Using Warm Cards with your EX?

Buck Forester · November 30th, 2009, 12:44 PM

Hey Perrone, I may be mis-reading your post, but I have the set of WarmCards and they aren't all just for "warm" tones. There's a neutral "white" card and also yellow cards that will cool a scene too to varying degrees, as well as some other colors to change up the look. I use mostly the white and warm cards for my style of shooting, but you could get an icy blue from these cards as well. You probably knew this but I just wanted to make it clear in case someone new might be thinking they're 'only' warming cards.

As for me, these cards are the best thing I invested in for the resulting look of my footage. In my opinion having pleasant warm tones does more to take out the 'video' look than anything else, including shooting 24p.

Perrone Ford · November 30th, 2009, 01:12 PM

Thanks for the update Buck. No, I did not know the warm card set included cool as well. I'm sure that's handy. Unlike most people, I tend to shoot a VERY flat image with my camera (akin to film) because I do most of my color in post. I realize that most people don't do that kind of workflow.

Maybe I'll do an A/B comparison of what a standard settting looks like (picture profile off) and my normal shooting profile.

Ryan Mitchell · November 30th, 2009, 10:07 PM

I purchased a set of warm cards a while ago and have been using them since Day 1 with the EX1. The only one I'll use in "normal" light is the 1/4 warm, the lightest blue card in the deck. Even then, it tends to really warm up the image on the EX1 such that I end up backing some of it back out in post. I'm not sure that's not a bi-product of the "red-heavy" EX1 that I've read about in these forums.

As of this point, I use the white-balance card with the Warm Card set almost exclusively as, like Perrone, I end up doing some amount of color correction in post anyway, and can add the warmth back in if I want it.

Graham King · December 1st, 2009, 11:49 PM

On projects I need to get out the door quickly with minimal post work, like weddings, I always balance on the 1/4 warm.

For anything else like commercials & music videos I use the white side of the Vortex cards.

Buck Forester · December 2nd, 2009, 11:11 AM

Ditto here too on the 1/4 Warm Card. There are times where I'll go higher (some indoor lighting situations requiring better skin tones), but with natural light (not a reference to beer) the 1/4 Warm is my go-to card. If I'm shooting a project with other cameras we'll usually balance on the 'white' card.

Adam Reuter · December 3rd, 2009, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Jensen

Seventh, if you decide to use the WB Offset feature of the camera to warm-up the white balance 100% of the time , that doesn’t allow you much control on a shot-by-shot basis. And if you forget that WB Offset is activated, you may shoot video with a white balance you didn’t intend.

WarmCards aren’t for everyone, and the look can be achieved many different ways, but when you compare the cost, consistency, and time saved by using WarmCards, it is well worth the $90 investment.

If you want more information about WarmCards, there’s plenty more details on Vortex Media’s website.WarmCards - White Balance Reference System

Eighth, If you shoot underwater videography you can get the WarmCards wet (even in salt water!) and not have to worry about ruining them. Try that with a piece of paper or swatchbook.

For the matter, you can spill stuff/crud gets on the warm cards you just wipe them clean. Good times!

Graham King · December 3rd, 2009, 02:44 AM

They are very durable. Plus you can get the 1/4 warm by itself on B&H for $17. I don't use any of the other cards so it's perfect for me whenever I lose one.

They're only doing that because back in the day the kit only went down to 1/2 warm and when they came out with the 1/4, the people with the original set, like myself, wanted to upgrade. Point is, they may not do this forever so stock up!

November 30th, 2009, 01:12 PM	#77
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	Thanks for the update Buck. No, I did not know the warm card set included cool as well. I'm sure that's handy. Unlike most people, I tend to shoot a VERY flat image with my camera (akin to film) because I do most of my color in post. I realize that most people don't do that kind of workflow. Maybe I'll do an A/B comparison of what a standard settting looks like (picture profile off) and my normal shooting profile. __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

November 30th, 2009, 12:44 PM	#76
Buck Forester Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 230	Hey Perrone, I may be mis-reading your post, but I have the set of WarmCards and they aren't all just for "warm" tones. There's a neutral "white" card and also yellow cards that will cool a scene too to varying degrees, as well as some other colors to change up the look. I use mostly the white and warm cards for my style of shooting, but you could get an icy blue from these cards as well. You probably knew this but I just wanted to make it clear in case someone new might be thinking they're 'only' warming cards. As for me, these cards are the best thing I invested in for the resulting look of my footage. In my opinion having pleasant warm tones does more to take out the 'video' look than anything else, including shooting 24p.

November 30th, 2009, 10:07 PM	#78
Ryan Mitchell Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 120	I purchased a set of warm cards a while ago and have been using them since Day 1 with the EX1. The only one I'll use in "normal" light is the 1/4 warm, the lightest blue card in the deck. Even then, it tends to really warm up the image on the EX1 such that I end up backing some of it back out in post. I'm not sure that's not a bi-product of the "red-heavy" EX1 that I've read about in these forums. As of this point, I use the white-balance card with the Warm Card set almost exclusively as, like Perrone, I end up doing some amount of color correction in post anyway, and can add the warmth back in if I want it.

December 1st, 2009, 11:49 PM	#79
Graham King Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 112	On projects I need to get out the door quickly with minimal post work, like weddings, I always balance on the 1/4 warm. For anything else like commercials & music videos I use the white side of the Vortex cards.

December 2nd, 2009, 11:11 AM	#80
Buck Forester Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 230	Ditto here too on the 1/4 Warm Card. There are times where I'll go higher (some indoor lighting situations requiring better skin tones), but with natural light (not a reference to beer) the 1/4 Warm is my go-to card. If I'm shooting a project with other cameras we'll usually balance on the 'white' card.

December 3rd, 2009, 02:44 AM	#82
Graham King Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 112	They are very durable. Plus you can get the 1/4 warm by itself on B&H for $17. I don't use any of the other cards so it's perfect for me whenever I lose one. They're only doing that because back in the day the kit only went down to 1/2 warm and when they came out with the 1/4, the people with the original set, like myself, wanted to upgrade. Point is, they may not do this forever so stock up!