Mixing Light....sent wrong kit to match ringlite.

[Boomerang]

Hello

I rented a LitePanels Ringlite and floods for interviews this week and the company sent along a Tungsten - Lowel DV Creator Kit instead of the LitPanel Floods I asked for......

Can I mix the Ringlite with the Lowel Kit? If so what is best to make it all work.

Thank You

 

[Marc Villafan]

The LitePanels Ringlite comes in two flavors, 3200k and 5600k color temperatures. I am assuming that you received a daylight (5600k) ringlite, and as you stated a tungsten Lowel kit.

You can correct either one, but it would be most efficient, and easier to throw a full CTO (Color Temperature-Orange) gel. (Easier, not taking into account how you would gel a ring lite)
The reason it would be most efficient is due to the fact that a CTB (Color Temperature-Blue) causes more light loss, than a CTO of the same strength. As well as the fact that you would only have to gel that one light that is daylight color temperature.


You can figure out what gels you need by finding out mired values of particular lights. Which is relatively simple and easy.

Say your ringlite is at 5600k color temperature. To find the mired value of the ringlite you must do the following equation:



1,000,000 / color temperature (in this case, 5600), your result would be 178 mireds, or, about 180 mireds.

Now, you want to match it with your 3200k color temperature lights.
You do the same equation above with the color temperature you want to match.

The result of the equation of 1,000,000 / 3200k would be about 312 mireds.

You must now subtract your desired mired value from your original mired value for your unmatched light.

So, (180 mireds) - (312 mireds) = (-132 mired shift)

So, now to have the most precise correction, you must use a gel that has a +132 mired shift or as close to it as you can find.


The above equations may be a bit overkill for your situation as once you shoot a fair amount consistently with the same color temperature lights, you will begin to naturally remember what gel you need. These equations would be very useful if you are using a wide range of lights with varying color temperatures. Particularly useful when using HMI's whose bulbs shift drastically throughout their lifespan and while warming up, as well as when shooting with the sun and desiring matched lights throughout the shoot. For the most accuracy one could use a color temperature meter.


I just remembered this useful tool. The equation is already simple, but this is extremely easy and even lists the gels with the closest mired shift to what you need.