Jim Brennan
VHS Member Old Skool
Is there a way to accurately gauge color temp? For example, if you had a source light in a scene, and wanted to see what the color temp was to know how to best light the room, is there a way to do that?
color temp question
- Thread starter Jim Brennan
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Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: color temp question
A color temperature meter, like the Minolta IIIF, is how the pro's do it. Expensive though.
A color temperature meter, like the Minolta IIIF, is how the pro's do it. Expensive though.
J_Barnes
Veteran
Re: color temp question
In theory, you could also use a laptop and software to snap a still and analyze in the field. DVrack might be something that you can use for this (although I haven't used it personally...yet).
You could import a still into photoshop or some similar program with an eyedropper tool and measure the colors at the light and the colors reflected from a white paper. By reading the R/G/B values given by an eyedropper tool, you could start to get a feel for how the light is balanced...although it would give no indication of the CRI of a light source (but of course, to the best of my knowledge, Color Temperature meters can't do that either).
I haven't done this in the field, but I suspect this would work pretty well in most cases. An R/G/B of 240/210/210 would indicate a much warmer balanced light, and conversely a 210/210/240 would indicate a much more daylight balanced light.
As long as you're measuring something that should be true neutral, you should get a generally accurate qualitative assessment of color metering.
I'm really hoping to do some more articles for my website soon that will detail some of the practical application of color temperature in the field, but I've got to dedicate myself to my REAL job for a while first.
In theory, you could also use a laptop and software to snap a still and analyze in the field. DVrack might be something that you can use for this (although I haven't used it personally...yet).
You could import a still into photoshop or some similar program with an eyedropper tool and measure the colors at the light and the colors reflected from a white paper. By reading the R/G/B values given by an eyedropper tool, you could start to get a feel for how the light is balanced...although it would give no indication of the CRI of a light source (but of course, to the best of my knowledge, Color Temperature meters can't do that either).
I haven't done this in the field, but I suspect this would work pretty well in most cases. An R/G/B of 240/210/210 would indicate a much warmer balanced light, and conversely a 210/210/240 would indicate a much more daylight balanced light.
As long as you're measuring something that should be true neutral, you should get a generally accurate qualitative assessment of color metering.
I'm really hoping to do some more articles for my website soon that will detail some of the practical application of color temperature in the field, but I've got to dedicate myself to my REAL job for a while first.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: color temp question
DV Rack can do that, they have a live eyedropper tool that can select any pixel and report the R/G/B value of it.
Newer color temp meters provide a way to gauge the green/magenta shift as well as the red/blue balance, and will even report what filters you need to use to achieve proper color (i.e., it'll report that you need to use a #85 filter with a 1/2 MinusGreen gel, etc.)
DV Rack can do that, they have a live eyedropper tool that can select any pixel and report the R/G/B value of it.
Newer color temp meters provide a way to gauge the green/magenta shift as well as the red/blue balance, and will even report what filters you need to use to achieve proper color (i.e., it'll report that you need to use a #85 filter with a 1/2 MinusGreen gel, etc.)
Jim Brennan
VHS Member Old Skool
Re: color temp question
Maybe Santa will bring me one for RamaHanuChristmaKwanzadan.
Thanks. As always you guys have the info I need.
Maybe Santa will bring me one for RamaHanuChristmaKwanzadan.
Thanks. As always you guys have the info I need.
Jim Brennan
VHS Member Old Skool
Re: color temp question
Yea, well my pole burned down.
Yea, well my pole burned down.
Walter_Graff
Carbonite Member
Re: color temp question
I say your monitor is your best color temperature. In the pro world of film we used color meters more because of the sensitivity of films to color, but in video we don't use them. A well adjusted monitor is going to tell you more than a color meter.
I say your monitor is your best color temperature. In the pro world of film we used color meters more because of the sensitivity of films to color, but in video we don't use them. A well adjusted monitor is going to tell you more than a color meter.
Jim Brennan
VHS Member Old Skool
Re: color temp question
That helps a lot. That's reason number 16 to give my wife about shelling out the cash for a good monitor.
That helps a lot. That's reason number 16 to give my wife about shelling out the cash for a good monitor.
Walter_Graff
Carbonite Member
Re: color temp question
[quote author=Jim Brennan link=board=lighting;num=1100494783;start=0#8 date=11/15/04 at 12:27:42]That helps a lot. That's reason number 16 to give my wife about shelling out the cash for a good monitor.[/quote]
jim you can buy a Sony Q series 8044, etc used for a good price on the web. Do a search under Sony 8044 used
[quote author=Jim Brennan link=board=lighting;num=1100494783;start=0#8 date=11/15/04 at 12:27:42]That helps a lot. That's reason number 16 to give my wife about shelling out the cash for a good monitor.[/quote]
jim you can buy a Sony Q series 8044, etc used for a good price on the web. Do a search under Sony 8044 used
Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: color temp question
Yeah, I don't own a color temp meter, I only rent it when necessary to gauge the temp of lights I'm not sure about, etc.
Yeah, I don't own a color temp meter, I only rent it when necessary to gauge the temp of lights I'm not sure about, etc.