Cooling Filters

Camera Gear

Lens Filters Camera Accessories

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David Busch's Quick Snap Guide to Photo Gear Photographic Lenses: Photographer's Guide to Characteristics, Quality, Use and Design

Cooling Filters
C ooling Filters: allows you to balance, i.e. bring back, correct color tone to your images. There is some loss of film speed that may require the use of a tripod but, at least, your photos will demonstrate the proper tonality they so richly deserve
B+W Cooling Filters
80A (KB15) Color Conversion Glass Filter. The slightly denser KB ¡5 filter is recommended for daylight color reversal film with artificial light from the popular 60 to ¡00 watt halogen bulbs commonly used in lights aimed at the ceiling. With weaker incandescent bulbs, there will again be that pleasant warm tone for moody interior photographs. Its filter factor is approximately 2.2.
80B B+W Conversion Filter KB 12 SLIM MRC The deep blue filter KB ¡2 blocks so much red, orange and yellow that it increases the color temperature of very bright halogen and special photoflood lamps (of around 3400 K) to that of daylight. With that kind of illumination, and with daylight color reversal film, the subjects will be reproduced in their original colors. With weaker halogen bulbs or stronger incandescent bulbs in conjunction with this filter and with daylight reversal film, a residue of “warmth” will be retained for an optimal mood in interior photographs. Its filter factor is approximately 2.
80D (KB 6) Cooling Color Conversion Glass Filter. This nearly medium blue conversion filter neutralizes the strong red tendency of light at sunrise or sunset out in the open when the original colors of the subject are wanted instead of a warm morning- or evening mood. In addition, the KB 6 filter is ideal for “under-corrected” filtering of artificial light photographs on color negative films. When filtration is performed only later during printing, there is a visible color shift, and full correction leads to a higher loss of light. Its filter factor is approximately 1.5.
82A - Color Conversion Glass Filter is a light balancing filter used to increase the color temperature slightly for a cooler tone. This blue filter absorbs the excessive yellow-red light from daylight in the morning.

There is much flattering light to be found in the early morning and afternoon hours. With sunlight low on the horizon, the red-orange end of the spectrum becomes enhanced. With daylight balanced film, images shot in this light may prove to be a bit on the warm side. The photographer may desire this effect or choose to "cool" things down.

An 82A has a greater "cooling" effect than an 82 but less than an 82B. The 82 series of blue filters allows the photographer to keep skin tones somewhat normal by increasing the color temperature to a more daylight balanced level. In addition, an 82A provides a cooler effect with tungsten film under 3200K lamps. • 82A Increases temperature from 3,000 to 3,200 Kelvin (1/3 stop).

