LEE Filters Diffusion Gels Comparison

LEE Filters have an area on their website which shows an approximation of the effect of each gel in two dimensions, you may also see this in the LEE Swatch mobile app. To see the true effect of diffusion gels you need to see the effect on a model - enter Fred the Head.

Fred is a regular in our studio as he's reliable and not demanding! Seriously, it's good to have a constant model and set-up where you can test light and lighting so you can see the effect and later interpret and visualise when on a shoot.


Control image
The unmodified Elinchrom mono bloc flash with an 18cm standard reflector giving an angle of illumination of 60ยบ.


Equipment
The Elinchrom flash head with 18cm reflector. Diffusion gels are held in place with Manfrotto Multiclips. Fred is placed on a bench with a mid-grey background and the light roughly 6 feet away 2 foot 6 inches above head height.


Using the Multiclips is a simple, easy & convenient way to fix the diffusion gels in place and gives a constant distance of around 10 inches from the flash tube for this test. Shown here is 253 Hampshire Frost.

Do remember with all diffusion materials, gel and textile, that the closer to the light source the less pronounced the diffusion effect and the greater the distance from the light the more pronounced the effect. The diffusion effect and optimum distance from the light source will vary between diffusion gels and the effect you are trying to achieve, which is why you may want to consider using larger diffusion gels clipped to a separate scrim frame rather than directly to the rim of a reflector.
















Net curtain, open weave


Net curtain, close weave

LEE Filters are available from dealers worldwide.

Elinchrom flash & LEE Filters are available from The Flash Centre. Email Simon Burfoot or call Brian Collier at the Birmingham branch.

If you're serious about your photographic lighting then maybe The LIGHT Side Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thelightsidegroup/ will interest you. It's about all things to do with light and lighting. TLS is a closed group so someone will need to add you or you'll need to send a request to be added. It's a friendly group, with a degree of humour and some great photographers willing to share and contribute.





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