Gaffer tape

Gaffer tape (also known as gaffer's tape or gaff tape as well as camera tape and spike tape for narrow, coloured gaffer tape) is a heavy cotton cloth pressure-sensitive tape with strong adhesive properties. It is widely used in theatre, photography, film and television production, and industrial staging work.

While similar to and often confused with duct tape, it differs in the composition of both the backing, which is made from fabric as opposed to vinyl or other plastics, and the adhesive, which is usually rubber-based, more resistant to heat and allows easier removal without damaging the surface to which it was adhered.

The precise origin of the name is unknown, one theory being that it is named for the gaffer (chief lighting technician) on a film crew. When cables are taped down on a stage or other surface, either to prevent tripping hazards or conceal them from view of the audience or camera, they are said to be gaffed or gaffered.

The original manufacturer was the Permacel division of Johnson & Johnson, and until the brand's discontinuation by the current owner, was both the preferred brand and a generic reference used in the film, stage, and TV industries.