Understanding Light and Filters 325
color rendition, you must work with white balance control as discussed in detail in Chapter 5.
Therefore learning something about the color temperature is helpful.
Light Balance and Conversion Filters
Light balance and conversion fi lters are used in color fi lm photography to match the color
quality of the illumination to that of the fi lm or to purposely obtain a warmer or cooler color
rendition in the images.
The fi lters with a warming effect — the 81 series light balance and 85 conversion type
or the Decamired red (R, CR) types — are used when the light is too blue. The fi lters with a
cooling effect — the 82 series light balance and 80 conversion fi lter or the Decamired Blue
(B, CB) types — are used when the light is too red. There are also cases when you do not
want to match colors. Early morning and late afternoon scenics are usually exceptionally
beautiful because of the warm color of the early morning or late afternoon sunlight. Do not
destroy this effect with a cooling fi lter.
Table 17-3 shows fi lter values for various situations.
Table 17-2 Color Temperatures of a Few Typical Light Sources
DM Kelvin Type of light
8 12500 Shade with clear blue sky
16 6250 Overcast day
18 5600 Sunlight at noon
31 3200 Tungsten lamps
34 2900 100–200 W household lamps
54 1850 Candlelight
Table 17-3 Filter Values for Various Situations
Purpose Decamired fi lter Wratten fi lter
To get a warmer rendition with electronic fl ash R1.5 81A
To use Tungsten color fi lm in daylight R13.5 85B
To use daylight fi lm with 3200K light B13.5 80A
To use Tungsten fi lm with household lamps B3 82C
Color-Compensating Filters
Color-compensating (CC) fi lters — available in six colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, red, green,
and blue) and in different densities from about 0.05 to DM value 0.50 — are used for changes
in the overall color balance or for fi ne color corrections. These fi lters are most readily avail-
able in gelatin form.
Fluorescent and Vapor Lights
Unlike sunlight or the light from incandescent sources, the light from a fl uorescent tube is not
evenly distributed through the spectrum, so the results with color fi lm can be unpredictable
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