Flaşçı explains the use of color gels in photography

Lighting equipment manufacturer Flaşçı has released a guide detailing the role of color gels in photography and videography. Color gels are heat-resistant filter materials placed in front of a light source to alter its properties.

According to the guide, gels are not solely for creating color effects like red or blue light. They are also employed to correct the color temperature and tint of light. For instance, diverse light sources such as daylight and artificial light can be harmonized using correction filters like CTO (Color Temperature Orange) and CTB (Color Temperature Blue). Plus Green and Minus Green gels are utilized to balance green-magenta shifts.

Flaşçı emphasizes that color gels function by filtering out specific parts of the light spectrum. This process also results in light loss, the extent of which depends on the gel's density and the light source's spectrum. A CTO gel warms the light, while a CTB gel cools it. A Plus Green gel adds a green component, and a Minus Green gel reduces it.

Furthermore, Flaşçı differentiates between effect gels, which produce creative colors like red, blue, or amber. Unlike correction gels aimed at neutral light, effect gels are intended to introduce deliberate color to the lighting. These can be used for tasks such as coloring backgrounds or establishing atmosphere.

The company reminds users that applying gels involves practical considerations, including correct installation in fixtures and accounting for them in exposure measurements. The guide aims to enhance photographers' understanding of the technical principles behind light manipulation.