Warming 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

W arming filters start from the least to most effect with the 81, 81A, 81B, 81C, 81D, 81EF, 86B, 85C, 86A, 85, and 85B. A Warming Filter Adds Glow To Digital Images A warming filter lets you capture sunset light, even when the sun's not going down. It reduces rays of blue light that are common in photos of shade, snow, and overcast days. Simply put, if the weather outside is drab, reach for a warming filter. The warm glow makes colors come alive and (used sparingly) can add life to a color portrait.

Warming Filters
81A warming filter. Increase the color temperature slightly; this can also be used when shooting tungsten type B film (3200 K) with 3400 K photoflood lights. Pale orange color. The opposite of 82A.. This filter balances color temperature from artificial light sources to the color tungsten film standard of 3200 degrees and balances the difference up to 3400 degrees. Due to this characteristic, a noticeable warmer color reproduction is produced. This fine balancing is important for special work such as art reproductions where true color reproduction is required. Filter factor is approximately 1.2.
81B warming filter. It's Autumn. The clouds are low hanging and the sky is "patchy blue". You've gone for a ride upstate to the mountains and the light in open shade is bluish. A photo taken of your girlfriend with daylight balanced film leaning against the side of a barn will yield bluish tones that she might not find particularly flattering.

An 81B filter will replace even more yellow than an 81A and bring her skin tones back to a more appealing level. An 81B can also be used with electronic flash to reduce the amount of "blue" generated by the flash. The 81 series (81A, B, C, D and EF) allows you to choose how much warmth you wish to replace in the image.

81C Warming filter, slightly stronger than 81B, opposite of 82C.This filter is strongly recommended for daylight photographs, especially in spring and summer with cloudless skies and clear air. It helps eliminate the strong blue tone and haziness that is produced by this level of ultraviolet light. Furthermore, it will reduce the unwanted blue tone in shadow areas with an overcast sky. Filter factor is approximately 1.2.
81D Color Conversion Filter This filter controls the bluish coloration that affects daylight film. An 81D is used as a warming filter to eliminate the bluishness of open shade on very clear days. The 81D is stronger than an 81C and is also used for general landscape photography on cloudy days as well as to add more of a "suntanned look" in portrait photography.

An 81D filter will more than replace the yellow missing from the image and place all skin tones on a "warmish" level. The 81 series (81A, B, C, D and EF) allows you to choose how much warmth you wish to replace in the image.

81EF Warming Filter The 81 Series of Filters control the bluish coloration that affects daylight film. They can also remove excessive blue from the effects of electronic flash. Sometimes a Director of Photography may prefer to use an 81EF rather than an 85. When used alone in daylight, this filter under-corrects tungsten balanced film and provides a cool or bluish look. However, if an 81EF is used with tungsten balanced film in tungsten light, it results in a warm look.

An 81EF filter (the strongest in the 81 series) will more than replace the yellow missing from the image and place all skin tones on a distinctly "warmish" level. You might even consider using an 81EF at the beach to make a hot scene even "hotter". The 81 series allows you to choose how much warmth you wish to replace in the image.

Combination 85C/Neutral Density .3 glass filter A very unique filter that offers possibilities that other filters don't.

Neutral Density filters have several uses and offer the possibility to achieve otherwise unachievable results. ND filters appear grey and reduce the amount of light reaching the film. They have no effect on color balance. 85C Color Conversion Filter What do you do when you must take some photos outdoors and all you have left is tungsten film? Using tungsten film in daylight will produce a bluish cast in the photograph.

The 85 series of filters will "bring back", i.e. color balance the tones in your images. These yellow filters are used to correct differences in color temperature between the recording medium (film/video) and the light source. An 85C produces the coolest results of the 85 series - more than either the 85 or 85B. However, it is interesting to remember that an 85C is also useful as a creative warming filter with daylight film in daylight.

85B Color Conversion Filters Sunlight, daylight, incandescent, fluorescent, and other artificial light sources all have color characteristics that vary significantly. Filters give you better images by adjusting for these light variations. Film and video are rated for a particular color temperature such as that of daylight or tungsten light. Filters are used to correct differences in color temperature between the recording medium and the light source. An 85B filter converts tungsten film to daylight. An 85C produces the coolest results - more than either the 85 or 85B. However, it is interesting to remember that an 85C is also useful as a creative warming filter with daylight film in daylight. 

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