Everyone has seen a TV broadcast where the colors just didn’t look quite right and wondered if it was time for a new TV. The problem isn’t the TV. It can be the lighting used for the broadcast, their positioning, the camera, or the lighting in homes. A curved screen can distort the light that touches the screen in brightly lit environments.
When the lighting problem originates in the studio, there’s little that viewers can do to create a better viewing situation. One reason colors appear off to audiences is the type of illumination being used. Lighting must be placed properly and focused appropriately so the camera can capture the images correctly and reproduce the color accurately. The filters being used in the studio may not be the right devices for the job.
The second factor that affects broadcasts is the amount of light that’s being emitted. Too much illumination will make images look dull and washed out. Too little light will create unwanted shadowing and make it difficult for the cameras to capture images in true color.
Cameras also impact the way colors appear. All cameras don’t detect color wavelengths in the same way. When professional lighting experts undertake illuminating a specific space, they also pay attention to the cameras being used. If a camera can’t properly detect the specific color, it will result in an estimation of the shade based on a primary color model that also represents shades of gray.
Ultimately, proper lighting techniques that enable cameras to accurately reproduce colors are the responsibility of the lighting director. An experienced lighting professional understands the properties of different types of illumination, where best to position the lights, and even the capabilities of the cameras that will be broadcasting the images.
Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds. If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.
Phone: 561-368-0101
Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com
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