How to TRULY Keep Flourescents from Looking Green/Blue? at DVinfo.net

Peter Moretti · September 11th, 2007, 12:44 AM

I just finished watching "Mad Hot Ballroom." Great story but the indoor colors looked green, blue and yellow. Here's an old DVInfo post with the same observation: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...362#post742362

What could have been done differently? What went wrong? I just finished reading interviews with the producers and they used a professional cinematographer (DVX100A) and pro finishing.

Are there some flourescents that white balancing just can't adjust for? Did they white balance improperly? Couldn't color correction have fixed the yellw/green/blue tint?

(I'm going to try to pull some frames to show examples.)

Seun Osewa · October 9th, 2007, 03:47 PM

It's a CRI issue. If you white balance with something that's truly white (e.g. a naturally white substance like salt) the colors will be balanced but red objects like human skin will look very very pale. That has been my experience.

Paul Jefferies · October 9th, 2007, 04:29 PM

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I was told cheap fluorescents don't stay the same colour when they are on, so even if you white balance the colour will slowly drift off over a period of time. Also if you have a room full of cheap fluorescents they may all be giving off a different colour of light.

David W. Jones · October 10th, 2007, 07:36 AM

It's all about time and budget.
Either you have the time and budget to take care of a room full of fluorescent lights or you don't.
Since this was shot on a DVX-100A, I'm guessing they didn't.

September 11th, 2007, 12:44 AM	#1
Peter Moretti Trustee Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sherman Oaks, CA Posts: 1,259	How to TRULY Keep Flourescents from Looking Green/Blue? I just finished watching "Mad Hot Ballroom." Great story but the indoor colors looked green, blue and yellow. Here's an old DVInfo post with the same observation: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...362#post742362 What could have been done differently? What went wrong? I just finished reading interviews with the producers and they used a professional cinematographer (DVX100A) and pro finishing. Are there some flourescents that white balancing just can't adjust for? Did they white balance improperly? Couldn't color correction have fixed the yellw/green/blue tint? (I'm going to try to pull some frames to show examples.)

October 9th, 2007, 03:47 PM	#2
Seun Osewa Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West Africa Posts: 255	It's a CRI issue. If you white balance with something that's truly white (e.g. a naturally white substance like salt) the colors will be balanced but red objects like human skin will look very very pale. That has been my experience.

October 9th, 2007, 04:29 PM	#3
Paul Jefferies Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Croydon, England Posts: 277	Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I was told cheap fluorescents don't stay the same colour when they are on, so even if you white balance the colour will slowly drift off over a period of time. Also if you have a room full of cheap fluorescents they may all be giving off a different colour of light.

October 10th, 2007, 07:36 AM	#4
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	It's all about time and budget. Either you have the time and budget to take care of a room full of fluorescent lights or you don't. Since this was shot on a DVX-100A, I'm guessing they didn't.