The GelFind program is designed to find five similar colors for any gel listed in the two data files, GEL_72.LST and GEL_81.LST. For example, if a show from the 1950's was designed with colors from the Brigham® or Cinemoid® line of gels, a closely matching substitute color from the Lee®, Roscolene® or Roscolux® line can be found.
The two data files (GEL_72.LST and GEL_81.LST), included with the program, list the x and y Trichromatic color coefficients (CIE) for the Brigham® , Cinemoid®, Roscolene®, Roscolux®, Lee® and Gelatran® gel lines. The coordinates listed in GEL_72.LST were originally published in October, 1972 in Theatre Design and Technology (Batcheller: "A Colormetric Study of Stage Lighting Filters"). Those coefficients included in GEL_81.LST were published in Warfel and Klappert's Color Science for Lighting the Stage (1981). The coordinates for the Brigham® line listed in the GEL_81.LST are from Batcheller (1972).
The search routine uses the computed distance between the gel colors as plotted on a chromaticity plot. For a more thorough analysis of color coefficients and chromaticity plots read Chapter 2: "Colorimetry" in Warfel and Klappert (1981). The color distance, however, is not a direct indication of color differences. Based on the comparisons by Warfel and Klappert (1981), color coordinate distances of .032 in the blue range, .015 in the pink range, and .007 in the bastard amber range should provide acceptable color substitutes.
GelFind was originally compiled on an AT&T, PC6300, with an intel 8086 cpu running under DOS 3.3. I began this project in 1991. My desire was to develop a better understanding of the colors used by designers, especially Jean Rosenthal, in the early to mid 1950's. The gel line of choice at that time was Brigham. I do not have access to a Brigham swatch book and had no real idea of what (for example) Brigham 29: Special Steel Blue really looked like. After creating GelFind I discovered that Roscolene 852: Smokey Blue or Lee 165: Daylite Blue are close matchs to Brigham 29. I do have Roscolene and Lee swatch books.
GelFind is copyrighted (1991-2003) by Larry Wild and James Jennings and is being distributed as "contrib_ware." You are granted a limited license to make a copy for use on a private, non-commercial basis. If you find GelFind suitable to your needs, we ask that you make a $10.00 contribution in cash or food to your local "Food Bank."
The data included in GEL_72.LST is copyrighted 1972 by the U. S. Institute of Theatre Technology, Inc. The data included in GEL_81.LST is copyrighted 1981 by Yale University.
Use of this software is entirely at your own risk.
We, Larry Wild and James Jennings, make no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, including without limitation, any warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. We, Larry Wild and James Jennings, shall not be liable for any damages, whether direct, indirect, special or consequential arising from a failure of this program to operate in the manner desired by the user. We, Larry Wild and James Jennings, shall not be liable for any damage to data or property which may be caused directly or indirectly by the use of this program.
IN NO EVENT WILL LARRY WILD AND JAMES JENNING BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS, OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS PROGRAM, OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY OTHER PARTY.
Installing GelFind
Create a subdirectory (or folder) on the desktop or hard drive (for example: C:/GelFind). Copy the four GelFind
program files, GELFIND.EXE, GEL_72.LST, GEL_81.LST and GELFIND.DOC into this directory or folder. If
the two data files are not present in the same directory or folder with the executable file (GELFIND.EXE), the
program will terminate and provide the following message:
Warning: _GEL_72.LST_ not found",
Leaving GelFind...
Because the two data files are written in ordinary ASCII text, the careless use of a text editor can result in the
accidental alteration or destruction of its contents.
