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Photographic Filters Section #1 | In the beginning...

To start off, most of us are confused about filters and what they're supposed to be used for, especially when we're told something like: "When using Type A film outdoors, use (this filter), and when using Type B film, use (another type of filter)."

Well, at least it sure confused me. So, in order to try to make things a little easier to comprehend for us amateur photogs, I've decided to post some information which I hope will help all of us understand "things photographic" a little better. I'm starting off with Filters (because I happen to have made a marvelous purchase of lots of 'em).
Different kinds of light are assigned different "temperatures" in the "Kelvin" scale. This is their color temperature.

First, let's get straight on what the types of film are: Basically, there are three main film types:
Color Temperature

1. Daylight Film This is what most of us shoot with 90% of the time (some, of course may use .38s or .45s, but we'll leave that subject for another section). The vast majority of us amateurs use color daylight films. When you're taking pictures outside (during the day), or using a modern electronic flash (not flashbulbs), this is the film to use. Indoors, however, you'll need to use a color correcting filter with this film, or your pictures will turn out looking yellow or reddish (not radish; those are for eatin' but I hate 'em.).
5500K

2. Type "A" Film This is what many pros used to use in the studio (and some still do) when photoflood lighting was the de facto standard (nowadays, most studio lights are strobes, because photofloods get very hot, very fast, which makes models somewhat unhappy). If you're gonna use photofloods, this is the type of film to buy (although it's becoming a less & less popular form of lighting).
3400K

3. Type "B" Film This is what's known as "Tungsten" film. What's "tungsten film," you might ask? Good question. Most of our household lights are incandescent bulbs (as opposed to fluorescent); the filament in household bulbs are tungsten, ergo the name. Pretty much, if you screw in regular light bulbs in your lamps, etc., you've got "tungsten" lighting in your home. You've probably noticed how those pictures you take indoors (without using a strobe or flash) usually turn out "yellowish" in your prints. That's because you used daylight film (without a compensating filter), under tungston light. Aha! Get (and use) an 80A filter & your indoor pix wth daylight films will look a lot better!
3200K

All right! We've now determined that there are different types of films, each designed to produce pleasing results under different kinds of light. If we use one type of film under lighting conditions it wasn't designed for, our pictures will look funny (although sometimes, that might be exactly what we want). Aha again! For a chart on which filters to use for daylight or tungsten films, click on the "Light Balancing" link. Better yet, check out Kodak's excellent photographic filters educational section! It's short, to the point, and has lotsa photos to show what effects you can expect. Also, do check out their marvelous "Language of Light" web site; you owe it to yourself. Just click on the links under "Photo Education" in the frame on the left.

OK, now we need to deal with black and white films, as well as slide films, but it's late and I'm tired, so we're gonna have to leave that for another time. I'll get it all done, but not all at once, y'know. Thank you for checking out my humble site, and I'll do my best to post more information as soon as possible!

Go to the next sections: a) Filters explained; b) filter overview

Film Type Light Source Filter Required Filters Recommended

Daylight Daylight None UltraViolet, Skylight

Daylight High Altitude, snow 1A, 81A, 85C Same

Daylight Tungsten 80A Same

Daylight Flourescent FLD Same

Tungsten Tungsten None Same

Tungsten Daylight 85B Same

Tungsten Flourescent FLB Same

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Beware! Guerrilla Photography is Coming!

To start off, most of us are confused about filters and what they're supposed to be used for, especially when we're told something like: "When using Type A film outdoors, use (this filter), and when using Type B film, use (another type of filter)." Well, at least it sure confused me. So, in order to try to make things a little easier to comprehend for us amateur photogs, I've decided to post some information which I hope will help all of us understand "things photographic" a little better. I'm starting off with Filters (because I happen to have made a marvelous purchase of lots of 'em).		Different kinds of light are assigned different "temperatures" in the "Kelvin" scale. This is their color temperature.
First, let's get straight on what the types of film are: Basically, there are three main film types:		Color Temperature
1. Daylight Film	This is what most of us shoot with 90% of the time (some, of course may use .38s or .45s, but we'll leave that subject for another section). The vast majority of us amateurs use color daylight films. When you're taking pictures outside (during the day), or using a modern electronic flash (not flashbulbs), this is the film to use. Indoors, however, you'll need to use a color correcting filter with this film, or your pictures will turn out looking yellow or reddish (not radish; those are for eatin' but I hate 'em.).	5500K
2. Type "A" Film	This is what many pros used to use in the studio (and some still do) when photoflood lighting was the de facto standard (nowadays, most studio lights are strobes, because photofloods get very hot, very fast, which makes models somewhat unhappy). If you're gonna use photofloods, this is the type of film to buy (although it's becoming a less & less popular form of lighting).	3400K
3. Type "B" Film	This is what's known as "Tungsten" film. What's "tungsten film," you might ask? Good question. Most of our household lights are incandescent bulbs (as opposed to fluorescent); the filament in household bulbs are tungsten, ergo the name. Pretty much, if you screw in regular light bulbs in your lamps, etc., you've got "tungsten" lighting in your home. You've probably noticed how those pictures you take indoors (without using a strobe or flash) usually turn out "yellowish" in your prints. That's because you used daylight film (without a compensating filter), under tungston light. Aha! Get (and use) an 80A filter & your indoor pix wth daylight films will look a lot better!	3200K
All right! We've now determined that there are different types of films, each designed to produce pleasing results under different kinds of light. If we use one type of film under lighting conditions it wasn't designed for, our pictures will look funny (although sometimes, that might be exactly what we want). Aha again! For a chart on which filters to use for daylight or tungsten films, click on the "Light Balancing" link. Better yet, check out Kodak's excellent photographic filters educational section! It's short, to the point, and has lotsa photos to show what effects you can expect. Also, do check out their marvelous "Language of Light" web site; you owe it to yourself. Just click on the links under "Photo Education" in the frame on the left.
OK, now we need to deal with black and white films, as well as slide films, but it's late and I'm tired, so we're gonna have to leave that for another time. I'll get it all done, but not all at once, y'know. Thank you for checking out my humble site, and I'll do my best to post more information as soon as possible!

Film Type	Light Source	Filter Required	Filters Recommended
Daylight	Daylight	None	UltraViolet, Skylight
Daylight	High Altitude, snow	1A, 81A, 85C	Same
Daylight	Tungsten	80A	Same
Daylight	Flourescent	FLD	Same
Tungsten	Tungsten	None	Same
Tungsten	Daylight	85B	Same
Tungsten	Flourescent	FLB	Same