color effect filter

stijnbarbe · January 8, 2004

Hello, I wonder wether there are glass filters that enhance color apart from color grads and color dye filters.

I don't know much about filters yet.

what's a coral filter for instance?

thanks,

Stijn

David Mullen ASC · January 8, 2004

Color Enhancers will make reds stronger by "cleaning up" colors that are polluting the red wavelengths. It will also make warm-colored objects a deeper color, but redder too. Great for shooting a red firetruck or fall foilage...

Polarizors can improve color by reduce surface glare such as on green grass and leaves. It can also make blue skies darker at a right-angle to the sun.

So some people combine Color Enhancers (reds) and Polas (blue skies and green plants) when shooting outdoors. However, since this combo loses 3 stops total, you tend to only do that in bright sunny weather.

Caution: Color Enhancers can make some skintones too reddish, like they were sunburnt.

Bill Totolo · January 8, 2004

I've got a question relating to this topic.

Do Tobacco and Antique Suede filters come in

different strengths, like 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2?

Francisco?

Thanks,

Paul Marschall · January 8, 2004

Yes they do, but not in increments less than one. I believe they are both available 1-5.

Paul

David Mullen ASC · January 8, 2004

The thing to remember is that the numbers are arbitrary in a sense. When Tiffen introduces a new filter, they designate the lightest one as #1. But after they are introduced, someone starts asking for something lighter than #1, which is why you get these fractions. So the lightest Soft-FX was #1 until there were enough requests for something lighter, which is why the lightest Soft-FX is now a #1/2, not a #1/8, which doesn't exist.

So many of these filter series start with #1.

WarrenYeager · January 15, 2004

There are lots of filters for manipulating the overall color of your image. A coral, for instance is sort of a 'pink' hue....I like an 812 for flesh tones. I've used yellow and straw filters for a golden effect. The sky's the limit, and not all filters are intended to render realistic colors.

The best part of being a cameraman today is digital post. Remember that Roger Deakins shot "O Brother" absolutely clean (no filters whatsoever) and did all his colorising in post. Now, going to a DI (digital intermediat) is really expensive, but if you're staying on video, you have a lot of lattitude in telecine and in video editing.

It's all part of the art. The fun is in the experimentation.

stijnbarbe · January 26, 2004

wow, did'nt know that O Brother... was shot clean. We're definitelt going to digibeta for post (it's a music video) and I guess I'll tweak my colors in telecine then!

thanks!

Leon Rodriguez · January 26, 2004

Another example of wonderful color enhancement post work in concert with a great color pallete in the original shooting plan is the French film by Jean-Pierre Jenut, AMELIE, They started out with great color ideas and digital post allowed them to take it to a surreal level. The DVD has some good dialog both from Director, Jean-Pierre Jenut and Cinematographer, Bruno Debonnel.

Leon Rodriguez

Austin, Texas

Wendell_Greene · January 26, 2004

Phillippe Rousselot's use of various Cokin varicolors filters combined with polarizers and grads for the exterior and day for night scenes of "Planet of the Apes" gave those scenes some very interesting looks.