Tech Tools / Color Temp & Gels
Color Temp & Gels
Convert Kelvin ↔ mired, compute the mired shift between two sources, and see which CTO/CTB gels approximate the correction — with swatches and a common-sources table.
Use at your own risk. Mired values for gels are standard approximate references and vary slightly by manufacturer batch. Always check white balance on camera and with a meter on site.
Source
Target
- Source mired
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- Target mired
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- Mired shift
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- Suggested gels
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- Target K
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- Selected gel →
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Source after selected gel (approx.)
| Source | Kelvin | Mired |
|---|
Sources
- Mired = 10^6 / Kelvin. Gel mired shifts: Full CTO ≈ +167, 1/2 ≈ +81, 1/4 ≈ +42, 1/8 ≈ +20; Full CTB ≈ −131, 1/2 ≈ −68, 1/4 ≈ −35, 1/8 ≈ −18 (approximate catalog values).
- Swatch colors are approximate blackbody visualizations for reference only — not calibrated.
What this gel calculator does
It converts color temperature to mireds, shows the shift between two sources, and suggests CTO/CTB gels to approximate that shift.
Worked example
5600 K → 3200 K: mired shift ≈ +134, near Full CTO (+167) or Full + a touch of correction — check on camera.
FAQ
What is a mired?
A reciprocal-megakelvin unit (10^6 / K) that makes gel shifts roughly additive and perceptually more even than raw Kelvin differences.
CTO vs CTB?
CTO (color temperature orange) warms / converts daylight toward tungsten. CTB (blue) cools / converts tungsten toward daylight.
Lighting a show?
Kynetic handles lighting and camera for corporate and medical events.