Filmlexikon.
Support
1/4 CTB
Lighting · Equipment

1/4 CTB

Murnau AI illustration
full ctb 1 2 ctb 1 8 ctb

Color correction gel at 1/4 CTB strength — reduces blue shift without fully neutralizing it. Used for subtle color temperature adjustments between tungsten and daylight sources.

Technical Specifications

1/4 CTB (Color Temperature Blue) shifts the color temperature by +34 Mired, raising Tungsten light from 3200K to approximately 3800K. With Lee Filters, this filter is numbered #203, and with Rosco, it is #3208 "1/4 Blue". Light transmission is 67%, corresponding to a loss of 0.6 stops.

Practical Application in Film

1/4 CTB is typically used for subtle correction of practicals. Desk lamps, wall sconces, and candle-replacement LEDs are given 1/4 CTB to mitigate extreme warmth without losing credibility as "real" light sources.

Workflow & Combinations

1/4 CTB is often combined:

  • With ND for window light simulation
  • With 1/4 Plus Green for fluorescent matching
  • Stacked to 3/8 CTB (1/4 + 1/8) for intermediate values

Comparison with Other CTB Strengths

FilterMired ShiftKelvin (from 3200K)Light Loss
1/8 CTB+173500K0.3 Stops
1/4 CTB+343800K0.6 Stops
1/2 CTB+684500K1.0 Stops
Full CTB+1315600K1.8 Stops
More in the lexikon

Related terms

Report an error
From the Filmfarm ecosystem

Understand visual language, budget productions, connect crew.

The Lexikon is part of the Filmfarm ecosystem — alongside budgeting (FilmBalance), an industry magazine (FilmCircus) and crew networking (FilmCall, CrewMesh). One shared vocabulary for the whole production.

FilmFarm FilmRadarComing soonFilmPulseComing soonFilmNumbersComing soonFilmCapitalComing soonFilmLabComing soonFilmBalanceComing soonFilmCircusComing soon