Rosco introduces the Roscolux range of theatrical filters

Rosco announces the introduction of the first new range of theatrical filters in Europe since E-Colour became available in 1992. The addition of Roscolux to Supergel, E-Colour and Cinegel brings the total Rosco filter offering to almost 500 colours and diffusers, available in Europe from stock. Roscolux, the new range shown for the first time at Plasa 2006, is different in two ways that are important to designers. First, the colours are different from those in the existing ranges and they have a long history of use in stage lighting. Roscolux colours have been the standard for American and Canadian lighting designers for 30 years. Some have roots in Rosco’s original gelatine range dating back to 1910. E-Colour and other UK-produced filters are surface coated, i.e. the colour is simply coated on a plastic film base. Roscolux is manufactured using a completely different process, deep-dying. Clear polyester film is passed through a bath of heated solvent suffused with dye, which penetrates into the base film. Having been driven deep into the material, more extreme temperatures are required to cause the dye particles to sublimate through the surface. As a result, deep-dyed filters are more resistant to fading on hot stage lights. In introducing Roscolux at Plasa, Stan Miller, Rosco’s president said: “Rosco has facilities around the world to serve our customers globally. However, distribution of one of our filter ranges, Roscolux, has so far been limited to the US. But as designers expand their working spheres and we all interact on a worldwide basis, the awareness of these colours has grown. To satisfy designer specifications everywhere, Roscolux will now be available from stock at Rosco locations along with our premium line, Supergel, as well as E-Colour and Cinegel.” US designer Ken Posner, currently lighting the Broadway production of Wicked for the West End commented, “Roscolux always has an important place in the colour palette of my designs. The consistency and variety are what make it so important to me. I’m pleased to hear it will now be available in Europe.”