82B Cooling Filter These are light balancing filters used to increase the color temperature slightly for a cooler (bluer) tone. Corrects the tendency toward reddish tones. These series filters are also used to prevent the reddish tones in early morning or late evening light for natural skin tones. - 2900 K to 3200 K - • 82B Increases temperature from 2,900 to 3,060 Kelvin (2/3 stop).
82C Conversion Filter (KB 3) - With about twice the correcting effect of the previous filter, this conversion filter removes the orange-red color cast that appears on photographs made on tungsten reversal film with artificial light using 100 to 2oo W light bulbs, or from aged photoflud lamps. Therefore this filter is ideal for neutral color reproduction with approximate illumination. • 82C Increases temperature from 2800-3200 Kelvin (2/3 stop) 
B+W Conversion Filter KB 20 SLIM MRC This is the correct filter when the illumination is provided by 40 to ¡50 Watt household incandescent bulbs, and the transparencies are to show the subject in its original colors (e.g., technical interior, architectural photographs, or reproductions). It should not, however, be used for moody interior pictures because unlike the KB ¡5 and KB ¡2 filters, the KB 20 filter corrects the light to a neutral balance, eliminating the warmth that we might intuitively expect from bulbs. Its filter factor is approximately 2.7.
Hoya Cooling Filters
Hoya HMC 80A Filter, Color conversion filters for the use of daylight type color films with artificial light source. 80A increases the color temperature from 3200°K to 5500°K for the use with 3200°K lamps.
Hoya HMC 80B Filter- 80B increases the color temperature from 3400°K to 5500°K for the use of photoflood lamps.
Hoya HMC 80C Filter - 80C increases the color temperature from 3800°K to 5500°K for the use of clear flash bulbs.
Hoya HMC 82A, light balancing filter Used to increase the color temperature slightly for a cooler (bluer) tone. Corrects the tendency toward reddish tones. . These series filters are also used to prevent the reddish tones in early morning or late evening light for natural skin tones. These filters can be used together, but do not mix 81 and 82 series filters since they cancel out each other.
Hoya HMC 82B Filter. For example, select the 82B when using tungsten Type B color film (3200°K) with ordinary household 100W electric bulbs (2900°K).
Hoya HMC 82C Filter.
Tiffen Cooling Filters
Tiffen 80A Color Conversion Filter Tiffen 80 Series of filters are blue. They are used to balance daylight film under artificial, tungsten or standard (household) incandescent lighting. Let's say you're at a family gathering and you've brought your camera and want to take some photos of this once-a-year gathering. You have traditional daylight balanced film but find yourself in a room filled with table lamps. If left unfiltered, your photos will turn out yellowish. Under certain circumstances, perhaps a nice effect but not flattering in terms of skin tones or what our eyes are used to seeing or expecting. Enter the 80A filter!... This filter allows you to "balance", i.e. bring back, correct color tone to your images. There is some loss of film speed that may require the use of a tripod but, at least, your photos will demonstrate the proper tonality they so richly deserve.
Tiffen 80B Color Conversion Filter. This filter allows you to "balance", i.e. bring back, correct color tone to your images. There is some loss of film speed that may require the use of a tripod but, at least, your photos will demonstrate the proper tonality they so richly deserve. Tiffen makes the 80 series of filters in many sizes to accommodate the many uses this filter has. This filter should be used by the pro and amateur alike - weekend photo warrior or pro cinematographer and must be considered an essential addition to any photo arsenal.
Tiffen 80C Color Conversion Filter. What happens when you want to take a photo of your grandmother in her apartment and she's sitting next to an antique table illuminated by an old antique lamp? You'd like to capture the essence of her age but don't want to make her look too pasty. Your daylight film with an 80C filter will leave just enough yellow in the image to give grandma a flattering warmth. This filter allows you to somewhat "balance", i.e. bring back, correct color tone to your images. There is some loss of film speed that may require the use of a tripod but, at least, your photos will demonstrate the proper tonality they so richly deserve.
Tiffen 80D Color Conversion Filter The Tiffen 80D Filter is blue. It is used to balance daylight film under artificial, tungsten or standard (household) incandescent lighting. An 80D filter is the least "powerful" of the 80 series. When using daylight film and you'd like to leave even more yellow than if you were using an 80C filter, the 80D is the way to go. An 80D doesn't bring the temperature up to daylight as much as an 80A, B or C. Filter.
Tiffen 82A Color Conversion Filter. A Tiffen 2 x 2" 82 Series Color Conversion Glass Filter is a light balancing filter used to increase the color temperature slightly for a cooler tone. This blue filter absorbs the excessive yellow-red light from daylight in the morning. There is much flattering light to be found in the early morning and afternoon hours. With sunlight low on the horizon, the red-orange end of the spectrum becomes enhanced. With daylight balanced film, images shot in this light may prove to be a bit on the warm side. The photographer may desire this effect or choose to "cool" things down. An 82A has a greater "cooling" effect than an 82 but less than an 82B. The 82 series of blue filters allows the photographer to keep skin tones somewhat normal by increasing the color temperature to a more daylight balanced level. In addition, an 82A provides a cooler effect with tungsten film under 3200K lamps. C
Tiffen 82B Color Conversion Filter. An 82B has a greater "cooling" effect than an 82A. The 82 series of blue filters allows the photographer to keep skin tones somewhat normal by increasing the color temperature to a more daylight balanced level. Tiffen makes the 82 series of filters in many sizes to accommodate the many uses this filter has. This filter can be used by the pro and amateur alike, weekend photo warrior or pro cinematographer and must be considered an essential addition to any photo arsenal.
Tiffen 82C Color Conversion Filter. A Tiffen 2 x 2" 82C Series Color Conversion Filter is a light balancing filter used to increase the color temperature slightly for a cooler tone. This blue filter absorbs the excessive yellow-red light from daylight in the morning. An 82C will virutally eliminate red tones. This filter will also help color balance tungsten film when shot under 500w flood lights. The 82 series of blue filters allows the photographer to keep skin tones somewhat normal by increasing the color temperature to a more daylight balanced level.