How do you set the color temperature on your camera?

1 What is color temperature?

Color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K), a unit of temperature that ranges from 1,000 to 10,000. The lower the Kelvin number, the warmer and redder the light is. The higher the Kelvin number, the cooler and bluer the light is. For example, candlelight has a color temperature of about 1,800 K, while daylight has a color temperature of about 5,600 K. Different light sources have different color temperatures, and they can affect how the colors in your scene look. If you don't match the color temperature of your camera to the color temperature of the light source, your video may look too warm or too cool, or have a color cast.

2 How to measure color temperature?

To measure the color temperature of the light source, you need a color meter, a device that reads the color temperature and gives you a numerical value. However, color meters are expensive and not very common in field production. A more practical way to measure color temperature is to use a white balance card, a gray card, or a piece of white paper. These are neutral objects that reflect the color of the light source. You can hold them in front of your camera and use the camera's built-in white balance function to measure the color temperature. The camera will display the color temperature on the screen or in the viewfinder.

3 How to adjust color temperature?

Once you know the color temperature of the light source, you can adjust the color temperature of your camera to match it. Most cameras have a color temperature dial or menu that lets you set the color temperature manually. You can enter the value that you measured with the white balance function or the color meter. Alternatively, you can use the preset modes that correspond to common light sources, such as tungsten, fluorescent, daylight, or cloudy. Some cameras also have an auto mode that adjusts the color temperature automatically based on the scene. However, auto mode may not be very accurate or consistent, especially if the light source changes frequently.

4 Why is color temperature important?

Color temperature is important because it affects the mood, tone, and realism of your video. By matching the color temperature of your camera to the color temperature of the light source, you can achieve natural and accurate colors that match what you see with your eyes. You can also use color temperature creatively to enhance the atmosphere and emotion of your video. For example, you can use a warmer color temperature to create a cozy, romantic, or nostalgic feel, or a cooler color temperature to create a cold, sterile, or futuristic feel.

5 How to mix different color temperatures?

Sometimes, you may encounter a situation where you have more than one light source with different color temperatures in your scene. For example, you may have daylight coming from a window and tungsten light coming from a lamp. In this case, you have two options: you can either balance or contrast the color temperatures. To balance the color temperatures, you can use filters, gels, or additional lights to make the light sources match each other. For example, you can use a blue filter or gel on the tungsten light to make it cooler, or a orange filter or gel on the window to make it warmer. To contrast the color temperatures, you can use them to create a color contrast or a mood contrast in your video. For example, you can use the warm tungsten light to highlight a subject or an object, and use the cool daylight to create a background or a contrast.

6 How to check your color temperature?

After you set the color temperature on your camera, you should always check it on a monitor or a screen to see how it looks. Sometimes, the camera's screen or viewfinder may not be very accurate or calibrated, and you may need to make some adjustments. You can also use a histogram, a waveform monitor, or a vectorscope to check the color levels and balance of your video. These are tools that show you the distribution and intensity of colors in your video. You can use them to fine-tune your color temperature and correct any color cast or imbalance.

7 Here’s what else to consider

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