Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I am new to strobe lighting, so my question is very basic. I bought two Alien Bees B1600's for interior photography. I need color correction gels for tungsten, fluorescent, etc.. Paul C Buff sells gel packages, but I do not see any with gels specifically designated as CTO, CTB and so-on. Does Paul C Buff have these, or must I buy 8 x 10 gels from another vendor? If so, do you have any recommendations? I need two sets, one for each strobe.

Bonus question: Can the 8 x 10 gels be used with the PLM speedring?

Technically, the warming gels are a pack of three 1/8 CTO and three 1/4 CTO. However, that is the extent of the gels we offer that are color correcting. The other colored gels are for effects.

Lee and Rosco both make gels that are industry standard and are available at most well stocked photo retailers and theater supply houses.

Yes, you can use gels with the speedring cage by wrapping it in the gel. An 8x10 gel would need to be cut in to pizza slice shapes in order to fit. Using a 20x24 sheet, you can cut at least one, possible two, C- shaped gels that can wrap around the cone shape of the speedring.

Thank you, that answers both questions!

Dare I say it, but B&H offers a package of larger, and cheaper, CTO gels including full CTO as well as 1/4 and 1/2. Even includes full CTO plus 3f ND in one gel that is very useful.

The only Lee gels I see at B&H are either 10" x 12" or in rolls. I have been researching this for several days, trying to find the most economical and practical set of color correction gels for my two Alien Bees, with hopefully some material left over to use on speedlights.

One kit that looks good is the Digital Juice "Color Correction Gel Kit," $75 from B&H. It includes fifteen 20"x 24" sheets ranging from 1/8th to double CTB, from 1/8 to full CTO, and from 1/4 to full Plusgreen and Minusgreen. I could cut six 8 x 10's from each sheet! Maybe that's the one you're thinking of?

Here's what I bought. They are 2 each 10 x 12 - $25. Good set.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/2 ... ilter.html