Color Temperature Explained — The Cinematographer's Guide to White Balance & Color Temp Fundamentals

Color temperature and white balance tutorial — the technical and creative elements in cinematography.

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Special thanks to:

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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro — Color Temperature in Film
00:43 - Definition and History
02:05 - Color Temperature Reference Scale
02:30 - White Balance Explained
03:39 - Lighting Gels & Other Color Temperature Tools
04:28 - Shooting in Log-Format & Post Production Color Grading
05:17 - Color Temperature Decisions in Film
05:46 - Using Gels for Time Periods (A Ghost Story)
06:29 - Orange Color Temperature as a Motif (Palm Springs)
07:22 - Separating Environments & Creating Contrast (No Time to Die)
08:11 - Lawrence Sher Breaks Down His Lighting Techniques (The Hangover Part II)
09:25 - Using a Single Color Temperature (Ozark)
10:11 - FREE Color Temperature Chart

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Color temperature and white balance are elements that every photographer and cinematographer must understand. Every shot needs to be lit and every light has a color temperature. So, whether you want realism or something abstract in the colors of your image, a firm grasp of color temperature and white balance is absolutely necessary. In this video, we’re going to explain the science and creative choices behind these concepts so that you can master the lighting and color temperature in any scenario.

So, what is color temperature? Skipping over the extremely difficult math and science, color temperature is the color given off by a particular light source. For example, a candle is yellow/orange while a clear sky is bright blue. These color temperatures can be identified on a scale or spectrum, measured in Kelvin (not Celsius or Fahrenheit used for measuring actual temperatures).

But knowing the color temperature fundamentals doesn’t stop there, that’s just one half of the puzzle. The other consideration is the white balance setting of your camera. So, what is white balance? White balance is a setting that adjusts how colors are registered. Most cameras have preset white balance settings to choose from so that if you’re shooting outside on a “daylight” white balance preset, the colors will register the same in-camera as they appear to your eyes.

So, in most shooting scenarios, you’d want to capture those accurate or true colors. But there might also be a situation when you want to boost the orange or blue colors beyond their actual color temperature. This is most commonly achieved by either adjusting the color temperature of the light source, like with a gel, or by adjusting the white balance camera setting.

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to color temperature and white balance. They are simply another set of tools image makers use to dial in their perfect shot. And once you understand the rules, you’ll know how to break them.

#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking

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♬ SONGS USED:

"Plains" - Falls
"The Night Sky" - Falls
"Stay" - Falls
"That Vibe (Without Saxophone)" - Fairlight
"Whatever Hour You Woke" - Daniel Hart
"Safe Safe Safe" - Daniel Hart
"The Partisan" - Leonard Cohen
"Mercury" - Alon Ohana
"The Beast In Me" - Johnny Cash
Pettys Revelation - Ozark OST
"Undercurrent" - Nu Alkemi$t

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[StudioBinder]

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro — Color Temperature in Film
00:43 - Definition and History
02:05 - Color Temperature Reference Scale
02:30 - White Balance Explained
03:39 - Lighting Gels & Other Color Temperature Tools
04:28 - Shooting in Log-Format & Post Production Color Grading
05:17 - Color Temperature Decisions in Film
05:46 - Using Gels for Time Periods (A Ghost Story)
06:29 - Orange Color Temperature as a Motif (Palm Springs)
07:22 - Separating Environments & Creating Contrast (No Time to Die)
08:11 - Lawrence Sher Breaks Down His Lighting Techniques (The Hangover Part II)
09:25 - Using a Single Color Temperature (Ozark)
10:11 - FREE Color Temperature Chart

[tturnquest]

This is very educational for up and coming filmmakers going into cinematography. You’re the best channel on YouTube Studiobinder.

[_starkedits_]

Color usage is such an interesting aspect of filmmaking. I’m really looking forward to learning more about it!

[darlingtonojobo]

I have read this for almost a year and it never made sense. The second is saw the notification I jumped in!!! And, dear lord, y’all have no idea how grateful I am!!!

[djrmx]

I cannot thank this channel enough for making this information so digestible. StudioBinder looks at so many different complex aspects of filmmaking and just makes it all ‘click’ in my mind. Can’t wait for the video on correction and grading.

[HiramMaxem]

Well done! What takes a few semesters or books to grasp, you guys condensed in 10min! This is a great introduction for someone starting out, they can now read more detailed books and start experimenting with a camera with color temperature firmly in their minds.

Amazing work, thank you!

[dannycgdfilms]

Thank you for this video, you give them for free, God bless you 🙏🏾

[vishalaher]

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[TheWrathfulSlayer]

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[mahaangadhveer]

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[vfusto]

Siete i numeri 1!
You guys are the number 1!
Ciao from Italia and grazie mille!

[BradyBessette]

Honored to have my video clips in here! Thank you so much! Guess we both had the same idea for our video today lol

[Therealbro]

Another 'best ever' video by StudioBinder. I now will always be aware of colors!

[Musicaldraem]

Studio binder has make me a Good Cinematographer and Director in my country liberia.
Thank I will keep following

[DJLA]

10:06 "Every scene needs to be LIT 🔥" - That's the greatest advice right there!

[TodayInHistoryNO]

I've been following PBS Space Time for years now. So imagine my surprise when Planck suddenly gets mentioned in a tutorial about cinematography.
You had my curiosity, but now you have my attention

[thebusinessfirm]

Brilliant video on colour temperature. Love this narrator’s voice!

[DynastyUK]

Not sure if it differs in video, but in photography we can use a cto then change the white balance in camera to "trick" it. for example if we want a deep blue sky we add a full CTO to the subject and adjust the WB to a bluer kelvin. thus keeping skin tones correct but background blue. So many cool ways to play around. Great video as always, I hope you never run out of things to make because i'm loving them all :)

[yesterdays_yogurt]

This was a really informative video. I feel like I understand color temperature a lot better now. Thank you!

[Vethoven]

You have taught me to appreciate the art in movies. Thank you Studiobinder