Rosco is one of the largest and oldest manufacturers of gelatins and color filters in the world.
Founded over a century ago, Rosco has developed many lines of color filters over the years such as Roscolux, Cinegel, Supergel and e-colour+.
In this article, we'll cover the Rosco e-colour+ range to answer some of the most common questions asked by film and television professionals about this popular filter range.
#1 What is Rosco e-colour+?
Rosco e-colour+ is a complete line of color filters for theatre, film and television production. It was developed in 1992 and consists of materials for color correction, neutral density, color effects, diffusion and reflection.
e-color+ filters are available in 21"x24" (53 cm x 60 cm) sheets and 48"x25' (1.22 mx 7.62 m) rolls.
#2 Is Rosco e-colour+ the same as Lee?
Yes, e-colour+ is essentially the same product as Lee.
e-Colour+ and Lee are derived from the Cinemoid filter system, which was introduced to Europe in the early 1950s by Strand Lighting .
Therefore, they share the same name/number/color system.
Examples:
- L201 Full CTB is the same as E201 Full CTB
- L250 1⁄2 White Diffusion is the same as E250 1⁄2 White Diffusion
- L210 0.6ND is the same as E210 0.6ND
- L119 Dark Blue is the same as E119 Dark Blue
Both e-color+ and Lee filters are manufactured using the same materials and processes.
They are both coated polyester films.
In conclusion, there's an e-colour+ filter to match any Lee filter - just swap the L for an E!
#3 How is Rosco e-colour+ different from Rosco Cinegel?
Historically, the main difference between e-colour+ and Cinegel is in their manufacturing processes and their name/number/colour systems.
Cinegel: Deep dyed polyester
Cinegel is an optically clear polyester (PET) film that uses a deep tint technique to embed color into the filter.
The PET film is passed through a heated dye bath which allows the colored dye to penetrate the base film. This traps the color inside the plastic for greater color stability as it fades.
It should also be noted that the Cinegel range has won two Oscars® for technical achievements:
- The first was for the original development of the Cinegel color correction range.
- The second was for the introduction of CalColor - a range of primary and secondary color filters (RGB and CMY) which are calibrated for cameras.
e-colour+: Surface coated polyester
The e-colour+ process coats the PET with a dye solution to provide uniform color throughout the film for reliable performance in the field.
While this process provides acceptable resistance to dye fade when placed on warm lights, surface coated filters like Lee and e-colour+ do not retain their tint as well as deep tint filters like Cinegel. A full surface coated BTC, for example, tends to skew green as it fades.
There are a few other differences between the two filter lines. As mentioned earlier, Cinegel and e-colour+ have different name and number systems - a three-digit system for e-colour+ and a four-digit system for Cinegel.
There are also color differences in their correction filters. A full Cinegel BTC, for example, does not correspond to a full e-colour+ BTC. That's because Cinegel was originally designed in the USA to match Kodak film standards. e-color+ filters (and Lee filters), on the other hand, match the AGFA film standards used in the UK and Europe.
Although these standards are no longer as important as they once were due to the widespread use of digital cameras, they explain why the CTO and CTB colors of Cinegel and e-colour+ differ.
#4 What are the benefits of e-colour+ filters?
- e-colour+ is a cost effective and affordable filter solution. Consult a Rosco dealer in your area for pricing.
- All e-colour+ rollers feature a 1" (2.54cm) core. This is an important advantage when storage space is limited. Whether it's gel space in a warehouse, truck or gel cart - Rosco e-colour+ takes up less space than rolls on 2 inch (5.08cm) cores like Lee's.
- Rosco recently introduced edge-scored rollers for the most popular color correction and diffusion filters in the line. An imperial measurement is marked on each foot - making it easy to measure, cut and track how much gel is left on the roll.
- e-colour+ filters are coated with a flame retardant solution that meets the BS-3944 flammability standard.
#5 Where can I get e-colour+ filters?
e-colour+ filters are available, worldwide, at five Rosco stock locations: Stamford, CT; Sun Valley, CA; Toronto, Canada; London, UK; and Madrid, Spain. Contact us for more information on the e-colour+ range.
source: Barbizon