Plastic Gobos in Source Four LED Series 2 Fixtures

Can I use a Plastic or Transparency Gobo in an ETC LED Fixture?

Depending on the temperature rating of the film used to produce the gobo and the internal temperature of the fixture in question, yes!

Why is this important?

We've had several questions recently about whether it's possible to use plastic or transparency gobos in ETC LED Fixtures. The main limiting factor here is the gate temperature, which is the ambient temperature of the fixture at the shutter gate, which is where a gobo sits. ETC has done tests on a few of our fixtures to determine the maximum gate temperature that fixture will reach under reasonable operation. For best results, we recommend using those temperatures to discuss compatibility with the gobo's manufacturer.

Test Results

Some Notes for Best Results

For best results with plastic gobos, consider the following:

• Any colors printed on a clear plastic substrate will increase the temperature of the plastic, depending on how much radiated IR heat the colors naturally absorb. Solid black being the highest and no colors/clear being the lowest.
• All plastic substrate gobo temperatures will be highest when a fixture is pointed straight up, due to convective heat.  Hence, a fixture pointed straight down will have the lowest plastic substrate temperatures.
• If printing your own gobos, LaserJet Transparency is ideal as it has a higher heat resistance than InkJet Transparency.