Red filters for black and whites? at DVinfo.net

May 28th, 2004, 07:49 AM

Hello,
I have been dabbling into still photography alot lately and have learned that a yellow, orange, or red filter in front of my lens will give my black and whites more saturation and depth. I was wondering if the same would apply to using a red lens in front of my gl2 while filming in the black and white mode?

Robin Davies-Rollinson · May 28th, 2004, 08:36 AM

It shouldn't make any difference.
With B&W film stock , the filter will have an effect due to the basic colour response of the film being less sensitive in certain areas of the spectrum. Just by taking out the chroma signal of your camera will not duplicate the response that you're used to in B&W film. Anyway, don't take my word for it - try a piece of red gel over the lens and try it for yourself...

Robin

Graham Bernard · May 28th, 2004, 09:12 AM

. .er . . do it in post? .. . sorry . . g

May 28th, 2004, 12:59 PM

yeah, i didnt think it would work - film isnt anything like CCD's but i thought it would be worth asking.

as for doing it in post... what would be a good way, using FCP or AFX to get a black and white effect where the blacks appear "blown out" and the whole image has an especially dark overcast tone to it?

Robin Davies-Rollinson · May 28th, 2004, 02:18 PM

It depends on what editing programme you're using. You can take out the colour in Premiere, Avid, etc and play around with contrast and gamma and set-up and gain etc etc.
You can save yourself one step in post by shooting in B&W and adjusting values after the edit, or you can shoot in colour and do it all later...

Robin.

Dave Croft · May 28th, 2004, 04:43 PM

I don't know about red filters, but I have shot DV with a visably opaque infra red filter, and had some very sweet images - just like some of the infra red still photography you can get with IR film (i don't mean that green nightvision stuff on sony cams).

It was much more like b/w with blue sky very dark (almost black) and clouds fluffy white.

So an IR filter might help if you want the cool b/w look.

Cheers,
Dave.

Jeff Donald · May 28th, 2004, 06:17 PM

A red filter will still reduce the visible red spectrum of light. It has a different effect than with panchromatic B & W film, but the effect is very noticeable. I suggest you try the filters and see if you like the effect. Contrast and brightness can then be adjusted in post to simulate film very easily.

May 28th, 2004, 07:49 AM	#1
Guest Posts: n/a	Red filters for black and whites? Hello, I have been dabbling into still photography alot lately and have learned that a yellow, orange, or red filter in front of my lens will give my black and whites more saturation and depth. I was wondering if the same would apply to using a red lens in front of my gl2 while filming in the black and white mode?

May 28th, 2004, 06:17 PM	#7
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	A red filter will still reduce the visible red spectrum of light. It has a different effect than with panchromatic B & W film, but the effect is very noticeable. I suggest you try the filters and see if you like the effect. Contrast and brightness can then be adjusted in post to simulate film very easily. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

May 28th, 2004, 08:36 AM	#2
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	It shouldn't make any difference. With B&W film stock , the filter will have an effect due to the basic colour response of the film being less sensitive in certain areas of the spectrum. Just by taking out the chroma signal of your camera will not duplicate the response that you're used to in B&W film. Anyway, don't take my word for it - try a piece of red gel over the lens and try it for yourself... Robin

May 28th, 2004, 09:12 AM	#3
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	. .er . . do it in post? .. . sorry . . g

May 28th, 2004, 12:59 PM	#4
Guest Posts: n/a	yeah, i didnt think it would work - film isnt anything like CCD's but i thought it would be worth asking. as for doing it in post... what would be a good way, using FCP or AFX to get a black and white effect where the blacks appear "blown out" and the whole image has an especially dark overcast tone to it?

May 28th, 2004, 02:18 PM	#5
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	It depends on what editing programme you're using. You can take out the colour in Premiere, Avid, etc and play around with contrast and gamma and set-up and gain etc etc. You can save yourself one step in post by shooting in B&W and adjusting values after the edit, or you can shoot in colour and do it all later... Robin.

May 28th, 2004, 04:43 PM	#6
Dave Croft Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorks UK Posts: 89	I don't know about red filters, but I have shot DV with a visably opaque infra red filter, and had some very sweet images - just like some of the infra red still photography you can get with IR film (i don't mean that green nightvision stuff on sony cams). It was much more like b/w with blue sky very dark (almost black) and clouds fluffy white. So an IR filter might help if you want the cool b/w look. Cheers, Dave.