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Color temperature: what is it and why is it so important?

Understanding color temperature can help you create a more intricately designed scene. This concept directly impacts your setting, especially if you aim to elicit different sensations from your audience through your work.

Color can convey more than you might imagine, and employing it in a scene can set you apart in the market. A skilled professional thinks of everything, including the setting where all the scenes of your production will be filmed.

In any case, to comprehend what color temperature is, and its significance, check out the article we’ve prepared to assist you!

What is color temperature and how does it influence us?

Color temperature is measured in degrees Kelvin, and it directly influences our perception when looking at different colors. It’s widely used in settings and costumes, to construct scenes according to the director’s vision.

Therefore, if you’re responsible for setting up a scene, it’s crucial to know about color temperature. Even though we might not consciously notice it during the day, we are influenced by it at every moment, as it’s beyond our control.

To better understand color temperature, let’s imagine we’re heating a steel plate. The hotter it gets, the whiter it becomes, eventually reaching a slightly bluish tone.

The thing is, the fewer Kelvins (the unit of measurement for temperature), the warmer the color is considered. Thus, cooler colors are those with a higher temperature, as we’ll demonstrate with the numbers presented below:

  • Warm colors: temperature between 2600 K and 3500 K, capable of producing yellowish lights;
  • Neutral colors: temperature between 4000 K and 5500 K, capable of producing white lights;
  • Cool colors: temperature starting at 6000 K, capable of producing bluish lights.

It’s important to understand that temperature and the sensation it conveys are entirely different. As we can see, the higher the temperature in Kelvin, the cooler the color will be, so we’re discussing more in terms of sensations.

Armed with this knowledge, the person responsible for the scene setup can help achieve the objective of filming certain works. Color temperature is widely used to make scenes more relaxing or tense, for example.

In any case, besides making the right choice of color temperature, it’s also necessary to avoid other common mistakes in video editing. Therefore, be sure to stay aware of this and other more technical issues related to filming.

Different temperatures according to colors

Through color temperature, it’s possible to convey different sensations to those watching the scene. For this reason, setting the scene is so important when we talk about the production of movies, series, and videos.

In addition to the setting, the characters’ costumes in the scene can also contribute to this. Depending on how they’re used and highlighted, you may achieve your objective solely through the clothing.

Warm colors, as we’ve already discussed, range between 2600 K and 3500 K, taking on yellowish tones. Therefore, they evoke the same feeling as a normal day since this is also the sun’s hue, which can be useful in scenes.

A yellowish tone helps to convey a sense of relaxation, aiding in the production of more melatonin. That’s why it’s common to find rooms painted in this color – it’s meant to make the space more relaxing.

For neutral colors, which range between 4000 K and 5500 K, they are closer to the color white. This temperature is ideal for conveying a sense of cleanliness, as it enhances the emphasis on certain areas.

That’s why it’s commonly used in bathrooms, medical and orthodontic offices, among other places. Anywhere that needs to convey a sense of cleanliness generally uses neutral temperature tones in its composition.

Finally, cool color temperatures, which give off bluish tones and start at 6000 K, aid in enhancing focus. A smartphone, for instance, has a naturally cooler tone on its screen to help users pay more attention while using it.

It also conveys the feeling of reducing fatigue, and that’s why it’s commonly used in workplaces. As you can see, temperature, just like color psychology, can directly influence different scenes.

What is its importance in cinema?

Now that we’ve discussed what color temperature is, it’s time to talk about its significance to those working in film. Essentially, it’s about the sensation you want to convey when creating a scene, which can be modified according to color.

This is why, for example, a suspense scene rarely incorporates warm colors. It’s quite rare to find a movie using yellow tones in such a situation, as it generally wouldn’t harmonize well.
This is also important in corporate videos, as the background shouldn’t distract from the message you want to convey. In other words, color temperature influences more than one might initially think, and it’s not just used in films.

Regardless of the colors chosen, paying attention to the video recording format and other details is crucial. A well-shot video consists of numerous elements that directly affect the quality of the final product.

In conclusion, that’s our article, and we hope you’ve understood what color temperature is and its importance in filmmaking. For more articles that can help you achieve better results with your recordings, be sure to check out our blog!