Laptop Red Screen Filters

[Tandum (Robin)]

Does anyone know where to buy these?

I see them for sale from starstuff but somewhere local would be nice.

I'm sick of the screen dazzling me at night even when it's turned down as low as it will go.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

I use 2 sheets of red cellophane sandwiched in a clear A4 plastic ring binder pocket taped to the top of the screen by the binder edge. This way I can just flip it up out of the way when I don't want it covering the screen. Cheap and works.

[netwolf]

The ASNSW in ther light use policy document for the Wiruna Dark site advise

Filters should be made from a deep red gel filter material, which can be obtained from theatrical lighting suppliers such as Herkes Electrical Supplies Pty Ltd, 890 Bourke Street, Waterloo (Tel: 02 9319 3133)

Quoted from http://www.asnsw.com/wiruna/lightusage.asp

I have spoken with Herkes and they have this filter. I recall when I looked there address up they are not far from the Bintel shop in Sydney.


I have also seen on Amart a product sold called Rubylith, which apparently is equivalent of 25a Red photographic filter.
It is sold by these guys on Amart http://www.astro-rubylith.com/Home.html
Also have read that this maybe available from Art supply stores, but i have not looked there. But do not confuse it with Red Acetate which could be used but is not as good.

There is also a Article on IIS about using Neutral Density filter material instead of the Red filter. To cut the brightness of Laptop screens.

Regards
Fahim

[RB (Andrew)]

I took my laptop to a local sign-writter and had it measured up for a deep red perspex cover.
They bent the perspex ends over so it slips onto the screen and stays in place without any light leakage from the sides.
From memory about $25 or so.

[AlexN]

thats a cool idea RB... might have to organise one like that myself.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

ROSCO in Sydney sell it in 400mm wide rolls... Great stuff!!

[CoombellKid]

I've always used red lighting gel best thing for the job and it actually filters
the light properly, being an ex lighting guy. Red coloured perspex and
cellophane although you might think it works it doesn't filter out all the
nasties.

regards,CS

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

You can get the red gel filters from stage and studio lighting companies. I bought mine of a group up here on the Sunshine Coast near Maroochydore.

FifaLite - Effects Lighting
Unit 4-7 Charlston Place
Maroochydore 07 5479 5474.

www.fifalite.com
From memory an A2 size sheet was around $8-$12. Enought to do 3-4 laptops.

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

You can get the red gel filters from stage and studio lighting companies. I bought mine of a group up here on the Sunshine Coast near Maroochydore.

FifaLite - Effects Lighting
Unit 4-7 Charlston Place
Maroochydore 07 5479 5474.

www.fifalite.com
From memory an A2 size sheet was around $8-$12. Enought to do 3-4 laptops.

yep I bought a couple of sheets from a local supplier - gave some to Al Meehan and Scott Alder. Works a treat. Will go and look up name and number. Optically they are great

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

BTW the other option is to us a 2X neutral density filter instead of a red gel filter. Our good friend Dennis wrote a very informative article on the pros and cons of using red screen compared to neutral density.

[Dennis]

I have found that the ND filter works best in conjunction with the “Night Mode” of the various planetarium programs that I have.

The main issue I found with red filters is that some software, in “Night Mode”, used red text on white backgrounds, which then became “invisible” when viewed through a red filter.

Cheers

Dennis

[beren]

Another option is the US online shop Scopestuff, heaps of handy stuff including Rubylith Red Mask Film http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_redm1.htm

[leon]

Just red perspex will do the job fine, cheap and easy to use.

Leon

[citivolus (Ric)]

I have not dealt with them, but http://www.ccslightsound.com.au/ has Roscolux #27 Medium Red 1200x500mm sheets for $15. They're in Port Melbourne. This is 4% transmission to visible light, with a 50% cut off of around 650nm.

Regards,
Eric

[Ian Robinson]

Originally Posted by citivolus

I have not dealt with them, but http://www.ccslightsound.com.au/ has Roscolux #27 Medium Red 1200x500mm sheets for $15. They're in Port Melbourne. This is 4% transmission to visible light, with a 50% cut off of around 650nm.

Regards,
Eric

Sound like the go .... esp since I'm going to need to start taking my laptop with the scope to control the autoguiding soon.

Gaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!! more gear to cart around !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[citivolus (Ric)]

Oops, turns out it is Cotech, not Roscolux. I'm not certain how the quality compares, but for $15, I doubt it is a big deal. They may have ND available as well, I've enquired and will report back.