Advice re attaching warming gels to flash head

[rhaytana__tim_adams_]

Several photographers have written of the good results they get by

taping a warming gel over their flash heads ... but so far I haven't

read anything about what kind of tape to use. Masking tape? Scotch

tape? I'd like to experiment with this technique, but am a little

worried about the gel/tape combo doing a melt down while I'm busy

taking pictures, and then having trouble getting it off later.

 

Also, the gels I'm going to experiment with are from a Lee Filter

swatchbook, which a generous counterperson at the photo shop was

nice enough to pass on to me free of charge. Some are rated 'HT,'

for high temperature, others not. The flash isn't continuous light;

does it make a difference? One photographer even recommended that I

could get roughly the same results by taping a piece of processed

negative film over the flash head ... and I'm sure that's not rated

for temperature!

[barry schmetter]

Do yourself a favor and buy a nice roll of gaffers tape. Just like duct tape, but

without all the adhesive residue left behind. Gaffers tape has 1000's of uses

and once you use it--you're addicted. Gels are not going to melt on a small

flash..period. The flash will blow out before the gel melts--so no worry there.

Try using a "bastard amber" or 1/8 (or 1/4) CTO gel on the flash for some

balanced warming.

[hal_bissinger]

<i>... which a generous counterperson at the photo shop was nice enough to pass on to me free of charge. </i><p>

Damn decent of them considering that there is no charge for a sample swatch book. When was the last time you paid for paint cards?<p>

Anyway, I second the motion for gaffers tape. Comes off clean. I wouldn't worry about your flash getting hot enough to melt the tape or gel either.

[al_kaplan1]

Masking tape works fine. It will leave residue if it stays on for a few days, but it's easily cleaned off with lighter fluid. I often just use a rubber band around the flash. The little bit of it crossing the front of the flash won't affect anything.

[andrew_somerset1]

I use painter's tape, leave it on for weeks, and never have a problem with residue. Far cheaper than gaffer's tape, when you don't need strong tape.

[rhaytana__tim_adams_]

Thanks to all for the feedback. Guy at Home Depot assured me that they had gaffer's tape in stock ... so, naturally, what had no one heard of when I arrived? I wound up buying painters' tape and it worked fine ... but I think I'll splurge for the gaffer's tape from a lighting supply house, whoever has it.

[mike_scott2]

Posted this once and it didn't seem to upload - sorry if I repeat myself:

 

Go to www.markertek.com and type "gaffer" in the search box. They have TecNec gaffer's tape in 14 different colors, including camouflage!

[twmeyer]

I use MMM 810 and it works fine, it's clear and the adhesive is acrylic, which won't dissolve the plastic of a flash body. Here I just cut a few pieces of various CTO that I then stacked under the little snap on lid that attaches to my Lumedyne head to slightly exceed the color balance of the lights at the pool. It made the bride a little warm and made the pool lights go even cooler for a nice blue contrasting background (using the Tungsten WB on the Fuji S2). About 1 second @ f5.6 on a tripod, big fun, as it was almost the last shot of the night and no pain was to be felt anywhere at <i>this</i> wedding!... t

[danny_spry]

Is this going on your on camera flash? I've seen some people use double stick tape right in the middle of the gel and keep their various gels stacked on the top of the flash.