Color Correction Gel Pack for the Optical Spot: What's Inside
By Westcott | Published: 2026-11-01
Category: Product Reviews
A question-and-answer look at the 10-pack color correction gels for the Optical Spot by Lindsay Adler: what each gel does, how to choose one, and when to skip the pack.
Quick answer
The pack holds ten color correction gels sized for the Optical Spot by Lindsay Adler: three blue (Full, 1/2 and 1/4 CTB), four orange (Full, 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 CTO) and three green (Plus Green, 1/2 and 1/4 Plus Green). Pick the gel that matches the gap between your strobe's color temperature and the ambient light, and start with the weakest strength that closes it.
Why strengths are split across three color families
The pack is organized around correction, not creative color. CTB raises a light's color temperature toward daylight, CTO lowers it toward tungsten, and Plus Green neutralizes the green spike that fluorescent sources can add. Each family comes in several strengths so you can correct by degrees instead of jumping from uncorrected to fully corrected light.
That matters most when the strobe has to blend with practical light in the same frame. A window, a household bulb and a fluorescent tube rarely sit at the same temperature, and a half or quarter strength often matches better than a full gel. The trade-off is that weaker gels correct less, so mixed scenes can still need a second light gelled differently.
Where this pack stops being the right tool
These are correction gels, so they will not give you saturated creative colors such as deep red or blue washes. If you want bold color effects rather than neutral light, this is the wrong pack.
The gels are also made for the Optical Spot by Lindsay Adler, and the catalog does not list a universal size or a frame for other modifiers. Check the fit against your own Optical Spot before buying, and do not assume they will drop into a different brand's spot or a standard gel frame.
Optical Spot gel pack questions, answered
- Which gel do I choose for a daylight-balanced scene?
- Reach for CTB when the strobe needs to read cooler to match daylight or shade. Try 1/4 CTB first, step up to 1/2, and use Full CTB only when the gap is large. If the scene already looks right, leave the gel off rather than correcting by habit. Test the weakest CTB before committing to a full gel.
- When should I use CTO instead?
- Use CTO when the strobe must blend with warm tungsten practicals or a sunset-toned room. The pack gives you Full, 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 CTO, so you can nudge warmth gradually. The 1/8 is the gentlest option and a good starting point for subtle warming.
- What is Plus Green for?
- Plus Green cancels the green cast that some fluorescent sources add, bringing the strobe closer to the ambient color. Start with 1/4 Plus Green and increase only if a visible green shift remains. It is a correction tool, not a creative green effect.
- Can I stack gels from the pack?
- Stacking is possible but each layer cuts light output and adds another surface that can affect color. Prefer a single gel at the right strength, and only combine when no single gel closes the gap. Recheck white balance after stacking. Expect some light loss whenever you add a gel.
- Does the pack include a holder or frame?
- The catalog lists the gels and their color strengths but does not describe a holder, frame or storage case. Treat the pack as gels only and confirm how they mount to your Optical Spot before you rely on them on set.
- Who should skip this pack?
- Skip it if you need saturated creative colors or if you shoot with modifiers other than the Optical Spot, since fit for other fixtures is not stated. Buy it if you regularly balance a strobe to mixed ambient light and want graded correction strengths in one set.
Product facts
- Color Correction Gel Pack for Optical Spot by Lindsay Adler (10-pack): Ten-gel pack with three CTB, four CTO and three Plus Green strengths, made for the Optical Spot by Lindsay Adler. One purchase covers the three most common correction jobs, so you can match daylight, tungsten or fluorescent ambient light without buying single gels.
Color Correction Gel Pack for Optical Spot by Lindsay Adler (10-pack)
