Grab a swatchbook and look at the color, AP3450 Bodacious Blueberry. Anything odd about it? How about AP5430 Green Gello? Holding it up to the light probably won’t help much. Here’s another that should tip it off, AP3850 King Congo Blue. Did you see the common thread? All three colors allowed more of another color through than the main color than that they are named—huh? AP3450 allows more red through than blue wavelengths, AP5430 allows far more red through than green, and finally AP3850 has almost three more times of red in it than blue. Again, I want to repeat… don’t assume the gel name is truly the gel color. Put it into a light and make up your own mind. Apollo recently introduced a new color named “Not What You Pink” (AP3270) and as you look at it in the book, it is definitely a lav or purple but when you drop it into a light, it has a pink tone to it.
Just because a color is named after a designer, doesn’t mean that if you use it, you will design like them. I’m sure if you asked them, they would probably prefer that you find your own colors and develop your own lighting style. If you buy a set of LeBron James basketball products, you will NOT play like him. It’s the talent and skills developed by lots of practice that will get you that Tony Award. Now go look at some colors!
