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Black or white promist?


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Black ProMist filters are just White (or Regular) ProMist filters with an extra layer of black specks to counteract the loss of contrast that the mist particles cause. So they also slightly suppress halation artifacts. This has a tendency to make the Black version look a little more subtle in effect compared to the same strength number regular ProMist (i.e. a #1/4 Black ProMist looks a little less strong than a #1/4 ProMist.)

 

Personally, I don't use Black ProMists much. When shooting digitally, I can control the loss of black when using regular ProMists by adjusting the Black level in the camera, and thus if the camera tends to have more depth of field, I don't rsik having the black specks start to come into focus, creating a "dirty windshield effect". Plus you can tweak contrast in post color-correction.

 

Or I'm using ProMists partly as a low-con filter too, so I want the lowering of contrast.

 

However, Black ProMists are more useful for softening close-ups compared to wider shots, since there is not such a visible change in contrast. So it depends on how much of that "ProMist" effect I want. However, if what I really want is softening more than a misty look, I tend to use other filters like Soft-FX, Black Diffusion-FX, or Classic Soft.

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Ah, lovely. I think I'll buy some.

 

Try renting if you can first. That way you can afford to try out the different grades, since the "look" of each filter can change with image content and focal length. For example, it's common to use the lowest density on wider shots and go a little stronger on the closeups. And scenes with a lot of bright areas may glow more visibly than lower-contrast scenes.

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Black ProMist filters are just White (or Regular) ProMist filters with an extra layer of black specks to counteract the loss of contrast that the mist particles cause. So they also slightly suppress halation artifacts. This has a tendency to make the Black version look a little more subtle in effect compared to the same strength number regular ProMist (i.e. a #1/4 Black ProMist looks a little less strong than a #1/4 ProMist.)

 

Personally, I don't use Black ProMists much. When shooting digitally, I can control the loss of black when using regular ProMists by adjusting the Black level in the camera, and thus if the camera tends to have more depth of field, I don't rsik having the black specks start to come into focus, creating a "dirty windshield effect". Plus you can tweak contrast in post color-correction.

 

Or I'm using ProMists partly as a low-con filter too, so I want the lowering of contrast.

 

However, Black ProMists are more useful for softening close-ups compared to wider shots, since there is not such a visible change in contrast. So it depends on how much of that "ProMist" effect I want. However, if what I really want is softening more than a misty look, I tend to use other filters like Soft-FX, Black Diffusion-FX, or Classic Soft.

 

I suppose that the likely answer to my question is lots of experience but is it posible David that

you could give a quick hit list of how you choose between Soft-FX, Black Diffusion-FX, or Classic

Soft? Thanks.

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Soft-FX still has a slightly misty feel closer to a ProMist, Classic Soft has that gaussian blur feel (out of focus image overlaid on a sharp image) with bubbles or rings around points of light, Black Diffusion FX just softens without any particular look.

 

I'm currently color-correcting some 35mm-to-HD material and I'm surprised at how subtle but effective the #1/2 Black Diffusion FX filter is. Doesn't look filtered at all. But that's not always a good thing -- halation is one of the prettier but telltale effects of typical diffusion.

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Try renting if you can first. That way you can afford to try out the different grades, since the "look" of each filter can change with image content and focal length. For example, it's common to use the lowest density on wider shots and go a little stronger on the closeups. And scenes with a lot of bright areas may glow more visibly than lower-contrast scenes.

 

Wow. I never thought of renting. I see what you mean, I would only want to use lower density promists. I feel heavier filters look quite garish.

 

Thanks. ;)

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  • 1 month later...

Personally, I don't use Black ProMists much. When shooting digitally, I can control the loss of black when using regular ProMists by adjusting the Black level in the camera, and thus if the camera tends to have more depth of field, I don't rsik having the black specks start to come into focus, creating a "dirty windshield effect". Plus you can tweak contrast in post color-correction.

 

hi david,

do you personally prefer to use grad. filters,if the film you are working is finally going through a D.I. process.would you prefer to add the grad. later in the post...?

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  • 2 weeks later...
Personally, I don't use Black ProMists much. When shooting digitally, I can control the loss of black when using regular ProMists by adjusting the Black level in the camera, and thus if the camera tends to have more depth of field, I don't rsik having the black specks start to come into focus, creating a "dirty windshield effect". Plus you can tweak contrast in post color-correction.

 

Hi Ratheesh, It's very interesting that you say about black levels. Is it possible to adjust black level in all digital cameras' or only in profesional cameras: Sony HD900,Varicam.... How does it work?

 

Thanks a lot!

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