Dichroic filter transmission levels are substantially higher than an equivalent gel filter providing considerable savings in energy and money. Dichroic filters are highly color selective producing brighter, cleaner appearing, saturated color. Dichroic filters will not melt, wrinkle, shrink or fade like gel filters. Dichroic filters retain their characteristic spectral transmission properties indefinitely for long life and value. Dichroic filters are low maintenance and seldom if ever require replacement.
Dichroic filters offer superior performance and long term cost savings.
Tolerance is important because the tighter the manufacturing tolerance is the closer the color matching will be. Most commercial dichroic filter houses provide material that is within 10-15 n.m. of specification. More specialist suppliers, such as Lightwave Research, provide a much tighter tolerance of 5 n.m. Let's say the supplier just happens to run a batch that is within 5 n.m. of the target color. You may be satisfied because the color match will be quite close.