A gobo is a metal or glass piece that is designed to fit into a lighting fixture or gobo projector. The term GOBO actually is shorthand for Go-Between. This comes from where the gobo actually goes… BETWEEN the lens and the bulb, right in the middle of the projector. Go, between. Gobo.

They come in all different sizes from several inches in diameter down to as small as several millimeters. Many of the ellipsoidal gobo lights take what is known as a ‘B size’ gobo. These are one of the largest sizes and hold the highest level of detail.

Many new projectors are taking smaller and smaller custom gobos. These are generally used in mobile lighting circumstances, for DJs, mobile lighting companies, traveling performances, etc.

Metal gobo is US$55 (CDN$60) and B/W glass US$79 (CDN$90), shipping extra

Detailed pricing including duplicate prices and colored gobo prices can be found here: https://www.thegobo.com/custom-gobo-pricing.html

1) To place an order, head to the home page ( https://www.thegobo.com)

2) Choose the product from the menu at the left (Custom Gobo, Wedding gobo, Birthday Gobos, etc.)

3) If you have your own design artwork, you can upload to our system after you have chosen the gobo type (metal or glass)

4) Choose the gobo size you need — if you are unsure or the size needed is not listed, please choose “Not Listed, will specify below” and enter either size specs and/or fixture information. We also maintain a gobo size database for your reference. If you do not have a fixture, you may purchase a projector from us as well.

5) Register for an account, or log in to your existing account,

6) Choose shipping speed — see our shipping policies in this FAQ.

7) Proceed to payment via credit card or PayPal.

Please email following information to sales@thegobo.com

1. Your Contact information including phone number and billing/shipping address

2. Gobo Type: Metal or glass, color or B/W

3. Gobo Size: Include image size and outer size, if you are unsure, provide projector information (brand/model)

4. Latest Need Date (the date you have to have this order delivered)

5. Number of copies (Any duplicates)

6. Your artwork (attached), or our template code (for example, WGT-001)

You may utilize our free design tool here: DIY Gobo Design, and submit the order directly after design is complete. Alternatively, you can choose from our pre-designed templates for wedding/birthday gobos and stock gobos.

Note: Turnaround time = Production Time + Shipping Time. please account for shipping time when you choose the “Need Date”.

Our Standard Production time is three business days for metal and B/W glass, five business days for colored glass gobos. If a proof is required, then the Turnaround Time starts after the proof is approved.

Rush service including next day and same day production are available for a fee (check each product for different rush fees)

Production starts with ARCO (after receipt of complete order) (i.e., acceptable artwork or approved artwork design, gobo size, quantity, and payment)

• We ship via UPS and FedEx.
  • UPS Standard (Ground): 4 - 7 Business days
  • UPS Express Plus: Overnight & Saturday Delivery (if available)
  • UPS Expedited / UPS Express / Saver: Overnight or 2 business days
  • UPS 3-Day Select: 2-3 business days

We accept artwork from nearly all sources. We strongly recommend sending scalable vector format files such as EPS or Adobe Illustrator (AI) files. These formats retain artwork as line-art instead of pixel-based bitmap images like JPG, GIF or BMP. By using line-art instead of bitmap art, the shapes and text will remain extremely crisp with no pixelation when enlarged.

You can also send us photographic images such as jpeg and png files. Please supply the highest resolution available for your artwork unless you supply line-art files. The desired resolution is 1200 dpi but lower resolutions will also work. However, if the resolution of the image is too low (a logo from a website for example) then it may look pixelated and the image will have to be redrawn for an artwork fee.

The maximum resolution that we need is 1200 DPI with dimensions of 60mm x 60mm. You can also send a 72 DPI jpg with the dimensions of 1000mm x 1000mm.

We will adjust the image size based on the gobo size you need.

Metal gobos are cut into a thin metal plate. Just like a stencil, metal requires tabbing or bridging. This means you will see a thin line of metal break up certain letters and designs in order for the design to hold together.

For glass gobos, the design is etched with a laser onto thin glass plates. This allows for highly detailed, photo-realistic artwork in black & white, grayscale, or color.

We recommend all gobos with image size smaller than 24mm to be created in Glass as "bridging" will be quite visible in projections.

Counting the Number of Colors:

-B/W Glass: Black + White

-B/W Glass with Grayscale: Black + White + Halftone

-One Color: Any standard color + White OR Black

-Two Colors: - Color + Color + Black, OR Color + Black AND White

-Three Colors: - Color + Color + Color + Black, OR Color + Color + Black AND White

-Full Colors: - Four Colors or more, or Any Color gradient (except B/W color)

We prefer scalable vector artwork files such as an eps, pdf, or zipped Illustrator file to ensure crispness of the design upon projection.

For One Color, Two Color, and Three Color glass gobos, colors in the design must be switched out for the colors in our standard color palette below. If your design must retain the original coloration, full color glass will be required (this will allow colors to be mixed together to create the colors in your design.)

We are able to make virtually any color, but we cannot guarantee the exact match of your colors in the resulting projection due to variations in the fixtures and projection surface. The color of a projected image will always vary from the print color as there is only limited control over the projection environment. The resulting projection color is influenced by factors such as ambient light situation, projection surface color and materials, and color temperature of the light bulb.

Custom Gobos and Projectors are shipped from our office in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

We ship via UPS and FedEx.

• UPS Standard (Ground): 4 - 7 Business days
• UPS Express Plus: Overnight & Saturday Delivery (if available)
• UPS Expedited / UPS Express / Saver: Overnight or 2 business days
• UPS 3-Day Select: 2-3 business days

Local Pickup is available at no extra charge.

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU LEAVE SOME ROOM FOR POSSIBLE DELIVERY DELAY DUE TO WEATHER CONDITION OR CARRIER ERROR.

We are not responsible for shipping delays or losses.

Custom Gobos are non-refundable and non-returnable. Customers are responsible for supplying correct sizing information, text spelling and artwork.

We cannot provide any refunds in the result of a shipping error, or delivery delay caused by carrier.

Customers assumes all responsibility and risk for rush orders.

In the case of shipping damage or loss, all claims should be made by the recipient with the carrier within three days.

Shipping charges are paid by the buyer. Customers are responsible for all shipping charges, duties, customs charges or any other fees that may not be know at the time of shipment.

Customers will be charged with respective sales taxes based on shipping address (No sales tax is collected outside Canada).

Our Product Warranty Terms (PDF file)

Please be advised customers outside of Canada will be charged in US Dollars.

Thegobo.com accepts the following major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express. There is no surcharge for using your credit card to make purchases. Please be sure to provide your exact billing address and telephone number (this is the address and phone number your credit card bank has on file for you). Incorrect information may cause a delay in processing your order. Your credit card will be billed upon confirmation of your order.

Thegobo.com also accepts money orders, cashier's checks, PayPal, and bank wire / email money transfer. Orders are processed upon receipt and verification of payment. We do not accept personal checks of any kind.

We require 100% upfront payment for all gobo orders and product sales.

Proofs typically do not receive a fee unless the following occurs:

After the first proof, one more proof or revision is allowed at no charge. On the third revision and beyond, Studio Time artwork charges will apply which is $25.00 for each change.

*This does not apply if we have made an error, only if there is a desired artistic change.

Cancellation of proof will incur a $25.00 studio time charge (If order is cancelled prior to production).