Flash gel vs filter

Hello,

Are gels and filters (the ones attached to the source light of a flash) give the same results?

I have no way to get my hands on 1/2 CTS gel so I am wondering if this could be replaced with a filter and which one?

Gel is just another name for filter (in the past acetate foil was coated with dyed gelatine, hence the designation

Lighting filters (gels) are availible online from e.g. B&H, so no problem to get them by post...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/44228-REG/Rosco_RS344211_3442_Filter_1_2.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/Strobist-10-ROSCO-2x5-Flash-Gel-Filter-Lighting-VELCRO-/250804932813?pt=Camera_Flash_Accessories&hash=item3a652390cd#ht_1846wt_1135

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cheers, Peter
Germany

thanks so much!
cheers

Peter Berressem said:

Gel is just another name for filter (in the past acetate foil was coated with dyed gelatine, hence the designation

Lighting filters (gels) are availible online from e.g. B&H, so no problem to get them by post...

Click to expand...

Was a very helpful post, and gel is just an old name for filters. Many photographers do still call them color gels.

But just incidentally, FWIW, gelatin is a clear brittle solid material from animal bones, available in sheets or powder. In the old days (before plastic), it was colored to make filters, and gelatin was the base material of the filters (then).

Acetate or polycarbon plastic replaces gelatin today. We might still call them gels though.

Expending on this-
What is the difference between CTO and CTS gels?

Is there any way to imitate the effect achieved by 1/2 straw CTS with other accessories?

D5000Angora said:

Expending on this-
What is the difference between CTO and CTS gels?

Click to expand...

The difference is in the tint. CTO is a tad on the red/orange side while CTS is more yellow.

D5000Angora said:

Is there any way to imitate the effect achieved by 1/2 straw CTS with other accessories?

Click to expand...

If the geled source (your flash) is the single (or: major) light source there's no reason to use a gel as it's effect is the same as dragging the WB-Kelvin slider (in RAW processing) to about minus 500.

If you by chance prefer to set a 'custom WB' in camera you may use a blueish card to achieve this effect. E.g.:
http://www.warmcards.com/WC1.html
--
cheers, Peter
Germany

D5000Angora said:

Expending on this-
What is the difference between CTO and CTS gels?

Is there any way to imitate the effect achieved by 1/2 straw CTS with other accessories?

Click to expand...

CTO = Color Temperature Orange
CTS = Color Temperature Straw

CTO has a bit more red, CTS has a bit more yellow. These days, I'm using CTS more often than CTO.

The stuff is dirt cheap. Just go onto the B&H website and buy a few sheets.

This is definitely a hands-on education project. You can't learn this any more than you can learn to drive by reading a book. Good luck!