Fabric gobos? at DVinfo.net

John Locke · February 1st, 2003, 08:50 PM

Does anyone know of a company that sells fabric gobos, made with velcro on the edges so they can be attached to popular brands of softboxes such as PhotoFlex?

Peter Wiley · February 2nd, 2003, 08:10 AM

I've never heard of any such, but I'd like to know too

I immediately thought these would not be hard to make, but then as I thought a little further I wondered how one would support the open areas of a gobo in a piece of fabric . . .

Maybe one would have to sew in the open parts with light fabric (or mesh?) inbetween the darker areas -- and that would be some difficult sewing if the shapes were complicated . . . and then would enough light pass through the light fabric?

John Locke · February 2nd, 2003, 07:19 PM

Good questions, Peter.

PhotoFlex already has the "circle spot" and "strip" attachments that connect by velcro to the inside of the softbox rim. They're all cloth, and hold up fine (no sagging around the cutout parts), despite having the holes cut out, I guess just because the velcro supports them on all sides...as if in a frame. Plus, the designs are simple.

Patterned gobos might be more difficult, depending on the intricacy of the pattern. Your idea is good...light or mesh fabric. Maybe even a heat-resistant clear plastic, if plastic able to endure temperatures that high without buckling exists.

PhotoFlex...you listening?

John Locke · February 5th, 2003, 07:59 PM

Peter,

Check this out.

Although it's huge, it shows that we're thinking about can be done...without the cutouts sagging.

February 1st, 2003, 08:50 PM	#1
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Fabric gobos? Does anyone know of a company that sells fabric gobos, made with velcro on the edges so they can be attached to popular brands of softboxes such as PhotoFlex? __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

February 2nd, 2003, 07:19 PM	#3
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Good questions, Peter. PhotoFlex already has the "circle spot" and "strip" attachments that connect by velcro to the inside of the softbox rim. They're all cloth, and hold up fine (no sagging around the cutout parts), despite having the holes cut out, I guess just because the velcro supports them on all sides...as if in a frame. Plus, the designs are simple. Patterned gobos might be more difficult, depending on the intricacy of the pattern. Your idea is good...light or mesh fabric. Maybe even a heat-resistant clear plastic, if plastic able to endure temperatures that high without buckling exists. PhotoFlex...you listening? __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

February 5th, 2003, 07:59 PM	#4
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Peter, Check this out. Although it's huge, it shows that we're thinking about can be done...without the cutouts sagging. __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

February 2nd, 2003, 08:10 AM	#2
Peter Wiley Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lewisburg PA Posts: 752	I've never heard of any such, but I'd like to know too I immediately thought these would not be hard to make, but then as I thought a little further I wondered how one would support the open areas of a gobo in a piece of fabric . . . Maybe one would have to sew in the open parts with light fabric (or mesh?) inbetween the darker areas -- and that would be some difficult sewing if the shapes were complicated . . . and then would enough light pass through the light fabric?