able to get you a pounce wheel that you can run over the gel to create a perforated gel it wont change the color much at all.

Pounce wheel holes are debatable. Some have success with them, others don't. I personally haven't had success with it and found it makes the gel burn faster. This isn't to say that others might have success.

Here is the reasoning behind the failure. Since the heat now has areas in the gel which are weak and can begin to melt/burn through faster as oppose to a whole sheet which the heat has to work it's way through before it can melt/burn.