Light
Ambient mood light
Transform any room into a custom scene. Choose a warm amber glow for a cosy evening or a cool blue for focused work. ColorGel turns your bedside phone into a soft, programmable night lamp — no smart bulbs needed.
Free Android App
Your phone is now a color gel light
ColorGel turns any Android screen into a dynamic color gel filter — for portrait photography, selfie lighting, ambient mood scenes and creative video. No hardware needed. Free forever.
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What it does
Four ways to use your phone as a color light
Whether you're shooting portraits, recording content or winding down for the night, ColorGel gives you instant, portable lighting — no gear required.
Photography
Color gel filter for photography
Professional photographers use physical gel filters to add colour to flash and continuous lights. ColorGel does the same digitally — hold your lit phone near your subject to add a coloured fill light to portraits, still life and product shots.
Content Creation
Selfie and video lighting
ColorGel works seamlessly with your front-facing camera — take selfies or record video while the app runs as your colour light source on the same device. No second phone needed for beautifully lit content.
Creative
Multi-device creative lighting
Go further by running ColorGel across multiple devices at once. Build a full multi-light setup — key light, fill and backlight — using spare phones or tablets. Cinema-quality coloured lighting rigs with zero hardware cost.
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Who uses it
Built for anyone who shoots with light
Portrait photographers
Add coloured fill or background separation to portraits without carrying gel packs.
Social media creators
Nail the aesthetic lighting look for Reels, TikToks and YouTube thumbnails in seconds.
Travel photographers
Pack light. Your phone replaces a full gel kit — an instant creative tool in your pocket.
Night-life and events
Create dramatic coloured ambient light for parties, dinners and intimate gatherings.
Getting started
How to use ColorGel as a color gel light
Up and running in under a minute — no tutorials, no sign-ups, no setup.
1
Download the free app
Install ColorGel from the Google Play Store on any Android device. It's completely free with no in-app purchases and no ads.
2
Choose your color
Pick any color from the full spectrum. Use warm tones for flattering skin, cool tones for cinematic effects, or vivid hues for creative impact. (Slide up/down to control the light intensity)
3
Position your phone
Hold or prop your phone near your subject. The full-screen color light acts as a portable gel filter, softly illuminating whatever you're shooting.
4
Shoot and share
Shoot using ColorGel's built-in front camera — take photos and record video without leaving the app. Or run ColorGel as the light on one device while shooting with a second. Both work, it's your call.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is a color gel filter and how does this app replicate it?
In professional photography and film, a color gel (also called a colour filter or lighting gel) is a transparent sheet placed over a light source to change its colour. ColorGel replicates this by filling your phone's entire screen with a solid, saturated colour — effectively turning the display into a portable, adjustable gel light you can use anywhere.
Is ColorGel free? Are there hidden costs?
ColorGel is free for everyone — no subscription, no in-app purchases, and no ads. If you find it useful, there's an optional "buy me a coffee" link to support future development, but it's entirely voluntary.
Which Android devices is ColorGel compatible with?
ColorGel is compatible with Android smartphones and tablets available on the Google Play Store. Larger or higher-brightness screens — like OLED displays — produce stronger colour output, making them especially effective as a photography light source.
Can I use ColorGel for professional photography and video?
Yes. ColorGel is used by professional photographers and videographers as a lightweight, always-available colour light. It's particularly useful for location shoots, travel photography and run-and-gun video where carrying dedicated lighting gear isn't practical.
Does ColorGel work without an internet connection?
Yes — ColorGel works entirely offline after the initial download. There's no account to log in to and no network required to use the app.
ColorGel is proudly free for everyone.
Building and maintaining ColorGel takes time. If it's made your photos or videos better, consider buying me a coffee — it helps me dedicate more hours to useful tools like this.
Thank you for being part of this journey!
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