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101 Uses for Gaff Tape

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I thought it might be fun for all the readers at A Photo Assistant to get involved on a post and help me compile a list of all the different uses for gaff tape. Just take a moment to consider all the applications for gaff tape on set, on location, in the production van, and anywhere else you might find yourself assisting or shooting. Just use the comments section to share a predicament you found yourself in and was saved by our trusty friend, Mr. Gaff Tape. Just go for it!

I’ll start things off with some of the more common uses of gaff tape…

1.    Tape cords, head-extensions cables, and other wiring to floor to prevent tripping.
2.    Lay blocking markers on floor for models, actors, props.
3.    Tape two 4×8 foamcores together to make a V-flat.
4.    Tape gels and ND onto light heads.
5.    Tape down seamless to floor.
6.    Mark camera, light positions on floor when checking other lighting direction.
7.    Lock off a position on a zoom lens.

Now your turn… share your normal, and crazy, uses for gaff tape!

arrow22 Responses

  1. 29 mos, 2 wks ago

    Made a wallet out of duct tape once. It has lasted forever, of course and is shiny silver now.

  2. 29 mos, 2 wks ago

    I liked it. So much useful material. I read with great interest.

  3. 29 mos, 2 wks ago

    Use gaff tape to separate a circular polarizer stuck on a UV (or any other screw on) filter. Wrap a piece around each rim (make sure you stick the rotating to the stationary rim on the CP) and viola! You’ll wonder why you were fussing with it for 10 minutes before.

  4. 29 mos, 2 wks ago

    I really like your blog and i respect your work. I’ll be a frequent visitor.

  5. Josh
    29 mos, 1 wk ago

    I used some black gaff tape to hide any recognizable logos/symbols on a black guitar. Just took an olfa knife and cut the tape the right shapes. Looks seamless from about 3 feet away!

  6. 29 mos, 1 wk ago

    I find its a great conversation starter. Leave a few pieces conspicuously attached to your clothing after a shoot and see what happens.

  7. Chuck
    28 mos, 4 wks ago

    Makes for some interesting wardrobe options.

  8. 27 mos, 4 wks ago

    Use Gaffe tape to splint fingers or close deep flesh wounds, 2″ tape may be required; preferably black for optimal sympathy factor from the art director.

  9. David Anderson
    25 mos, 2 wks ago

    A little on-set chewing gum?

  10. David Anderson
    25 mos, 2 wks ago

    wrap around fishing line and use an “A” Clamp for re-positional rigging behind the set. Keeps the monofilament from slipping through the clamps pinchers. Very fast and easy

  11. 25 mos, 2 wks ago

    use it as a ad-hoc lint roller

  12. David Anderson
    25 mos, 2 wks ago

    Cover a brick with it. Call it a “brick”

  13. David Anderson
    25 mos, 2 wks ago

    labeling things… more professional than masking tape- which can actually be pretty useful itself. Blue painters tape is the cheeper cousin of Gaff.

  14. Alex
    25 mos, 2 wks ago

    I once had a photographer friend gaff tape his front bumper back onto his car after a car accident. He left it like that for months!

  15. 25 mos, 2 wks ago

    securing synch cords to packs and slaves

  16. David Anderson
    25 mos, 2 wks ago

    Securing repeaters to USB/Firewire cables and such. use white so people dont roll over them or step on em. Keeps the connection from coming loose.

  17. Gish
    24 mos, 2 wks ago

    Tape (white) to a pack and write down power settings.
    Tape bin liners around the studio if needed.
    Tie up mouthy hair stylists… the possibilities are endless.
    I once strapped up my fractured wrist on Location and saw the rest of the week through.
    Recently in Mongolia operated on a dog in the middle of nowhere and gaffered the stitches so it could not be scrached at…

  18. Chris
    23 mos ago

    While photographing a military promotion, I used gaffers tape stuck on itself (to bake double sided tape) to hold epaluttes onto uniforms since nobody had the Velcro fastened version or button open epaulettes. I think I used it to hold a micro-recorder in hiding on the podium once to capture audio for later use when writing a news release.

  19. aguy
    19 mos, 3 wks ago

    While assisting a commercial shooter who has not done a QTVR before I used gaff tape too create a 64 stop degree scale on a lazy susan.

  20. Larry Hunt
    19 mos, 2 wks ago

    We had a lot of prototype seed and fertilizer spreaders to shoot this week, the products looked great but they used old tyres that were dirty. Unfortunately there wasn’t much time in the shoot schedule to properly clean and prep the tyres so I had to improvise. Rolled up around the palm of the hand it worked like a charm pulling out the grit and dirt, worked better than a Magic Erasure without disintegrating into little bits of white fluff.

  21. 14 mos, 1 wk ago

    Use white gaff to make a sort of backboard in front of a pack’s photoslave to give spilling light a little help setting off said pack.

  22. Sarah
    13 mos, 3 wks ago

    Cover model’s mom’s mouth when they won’t shut up! :-D

    These are great.. some practical, some funny, all definitely useful!
    -Sarah
    Stock Pots

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