Can I make a custom projector gobo from a digital photo using film or transparencies?
Asked 11/1/2017
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I use a 40W LED gobo projector that takes glass or metal gobos up to about 40mm. Custom glass/metal gobos are expensive, so I’m looking for a lower-cost way to project images made from digital photos, logos, or textures.
Could a photo transparency, film, or similar material work in place of a traditional gobo? I need the non-image areas to block as much light as possible, with only the intended image transmitting light. What materials or process are typically used for this with an LED projector?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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You might have some success with using a lithographic material such as Kodalith-ortho, Type 3. It was used for photomechanical reproductions and special effects for light shows back in the day.
It is high contrast and high density material. Density of 4.0 is normal. It can be screened for half-tone renditions. It has an ISO around 6.
The sheets are dimensionally stable 0.003" PET film base. I don't think glass plates are still available. If they are, a glass cutter can be used for making the gobo. If the film is okay; but, you need something flatter, maybe you could sandwich the film between two glass disks for the job.
Originally, gobos had to be made of metal because of the high temperatures of the light source. If your projector is LED driven, perhaps the temperatures are within the capabilities of these "slides."
The glass sandwich hi-con slides used to sit in an air-cooled projector for hours, day-after-day, for weeks, with no noticeable damage.
Originally by user21789. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user21789
8y ago
0
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Yes—because your projector is LED-based, a film or transparency solution may be practical where older hot lamp projectors required metal gobos.
From the answers, two workable approaches are:
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High-density lithographic film such as Kodalith-style ortho film. This is designed for very high contrast and high opacity in the dark areas, which helps reduce unwanted light bleed. If film flatness is an issue, it can be sandwiched between glass disks.
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A custom slide/transparency made from your digital file by a lab that outputs “digital file to slide.” These services can size the image appropriately. For best blocking, prepare artwork with a black background rather than white; the black areas block most of the light, especially in dim rooms.
A transparency generally won’t match a true glass or metal gobo for absolute blackout, but with a 40W LED projector it can work well enough for many uses. The key is using a material/process that produces very dense blacks and having the image sized correctly for your projector’s gobo holder.
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