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How to Cut Gels

If you are an avid theatergoer, odds are you have witnessed some amazing scenes that are set with the use of different-colored light. The way that a light designer makes the light a different color is through the use of a gel. Gels are transparent sheets that filter the light so it only shows part of the light spectrum, which translates to your eye as a color. These gels are fit to the lighting instrument that they are being used on. However, to start, they come in a large sheet and must be cut down to size.

Things You'll Need

  • Sheet of gels
  • Gel Frame
  • Grease Pen
  • Box cutter or scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Roll out the gels sheets you are going to be using. It's best to place them on a cutting board or piece of scrap wood that you will be able to cut into.

    • 2

      Place the gel frame on top of the gel sheet. This will give you an idea what size to cut the gels.

    • 3

      Use the grease pen to trace around the outside of the gel frame. Move the gel frame and trace around it until you have the outline several gels on the sheet. Do this for the amount of gels you need. You should be able to get six to eight gels per sheet, depending on the size of the gel frame you are using.

    • 4

      Use the box cutter or scissors and cut along the lines you drew with a grease pencil. You should now have gels that can fit nicely into the gel frames. Place the gel frames with the gels into the light fixtures.

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