[BarryE]

I fitted a Rogue gel from their Universal Gel kit designed for flashguns onto my 540 flashgun. Mounted the flash in a softbox and used it a few times to give a low power, accent colour. I was horrified to find it had melted onto the lens of the flashgun. I guess when I mounted the flashgun into the softbox the gel may have come in contact with the flash's lens. Even so, a product designed to be used for flashguns to melt after a few low power flashes is, to say the least, disappointing.

Anyone else any tips for using gels (make & fitting etc) on flashguns.

Thanks.

[-JW-]

maybe using a bigger sheet of foil and wrap it around the flash and tape it to the top and bottom, like this -) , to stay completely clear of the head.
Or using some kind of hard plastic filters, I think there are several systems that mount to the front of any flash for this.

[ecostigny]

Another cautionary tale; another product to avoid. Thanks for the warning!

[BigDave]

a product designed to be used for flashguns to melt after a few low power flashes is, to say the least, disappointing.

Was the gel side toward the flash? In any case, if should not be that sensitive to heat! You may want to contact the company for more info..

Good luck!

[swanlefitte]

I would expect at least 4-5 full power as quick as recharged to do this. I rubber band strips around or some with Velcro. They still touch but lightly and never came close with the 360.
I would think even glued on a few 1/4 power shots couldn't produce that heat. If in the soft box probably pull the wide angle diffuser down for more protection.
Hope you can clean it off alright.

[dcpropilot]

I have never had a problem with the Rogue Flasbender products including their gels. From their website "Rogue Gels are made from the world’s highest quality materials from LEE Filters UK, the world’s leading manufacturer of lighting filter products". How tight was the gel against the flash? I always allow for a little bit of room between the flash and the gel (just enough so that the gel won't crease).

[yucatanPentax]

Since they're designed to mount directly to the flash, melting seems to be a big problem. I'd demand my money back, if possible, as well as contacting the manufacturer and letting them know what's going on with their product.

Rogue Gels Universal Kit

Attached Images

 

[UncleVanya]

My kit of rogue gels has never given me issues in my flashes including the af540fgz. I wonder if the softbox retained more great than normally would be retained by the flash?

[clickclick]

I'd give a call to them for tech support and see what they had to say.

[automorphism]

I also use the Rogue gels on a Cactus flash with hundreds of bursts. I think your flash head might be getting too hot, perhaps there is something wrong with it?

[BarryE]

Was the gel side toward the flash? In any case, if should not be that sensitive to heat! You may want to contact the company for more info..

Good luck!

Dave, there doesn't seem to be any difference in the two sides on mine. I did contact the company and they replied that there needs to be a gap. No surprises there with this response, but it is a bit of a cop out, as in reality contact is often likely and the gels should not be that sensitive, in my view. It would have different if I'd been firing them quickly on full power.

---------- Post added 12-31-19 at 08:28 AM ----------

I would expect at least 4-5 full power as quick as recharged to do this. I rubber band strips around or some with Velcro. They still touch but lightly and never came close with the 360.
I would think even glued on a few 1/4 power shots couldn't produce that heat. If in the soft box probably pull the wide angle diffuser down for more protection.
Hope you can clean it off alright.

I agree. Lower power shouldn't have melted it. It was a problem to get all the colour out of the groves in the lens. It would have to have been a strong red that I glued onto my flash. Now from some angles there is still a pink tinge of colour that can bee seen. Guess I'm going to live with that.

---------- Post added 12-31-19 at 08:29 AM ----------

I have never had a problem with the Rogue Flasbender products including their gels. From their website "Rogue Gels are made from the world’s highest quality materials from LEE Filters UK, the world’s leading manufacturer of lighting filter products". How tight was the gel against the flash? I always allow for a little bit of room between the flash and the gel (just enough so that the gel won't crease).

I did leave a small gap when I fitted it, but I guess when it was pushed into the softbox it may have tightened the gel a bit more. Lesson learnt ...

---------- Post added 12-31-19 at 08:32 AM ----------

My kit of rogue gels has never given me issues in my flashes including the af540fgz. I wonder if the softbox retained more great than normally would be retained by the flash?

My thoughts too. Plus the possible tightening when I slipped the flash into the softbox that might have occurred.

Reassuring to know it's not a common problem. I'll take care in the future ...

---------- Post added 12-31-19 at 08:35 AM ----------

Since they're designed to mount directly to the flash, melting seems to be a big problem.[/URL]

My thoughts too. The instructions to leave a gap they sent me yesterday were not with the set I had - maybe I ignored them when I bought them a couple of years ago, or maybe they are now issuing the warnings with new kits ...

[BigDave]

there doesn't seem to be any difference in the two sides on mine

If it is a gel filter, there will be a gelatin side and an acetate side. Scratch a non-critical area on both sides and see which side has the gelatin.

Gelatin is very soft and easily susceptible to heat and humidity (like film!).

Regards,

[UncleVanya]

If it is a gel filter, there will be a gelatin side and an acetate side. Scratch a non-critical area on both sides and see which side has the gelatin.

Gelatin is very soft and easily susceptible to heat and humidity (like film!).

Regards,

I'm not sure they are actually gel. I've got a set and they seem to be simply plastic. This article says it isn't likely any are gelatin that are made today:
How to use flash gels to color your lighting | Discover Digital Photography

[BigDave]

This article says it isn't likely any are gelatin that are made today:

It could be a generic term being used for historical reference's sake, but easy enough to test. If it is acetate allthe way, then they got quite hot in the box! Just wondering, was there an incandescent modeling light in the box with the flash?

[UncleVanya]

I looked online and found multiple other brand failures. Most involved full power some 1/2 power in rapid succession. Almost every mention said dark red was the worst for heat related failure likely due to the absorbed spectrum.