The History and Science of Color Temperature

Survey the effect of color temperature and its psychological effects from the incessant heat of Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” to the icy chill of the Coen Brothers’ “Fargo”. Then we look at the science of color temperature from it’s beginnings with Max Planck to how color temperature is measured with new alternative sources of lighting before looking at some practical and artistic uses of white balance. Then create your own short film where you will demonstrate the difference between Hot and Cold color temperatures.

If you have any further questions be sure to check out our questions page on Filmmaker IQ:

#Filmmaking #Color

[radoo]

10 years later this is the best video about color science I ever seen.

[erett]

All of your videos are so easily understandable, whether a novice or an expert. In 11 minutes, you have successfully explained something that may take an entire semester at film school. Just don't forget those HMIs!

[zeeuransh]

"Go out there, and make something great !"
So inspirational, HESS.

[karinacomposer]

This is the best Filmmaking channel out there. I watch it all the time for just everything.

[terfone]

White balancing gets all your colors to match, then once you've done that, you can go back in post (or in camera if you know how to) and color grade to get the look you're going for. It really depends on what you're trying to accomplish. Most commonly though, you'll white balance to whatever lights you're using and then in post you'll color grade to give your film a certain look.

[ccc]

I fell asleep watching one of your videos and I wake up the next day seeing my history filled with all your videos and it is still playing!!

[tdcattech]

This is brilliant. No matter how much we know (or think we know) there's always something to be gained from watching these videos. Thank you for making these.

[alenz]

I love how much you have condensed information in a sinlge row. Thanks man, you are the best!!!

[Otokichi]

Once upon a time, certain still and motion picture color films were also color balanced for 3400K, also known as "Type A Tungsten" (A long ago example: KPA = Kodachrome Type A) 3200K, AKA "Type B Tungsten" is the dominant Tungsten balanced film these days. About this time, 5500K was called "daylight balanced" film. (Such as Kodachrome 25, Ektachrome 64, Fujichrome R100, etc.) When (color) film was king, the most difficult mixed lighting problem was Fluorescent + Daylight. FLD and FLB camera lens filters "solved" the fluorescent-only problem, but adding daylight resulted in very strange-looking outdoor colors, due to the CC30R or CC30M corrective filters in use.

[bluenetmarketing]

There are so many variables that it is daunting.

[morenofranco]

YES!! Being reminded of things I know - but have forgotten HOW to EXPLAIN! Thanks for the lessons.

[chrispeoples]

Excellent presentation, I plan to show this in my high school physics classes when I teach heat transfer and thermodynamics!

[timwiesner]

This channel is like history classes in film school xD

[djrbfmbfm-woa]

again john, excellent info with no bias. thank you. j.

[Roxor]

The mixing of colour temperatures at the window seems like it could be useful for certain effects. You could use a daylight balance to make a particular building's interior seem like it's out of place. Alternatively, use the tungsten balance to make it look like the building is normal and the world is strange.

[JamesBond-uzdm]

That was a concise and accurate description of the properties of light. The genius of Max Planck seems to be lost to history. I am glad you used his theories to explain light. He moved knowledge from Newtonian physics to Quantum Mechanics.
Many films from the 1980's seemed to be washed in blue dye. The color is a distraction, not an enhancement. The move away from the " blue movies" was a welcome change. I consider motion pictures to be the highest form of art. Your insight and presentation help movie lovers to understand the complexity of the art.

[ravensrolltop]

Thank you so much for posting this!  I have been dragging my feet on this issue, but now that I want to shoot videos for YouTube, I really need to master this concept.

[seanmangan]

Thank you! As a flashlight nut I'm familiar with CRI, but this video gave me a deeper understanding.

[thdronedetachment]

Love it...I've been totally geeking out on the math and acience part. Now, to translate that cool info into better practical knowledge of filming. Thanks!

[kamenriderinfinity]

Science and filmmaking... pretty awesome...