Cutting Rosco material?

[jay moussy]

I just got a Rosco Medium sheet to help with my safety lights setup.

I vaguely recall reading that the material is delicate, and caution should be exercised when cutting.
True?
Tools and best practice?

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

It is pretty tough - meant for theater lights and movie sets. Cut with scissors or mat knife.

 

[bdial]

I guess it's delicate if you need it to be pristine. Otherwise, if you don't wad it into a ball or clean it with sandpaper, you'll be fine.

 

[Tel]

Way way back in time theatre lighting material was made from animal gelatine and was pretty brittle. It was also water-soluble (when I was starting out in lighting work, we used to send the newbies out to wash the gels, for a good laugh) but since maybe the early 70s (and largely because of Rosco as I recall) the industry shifted to plastic "gels" because they'd developed plastics that could withstand the heat of tungsten studio lights. The plastic stuff is tough as nails and requires no politeness at all.

 

[Renato Tonelli]

The Rosco gel usually come sandwiched between tissue paper. If that is your case, cut the gel while it is sandwiched between the tissues and you won't get any handling smudges, etc.

 

[eli griggs]

If you know someone with a Circuit Maker or Explorer, they can cut the sheet, using a adhesion sheet, available to 12" x 24"(IIRC)

If you can get the cut size you need with in the 12" limit, and know someone with a machine, I suggest you invest in a new, still in package, of cutting sheets and have the operator use it for your work.

I use Rosco lighting 'gels' in my Thomas Safe Light and I'll definitely use my recently acquired Circut machine on the next set I install.