Blueish colour through windows at DVinfo.net

Alex Taylor · December 13th, 2002, 07:11 PM

I've recently started to play around with some cheap lighting solutions - I've got a set of those yellow construction lights with two 500w halogens. I set them up in my room and white balanced off of a grey card I printed out (50% black and white). The footage looks great, but I noticed that everything outside through the windows look very blue. This isn't too big of a problem but I'd prefer it if it was more white. Is there a way to get rid of this? It was overcast outside when I tried this, btw.

Any other general lighting tips you could give would be great too, I'd love to learn more!

Ken Tanaka · December 13th, 2002, 11:43 PM

Hello Alex,
The basic issue, as you've guessed, is "white balance". The color temperatures of the lights is lower than that of the daylight. Balancing off a grey card will not solve the problem. You'll have to decide which color temperature you want to manually white balance against. If you decide to balance against your lights you'll probably need to cover the windows with some level of "color-temperature orange" (CTO) gel to warm the daylight to balance with the lights. Conversely, you could use "color-temperature blue" (CTB) gel to cool the lights' color temperature to daylight.

Welcome to the wonderful world of movie-making!

Alex Taylor · December 14th, 2002, 02:04 AM

Thanks, Ken!

Rob Lohman · December 16th, 2002, 07:22 AM

If this is only for a couple of shots that preferably are shot on
a static tripod you might also color balance just the window in
Post.... But you will probably have exposure problems as well.

What do people normally do with such big exposure problems?
Turn the lights up higher in the room or have something on the
windows to bring down the light level??

Dylan Couper · December 16th, 2002, 11:15 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Rob Lohman :

What do people normally do with such big exposure problems?
Turn the lights up higher in the room or have something on the
windows to bring down the light level?? -->>>

Gel down the windows with ND.

Rob Lohman · December 17th, 2002, 05:43 AM

Thought so, thanks!!

December 13th, 2002, 07:11 PM	#1
Alex Taylor Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 390	Blueish colour through windows I've recently started to play around with some cheap lighting solutions - I've got a set of those yellow construction lights with two 500w halogens. I set them up in my room and white balanced off of a grey card I printed out (50% black and white). The footage looks great, but I noticed that everything outside through the windows look very blue. This isn't too big of a problem but I'd prefer it if it was more white. Is there a way to get rid of this? It was overcast outside when I tried this, btw. Any other general lighting tips you could give would be great too, I'd love to learn more! __________________ alextaylor.org

December 13th, 2002, 11:43 PM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Hello Alex, The basic issue, as you've guessed, is "white balance". The color temperatures of the lights is lower than that of the daylight. Balancing off a grey card will not solve the problem. You'll have to decide which color temperature you want to manually white balance against. If you decide to balance against your lights you'll probably need to cover the windows with some level of "color-temperature orange" (CTO) gel to warm the daylight to balance with the lights. Conversely, you could use "color-temperature blue" (CTB) gel to cool the lights' color temperature to daylight. Welcome to the wonderful world of movie-making! __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

December 14th, 2002, 02:04 AM	#3
Alex Taylor Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 390	Thanks, Ken! __________________ alextaylor.org

December 16th, 2002, 07:22 AM	#4
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	If this is only for a couple of shots that preferably are shot on a static tripod you might also color balance just the window in Post.... But you will probably have exposure problems as well. What do people normally do with such big exposure problems? Turn the lights up higher in the room or have something on the windows to bring down the light level?? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 17th, 2002, 05:43 AM	#6
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Thought so, thanks!! __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 16th, 2002, 11:15 AM	#5
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	<<<-- Originally posted by Rob Lohman : What do people normally do with such big exposure problems? Turn the lights up higher in the room or have something on the windows to bring down the light level?? -->>> Gel down the windows with ND.