Watch THIS Before Buying a Video Light! (CRI, TLCI, TM-30, SSI Explained)

Discussing the metrics for measuring color quality of video lighting, how to match & compare lights, and explaining terms like CRI, SSI, TLCI, & TM-30.
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Table of Contents:
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0:00 - Intro & Disclosure
1:26 - CRI
3:03 - TLCI
4:00 - TLMF
5:00 - TM-30
7:01 - SSI
8:47 - Matching Lights
10:11 - Measuring for Gels
10:58 - RGB/HSI Color Matching
12:08 - Final Thoughts

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#sekonic #lighting #videolights

[kustoo]

Never knew I wanted to know this, but now I know it and I am forever grateful.

[cameraconspiracies]

I will use this information for more accurately describing the shame I feel when using a mix of window lighting, an LED panel and tungsten bulbs as my "trio of confusion key lights" for my super accurate colour science comparison videos. Shame level 97+.

[lgpvqmb]

Hey Gerald, thank you very much for this video. My name is Tony Esposito, I am the Co-Chair of the IES Color Committee that developed and maintains TM-30. Thank you for your discussion of TM-30. I wanted to provide some additional information for you and your audience if you don't mind:

- Color fidelity measures, like CRI and Rf, are not measures of "accuracy", but instead how SIMILAR (i.e., how close in color space) your light source renders color compared to a standardized reference source at the same CCT. Depending on the CCT of your light source, that reference source will be a Planckian Radiation, a mathematical model of daylight, or a blend of the two.
- Rg of 100 is not "spot on" unless your Rf is 100. With an Rg of 100 and an Rf less than 100, some colors will be oversaturated and some will be undersaturated.
- As a matter of clarity, describing Rg of 100 as "spot on" implies that an Rg of 100 is always the desirable target. This isn't true. Research shows that people tend to light color with an increase in saturation, so sometimes an Rg greater than 100 is warranted. Keep in mind that most commercial light sources desaturate red colors, which people tend to dislike. Edit: you later describe Rg 100 as being the ideal, again, which isn't exactly right. People tend to prefer an increase in saturation, especially in red.
- The last number in the year is indeed the year. TM-30-15 was published in 2015 and TM-30-18 was published in 2018. There was a big change to Rf--the scaling factor was changed--between these two versions. TM-30-15 Rf will be incorrect. Any version of TM-30 after 2015 is good.
- For finding spectral matches, SSI is only really useful when it is very high, because when it is low is doesn't help you understand "how" the SPDs are different. That's why you need to compare the SPD's visually. Importantly, not all differences are created the same (for the purpose of creating a visual match), which SSI also doesn't tell you. If a spectral match is desired, the best course of action is to find two sources with the same CCT and with very high color fidelity (or SSI). Overall, my point is that for the purpose of matching SPDs, I don't see SSI being significantly more useful than Rf because you still need to visually compare SPDs when SSI isn't very high.

[MASTEROFSAND]

As others have said endlessly, "You are the camera warrior we all sought for, and really needed." 🥺 You have my many thanks Gerald. 😎👌

[TomaszBrodecki]

You had me at "Today we’re gonna get pretty nerdy"

[tortillachip]

I'm hyped you are getting sponsors to pay you money, and am hyped you are so upfront about the relationship with them.
Keep it up. Always the most informative videos...

[JosiahVaughan]

If even Gerald is calling a video topic nerdy, you know we’re in for quite the video.

[JanSimanek]

Hey Gerald. I was studying on one of the best film universities around the world (FAMU, Prague) and I truly wish I had a teacher like you for the technical stuff. You have a great talent to explain things which oftenly are boring. With your special sence of humor and speech quality its always a pleasure to educate myself.. You should definitely consider a career outside of YT on a film university. Thanks a lot for the job you do ♥

[izzieb]

Another YouTuber, Justin Phillip, did a video on this device. However, he talked about how he used it to overcome his colour blindness when working as a cinematographer.

[ChadAltDelete]

Great stuff as always. Thx for the work you put into this!
You helped me elevate my video quality beyond many bigger channels. I have studied so many of your videos lol. Thanks again my man!

[JF..]

The most i’ve learned about lights on YouTube. Thank You.

[devtank]

The kids are luucky to have you Gerald.. I know most of this from sweat and tears in stuudios, on sets and locations, over years, and with my ownskewey notes. This is great, well done and to the kids -say thanks.

[MehranHadad]

Wow this was so useful and informative man! Always loved to know more about light characteristics, Thanks so much for sharing!

[kustoo]

I’m Gerald Undone and I’m not the one to gossip, but your CRI can’t beat his SSI.

[NewLayer]

Finally got a chance to watch this. Excellent explanation of all the metrics for the general user.

TM-30 is one of my personal favorites too, but I think it's a little too convoluted to become a standard for people who aren't as nerdy about lights. I always look at SSI first, then extended CRI along with the individual R-Values to see if there's a specific deficiency in a light.

99% of the time, good CRI/R-Values= excellent SSI. As much hate as CRI gets, you are right in that the main problem is with how it is used in marketing, because if you know all the individual extended values, it's still very useful.

It's also important to look at the CCT Vs. the advertised specs, and maybe more importantly, the green/magenta tint. With almost every light I test, too much tint shift is the deal breaker, and overall, the vast majority of lights sold now are very good compared to just a few years ago.

The last thing I'll say is that I think with how good lights have become, people are scared to buy lights that score slightly lower when they shouldn't be, because you have to keep in mind that modifiers will significantly change the readings of a light, and most people use them. Like my key light set to 5500K and bare bulb is a little green, but with diffusion it's closer to 5050K and a little magenta. I've seen stock reflectors change the CCT of a light by almost 1000K. All of these numbers change when you go from 1-100% brightness as well. Lights change as they age, get hot, stay on for long periods... lots of smaller variables that separate quality lights from cheap ones, even if the cheap ones "score" well.

I want to keep typing, so perhaps it's time to make my own video...

[jonpaulpepen]

If you're interested, ANSI/IES TM-30 rev 20 is out, and is actually freely available for anyone to download and read

[willlund]

I'm Gerald Undone and all your base are belong to us.

Here for the nerdy stuff. Thanks Gerald!

[christofferthinggaard]

"today we're going get pretty nerdy"

*Gets popcorn, Coffee and a notepad!
LETS DO THIS! :)

[MarioSargeant]

Near the end of this video I held my head in confusion thinking, "Why am I actually understanding this?!" Props to being a great educator Gerald and thank you for your knowledge.

[RaymondToms]

Many thanks Gerald, for clarifying the various methods of measuring the colour of lights.