Apply Gels before or after white balanec? at DVinfo.net

Matt Vanecek · August 21st, 2005, 11:02 AM

I'm lighting a small staged production using a combination of Pars. The lights have to be gelled (using bastard amber/no-color blue for key & fill, and pale lavender for backlight). Standard issues--balancing 'theatre' lighting with video lighting, audience is more important than video, etc.. In general, is it better to white balance with bare lamps and *then* put the gels on? Or is it better to put the gels on and *then* white balance? My camera is a GL2. I'd like to capture some of the ambience of the situation.

Thanks,
Matt

Greg Boston · August 21st, 2005, 12:10 PM

In most circumstances, you'll want to white balance to either 3200K tungsten preset, or to white with un-gelled lamps. That will give you a true rendition of the color of the lights after the gels are placed on them.

-gb-

Stephen Finton · August 21st, 2005, 02:11 PM

Yeah, I'd white balance before putting the gels on.

Kevin Wild · August 21st, 2005, 09:38 PM

It depends on what you're going for. If you're just trying to match indoor and outdoor lighting, gel first and then white balance. For instance, put your CTO Blue on indoor tungsten lights and then white balance.

You will definitely want to light balance first and then gel if you're going for a color effect. Obviously, if you gel first trying to get a color, and then white balance, it will negate the effect you were going for.

Hope this makes sense.

Kevin

August 21st, 2005, 11:02 AM	#1
Matt Vanecek Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Denton, TX Posts: 334	Apply Gels before or after white balanec? I'm lighting a small staged production using a combination of Pars. The lights have to be gelled (using bastard amber/no-color blue for key & fill, and pale lavender for backlight). Standard issues--balancing 'theatre' lighting with video lighting, audience is more important than video, etc.. In general, is it better to white balance with bare lamps and then put the gels on? Or is it better to put the gels on and then white balance? My camera is a GL2. I'd like to capture some of the ambience of the situation. Thanks, Matt

August 21st, 2005, 12:10 PM	#2
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	In most circumstances, you'll want to white balance to either 3200K tungsten preset, or to white with un-gelled lamps. That will give you a true rendition of the color of the lights after the gels are placed on them. -gb-

August 21st, 2005, 02:11 PM	#3
Stephen Finton Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 344	Yeah, I'd white balance before putting the gels on.

August 21st, 2005, 09:38 PM	#4
Kevin Wild Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 540	It depends on what you're going for. If you're just trying to match indoor and outdoor lighting, gel first and then white balance. For instance, put your CTO Blue on indoor tungsten lights and then white balance. You will definitely want to light balance first and then gel if you're going for a color effect. Obviously, if you gel first trying to get a color, and then white balance, it will negate the effect you were going for. Hope this makes sense. Kevin