Starting GelFind
Double click on the program icon in the GelFind folder and the program will open in a DOS window. After the
title block appears, a prompt will be issued asking whether you want to write the results to a file. Type "Y" (or
"y") followed by <ENTER> (or <Carriage Return>), if you want to save the on screen output. If this option is
requested, a prompt will appear requesting a name. The file name can be any name acceptable to MSDOS
(eight letters with a three letter extension after the dot). If the file already exists, the following menu will appear:
File _filename_ already exists: <A>ppend to file | <D>ifferent name | <N>o output file | <O>verwrite file :>Enter the letter of the desired option. If the "<A>ppend to file" option is chosen, the results of the search will be added to the end of the existing file. If the "<D>ifferent name" option is chosen, a prompt for a file name will appear. If the "<N>o output file" option is chosen, the results of the search will appear only on the screen. If the "<O>verwrite file" option is chosen, the contents of the existing file will be erased and may not be recoverable, even with a file recovery program.
Choosing a Data File...
The following menu will now appear.
Which data file do you want to search?
1- 1972: Batcheller (TD&T)
Brigham, Cinemoid, Roscolene
2- 1981: Warfel and Klappert (COLOR SCIENCE FOR LIGHTING THE STAGE)
(Brigham), Cinemoid, Roscolene, Roscolux, Lee, Gelatran
Enter your choice (1 or 2):> _1_
Enter which data file, Batcheller (1972) or Warfel and Klappert (1981) you wish to search. Although Cinemoid®
and Roscolene® appear in both files, the x and y coordinates are not the same. The Brigham® coordinates
listed in the 1981 file are the same as those listed in the 1972 file. If you are attempting to match Brigham color
with Cinemoid® or Roscolene®, I would use the 1972 data file (Choice:> 1). To match Cinemoid® to
Roscolux®, you must choose the 1981 data base (Choice:> 2). If GelFind can not find your chosen data file, the
program will end with the following message:
Warning: _GEL_72.LST_ not found",
Leaving GelFind...
Selecting a manufacturer...
The following menu will now appear.
Choose a manufacturer: <B>righam | <C>inemoid | <R>oscolene | <Q>uit or <M> Change DataBase :>To begin a search, type the letter (from the menu) identifying the company's line of gels. Enter <M> to return to the "Which data file do you want to search?" menu or <Q> to exit the program.
Entering the color number...
The following prompt will appear.
Enter gel number:>After the company has been identified (Brigham), type the gel number (29) as listed by the manufacturer at the prompt and press <ENTER>. The program will search for the chosen color and, if it is found will display the following message:
Brigham 29: Special Steel Blue -- found in _GEL_72.LST_The five gels which most closely approximate the color of the chosen gel will then be displayed.
The five most closely matched colors to Brigham 29: Special Steel Blue in _GEL_72.LST_ are: Roscolene 851: Daylite Blue Dst: 0.0272 Cinemoid 42: Pale Violet Dst: 0.0357 Roscolene 850: No Color Blue Dst: 0.0362 Roscolene 855: Azure Blue Dst: 0.0476 Brigham 28: Light Navy Blue Dst: 0.0581You may also enter both the manufacturer and color number at the "Choose a manufacturer" menu prompt.
After the search is complete, the "Choose a manufacturer:" menu will reappear and another search can be started. If the results are being saved to a file, the results of the new search will be automatically added to that file.
Exiting the program...
Enter <Q> from the "Choose a manufacturer:" menu.
List of files
GELFIND.EXE. The executable program
GEL_72.LST. The Batcheller (1972) data base
GEL_81.LST. The Warfel and Klappert (1981) data base
GELFIND.DOC. A Documentaton file
Format of the GelList files...
From the GEL_81.LST entry for Roscolux 21: Golden Amber...
X 21 .594 .395 Golden Amber
X = Manufacturer (Roscolux)
21 = Gel number
.594 = X corordinate
.395 = Y coordinate
Golden Amber = Color Name
James Jennings
6635 Highway 127
Murphysboro, Illinois 62966
Batcheller, David R. 1972. "A Colormetric Study of Stage Lighting Filters." Theatre Design and Technology. No. 30 (October) pages (14-22).
Warfel, William B. and Walter R. Klappert, 1981. Color Science for Lighting the Stage. Yale University Press, New Haven, CN.