I am lighting an indoor scene at night that includes no windows. I will be using LED lights balanced to 5600k and the scene includes 1 practical lamp. In your experience, do you get a better outcome making all of the LEDs 3200k with gels, or by using a daylight bulb in the lamp? Thanks,,
Scene Lit with LEDs and a practical, which to balance?
- Thread starter fixxxer76
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paulears
Veteran
Have to agree - LEDs would not be my choice either....... yet!
For an indoor scene, my first consideration would be where in the room is the light supposed to be coming from? If it is the table lamp, then the scene will be murky anyway, with a hot spot near the lamp. If on the other hand the lighting is supposed to be coming from other fixtures, that may not be seen, then the table lamp is merely a practical prop, and colour ten is not important - in fact, the orangier light from it may actually look good. Studio lighting is rarely 5600 by design, usually 3000-3200ish. However - if you have your LEDs, then there's not real issue with balancing to their colour temp, and using the practical exactly as it is with the colour shift. I've always had two rules - balance for the majority of the lighting, and colour correct the least number of fixtures.
I really hate the shadows big LED banks produce - they're a large number of hard edges - so always put some light frost on them when I have to use them. You will lose a little light, but they blend together better.
For an indoor scene, my first consideration would be where in the room is the light supposed to be coming from? If it is the table lamp, then the scene will be murky anyway, with a hot spot near the lamp. If on the other hand the lighting is supposed to be coming from other fixtures, that may not be seen, then the table lamp is merely a practical prop, and colour ten is not important - in fact, the orangier light from it may actually look good. Studio lighting is rarely 5600 by design, usually 3000-3200ish. However - if you have your LEDs, then there's not real issue with balancing to their colour temp, and using the practical exactly as it is with the colour shift. I've always had two rules - balance for the majority of the lighting, and colour correct the least number of fixtures.
I really hate the shadows big LED banks produce - they're a large number of hard edges - so always put some light frost on them when I have to use them. You will lose a little light, but they blend together better.
Grahamrobbins5
Active member
I agree with Shooter ^
If you are not seeing outside anyway just shoot all tungsten. They are much cheaper lights anyway, and much prettier than any LED I have used.
Just shoot a 2k through some half soft frost and you have the worlds prettiest Key light. Put your practical on a dimmer switch and bring it down to where it does not affect your base exposure, and motivate your key light's position from the practical lamps direction.
If you only have the LED's and that's your only option. I would recommend Film tools blue daylight practical bulbs for your practical lamp instead of gelling the LED. My gaffer and I live by a rule where we dont gel our key lights every other light can be gelled but we work with the Key lights true color.
Another solution is rate your camera at 4600K and meet in the middle with your color temp, should look pretty natural for the LED, and the practical lamp.
Cheers,
Graham R
If you are not seeing outside anyway just shoot all tungsten. They are much cheaper lights anyway, and much prettier than any LED I have used.
Just shoot a 2k through some half soft frost and you have the worlds prettiest Key light. Put your practical on a dimmer switch and bring it down to where it does not affect your base exposure, and motivate your key light's position from the practical lamps direction.
If you only have the LED's and that's your only option. I would recommend Film tools blue daylight practical bulbs for your practical lamp instead of gelling the LED. My gaffer and I live by a rule where we dont gel our key lights every other light can be gelled but we work with the Key lights true color.
Another solution is rate your camera at 4600K and meet in the middle with your color temp, should look pretty natural for the LED, and the practical lamp.
Cheers,
Graham R
gonzo_entertainment
Veteran
try a GE reveal, or a daylight balanced fluro in the practical. It will cut down some of the orange.