cool tones with film or filters...

[ader]

Hi,

just interested in how some people get a nice cool/cold tone to their colour shots; what type of filters or film people are using...

thanks for your time...

Ta ader

 

[Ed Sukach]

Hi,
just interested in how some people get a nice cool/cold tone to their colour shots; what type of filters or film people are using...

It depends on what your idea of a "nice" cool tone is ...

Are you mainly intersted in transparencies?
If you do your own color printing, it is relativey simple to change color balance in the enlarger. If you do not - you will have a problem with the "automatic color balancing" system used widely in "one-hour-labs" (see "Kodak Colorwatch"), no matter what flm or filtration you use - they will invariably try to make it "like everyone wants it". The only alternative is a "custom" color laboratory.

One book I will recommend - without reservation: "Filters - Special Effects, Accessories - From the Pros to the Pros" - the standard, usual, FREE catalog from B+W - the filter manufacturers. This has been my filter "bible" since - well, a LONG time ago ... and I haven't found anything better yet.

Check out your local Camera Shop, or a Professional Photographic Supply store... If they don't have them, I am sure you/ they can order them from Schneider/ Kreuznach.

 

[inthedark]

I am assuming by cold tones you mean green and/or blue tones, crisp refrigerator white whites. I find a combination of filters which when viewed on a light table appear orange helps to bring up the cool tones. Redder orange (primary red) if you want more cyan and a yellower orange (straw) if you want more blue. Of course this is added to your "usual" filter pack.

If you are using a photo lab, put a remark in the "special request" section which says Cool Colortones Please. It sometimes works. Or use a Fuji lab, as Fuji paper tends to be cooler while Kodak and Agfa tend to be warmer. (Fuji film helps here too.)