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Articles on filmmaking technique, production planning, and industry knowledge.
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How to Balance Mixed Lighting on Set Without a Color Meter
A color meter tells you the exact Kelvin of every light source in the frame. Without one, you have to work from visual reference, camera WB tools, and a systematic approach to gelling or neutralizing competing sources. This practical guide covers the most common mixed-light scenarios and the fastest solution path for each.
Kelvin vs. Mired: Why Gels Are Rated in Mireds and What That Means When You're Matching Sources
A Full CTO gel is rated at +131 mireds, not at a Kelvin shift. That is not arbitrary. The mired scale is perceptually uniform in a way that the Kelvin scale is not -- meaning equal mired shifts look equal to the eye throughout the color temperature range. Here is the math behind gel selection and why Kelvin alone gives you the wrong gel.