Dirk DeJonghe Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 Can someone explain to me how to apply ND sheets (Rosco) to a window in a door? I know you have to use a liquid and then squeegee it out but what kind of liquid? Any tips? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remi Adefarasin Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 Try using baby oil. Pre-cut your gel first or it will get messy. Then use a tissue to smear the oil around the windows edge. 3/4" smear. You don't need to go right to the edge. Then squeegee the air bubbles out. It works real neat & cleans up a treat with some tissues. Remi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Bowerbank Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 I've used soapy water before, and the ND held for 3 days. Just be careful in how much water you use, you won't need much. On one shoot I was on, they used to much water and it gave the window a weird wavy appearance, but then by the next morning it looked perfectly fine. So it's a good idea to take care of it the day before a shoot if you've never done it before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Walter Graff Posted November 4, 2007 Premium Member Share Posted November 4, 2007 I'd not use baby oil. It is not a good idea. The way we do it is with either plain water or water with a touch of soap added. Use a spray bottle and squeegee from the center out. That is all you need to get good cohesion to a window with gels. Water will hold it for the shoot day and soapy water (dishwashing liquid) for even longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Ryle Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 Hi There I'd definitely second the water idea - soapy or otherwise. I've often used a spritzer with clean water for this. A good squeegee is a must. One thing to watch out for is dusty gel - all surfaces have to be clean before you start (I've been caught out by gels having picked up dust due to static - you end up with a strange bumpy/bubbly appearance - fine for distant backgrounds but not so good on car windows 6" from the talent!) Cheers Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Hal Smith Posted November 4, 2007 Premium Member Share Posted November 4, 2007 Rosco has a detergent solution they recommend but I can't find my notes. Contact Rosco technical support, someone there will know what is their witch's brew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert duke Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 the Key I am working with right now used water and sprite mixed, I dont know the mixture, in a spray bottle. Then Squeeged. The rigging key hung some large windows using paper tape and snot tape. Paper then snot on top. It was fast and dirty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remi Adefarasin Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Don't knock baby oil till you've tried it. I was a doubter too. Only round the edges mind. The centre stays totally dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Walter Graff Posted November 7, 2007 Premium Member Share Posted November 7, 2007 (edited) Don't knock baby oil till you've tried it. I was a doubter too. Only round the edges mind. The centre stays totally dry. I don't doubt it, but here's the problem I have with it. To walk into someone home, or establishment and put oil on their windows, and perhaps expensive windows with nice dressings, with ANY potential at leaving their home not exactly like one left it is not acceptable to me. I do not know anyone in the states that uses or would even consider such a thing. To me it would be the equivalent of putting a PVC dolly down on someone's carpet and spraying the tracks to lubricate them with WD40 or 3 in 1 oil. Sure it may work, but what might the consequences be, and what kind of clean up am I going to have. It's just not something I would suggest when a simple spray bottle, water and a teaspoon of soap does the trick, and doesn't leave odor or residue and cleans up real easy with no residue on your windows, crew, or any other part of someones home. Perhaps in the UK it is something that works, but for a novice filmmaker I would not suggest it. Edited November 7, 2007 by WALTER GRAFF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Alessandro Machi Posted November 8, 2007 Premium Member Share Posted November 8, 2007 I heard that the baby oil option is used primarily for porn movies. It was discovered by accident after filming an oil on oil wrestling scene in which the two performers brushed up against a glass... oh well, apparently one had to be there. Ironically the lead star's name was Endy. As for using soap and water, just make sure the owners of the property don't see you lathering up their windows because they just may expect you or your crew to clean up each and every window after the shoot is done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Rosenbloom Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 It helps to have a clean window, but I haven't used a squeegee in years; just 1/2" clear double stick tape, which you apply all around the outer edge of the glass. It doesn't really matter what you use to adhere the gel to the window - as long as it doesn't show, sticks and can be removed at wrap. The main thing is to sweep any excess gel from the center out the edge, and then have a good new blade to trim away the excess. Here's a shot w/ full cto on the inside of the windows, done w/ double stick clear tape - no oil, or soapy water or squeegee: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member John Sprung Posted November 9, 2007 Premium Member Share Posted November 9, 2007 Another thought -- Home Depot sells a couple kinds of ND/reflective material for semi-permanent installation on glass. They come with some sort of spray bottle stuff that's supposed to hold for as long as you want, and come off clean. Has anybody tried that? -- J.S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now