Table 3-3.–Light Balancing filters
Filter color
Yellowish
Bluish
Filter number
To Obtain 3200 K from:
To Obtain 3400 K from:
81
3300 K
3510 K
81A
3400 K
3630 K
81B
3500 K
3740 K
81C
3600 K
3850 K
81D
3700 K
3970 K
81EF
3850 K
4140 K
82C+82C
2490 K
2610 K
82C+82B
2570 K
2700 K
82C+82A
2650 K
2780 K
82C+82
2720 K
2870 K
82C
2800 K
2950 K
82B
2890 K
3060 K
82A
3000 K
3180 K
82
3100 K
3290 K
color balancing filter can be used to raise the color
temperature 100 K. Light balancing filters affect the
entire visible spectrum of tungsten light and provide an
adjustment from one Kelvin temperature to another.
When the color temperature of a tungsten light
source is unknown, you can use a color temperature
meter to determine it. When trying to determine what
light balancing filter to use for producing a particular
color temperature with a given light source, you may use
the following methods:
1. Refer to the scale on a color temperature meter.
2. Refer to the tables in the Photo-Lab-Index.
3. Consult the manufacturer’s publication for a
particular filter or meter.
4. Consult appropriate film or filter data sheets.
Light balancing filters are Series 81 and Series 82.
Refer to table 3-3 to determine light balancing filters that
can be used to raise or lower the color temperature of a
given color.
CONVERSION FILTERS
Conversion filters are used in color photography
when a significant adjustment of an exposing light is
required to convert the color quality of the exposing
light to the color temperature for which a film is
balanced.
Conversion filters generally come in two series. The
80 series of filters are blue in color and convert tungsten
light to color qualities acceptable for use with daylight
film. The 85 series of filters are amber in color and
convert daylight to color qualities acceptable for use
with tungsten film.
The correct filter to use for a given situation with a
given film can most accurately be determined by
consulting conversion filter tables in the Photo-
Lab-Index or reading the filter and film data sheets.
COLOR COMPENSATING FILTERS
Color compensating (CC) filters are used to adjust
the overall color balance obtained from color film,
particularly slide film. Without the use of color
compensating filters, improper color cast can result.
For cameras, CC filters are normally used to color
balance the light from sources, such as fluorescent,
tungsten, and mercury-vapor lights, and the “bounce”
light reflected from colored surfaces. They are also used
to balance lighting effects under unusual circumstances;
for example, underwater lighting. These filters can be
used to compensate for a known color deficiency of an
unexposed color film. They can also be sandwiched
(layered) when mounting a color transparency to
compensate for an off-color hue.
3-5
