Mired

Color temperature - mired shift

Mired is a unit of measurement used in photography and cinematography to quantify the color temperature of light sources. Unlike the more common temperature scale measured in Kelvin, which increases with the hue of the light shifting from red to blue, the mired scale inversely measures the color temperature, meaning lower numbers represent cooler (bluer) light sources and higher numbers warmer (redder) light sources. The term "mired" is a portmanteau of "micro-reciprocal degree." The formula to calculate mired from Kelvin is M = 1,000,000 / T, where M is the mired value and T is the temperature in Kelvin.

Usage in Photography and Cinematography

In photography and cinematography, understanding and controlling color temperature is crucial for achieving the desired aesthetic effect. Different light sources emit light at different color temperatures, affecting the mood, tone, and realism of the scene. By using the mired scale, photographers and cinematographers can more easily match and modify light sources. For example, if a scene is lit with a light source that is too warm, a filter with a negative mired value can be used to cool down the color temperature, and vice versa.

Lighting Filters

Lighting filters are often labeled with their mired shift value, indicating how they will alter the color temperature of the light passing through them. These filters can be used to correct or creatively alter the color balance of an image. For instance, a filter designed to correct the orange cast of tungsten lighting (typically around 3200K) to match daylight (around 5600K) would have a positive mired shift value, indicating it makes the light cooler.

Applications Beyond Photography

While the mired scale is most commonly associated with photography and cinematography, it also finds applications in fields such as lighting design and horticulture. In lighting design, the mired scale can help in selecting light sources and filters to achieve a consistent or desired color environment. In horticulture, understanding the color temperature of light can influence plant growth, as different stages of growth may respond better to different color temperatures.

Conclusion

The mired scale offers a nuanced approach to understanding and manipulating color temperature in various fields. By providing an inverse measurement of color temperature, it simplifies the process of matching and modifying light sources to achieve desired visual outcomes.

This article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by registering to expand it. Editing is available only to registered and verified users. WikiMD is a comprehensive, free health & wellness encyclopedia.