1/2 Minus Green (Half Minus Green)

kelvin 12 plus green 12 cts

Half-strength color filter that reduces green cast by 50%, ideal for mixed lighting between daylight and tungsten. More subtle than full Minus Green, preventing overcorrection.

Technical Specifications

Color Correction Characteristics:

Primary Effect: Magenta/Red Shift (Green Reduction)
Color Temperature Effect: Minimal (under 50 K shift)
Magenta Intensity: Approx. 50 Mired (half strength vs. Full Minus Green)
No neutral color temperature shift

Optical Properties:

Light Loss: Approx. 0.2 to 0.3 f-stops
Transmission: Approx. 97-98%
Specifically for green cast correction, not for temperature adjustment

Application

The 1/2 Minus Green filter is used for:

Fluorescent Light Correction: Fluorescent tubes (T5, T8, T12) in offices, schools, shops
Tube Lamp Correction: Old fluorescent tube lamps in supermarkets and factories
Mixed Fluorescent: Combination with Tungsten or Daylight when fluorescent is dominant
Fine-Tuning: With 1/2 Minus Green, you achieve subtler control than with Full Minus Green
Combination with CTS: 1/2 Minus Green + 1/2 CTS = precise fluorescent correction

Manufacturers & Products

Lee Filters:

Lee 091 (2 Minus Green available in 1/2 intensity)

Rosco:

Rosco 3316 (Minus Green in corresponding strength)

Tiffen:

1/2 Minus Green (available as Cut-Gel)

Practical Tips

Minus Green vs. CTS:

Minus Green: Green cast compensation only (magenta shift)
CTS: Color temperature shift + green cast compensation
Combination: CTS + Minus Green for maximally controlled fluorescent correction

Full vs. 1/2 Minus Green:

Full Minus Green: For strong, dominant green casts
1/2 Minus Green: For moderate green casts or when Full appears too magenta

Color Meter Measurement: Use a color meter to accurately measure the green cast:

Negative Green values: Too much green cast → use Minus Green
Negative Magenta values: Not enough magenta → use Plus Green

Combination Strategy:

Fluorescent only: 1/2 Minus Green
Fluorescent + Tungsten: 1/4 CTO + 1/2 Minus Green
Fluorescent + HMI: 1/2 Minus Green (HMI is already blue)

White Balance Setting:

Manual: Measure with Color Checker Card and perform white balance
Preset: Fluorescent mode + magenta offset

Storage: Minus Green filters can yellow; store in a cool, dark place.
Practical Use Cases: 1/2 Minus Green is frequently used in:

Interviews in offices with fluorescent lighting
Shopping scenes in supermarkets
Factory and production shoots
Schools and public buildings

From the crafts

Perspectives

Cinematographer

With a 1/2 Minus Green, you don't get a drastic temperature shift, but rather a specific magenta component that neutralizes the green cast. The white balance should be set manually or with a fluorescent preset. This filter is ideal in combination with a color meter, as you can see precisely whether the green cast is compensated. Modern cameras have fluorescent WB modes, but a physical filter gives you more control.

Gaffer

The 1/2 Minus Green filter is a specialized tool for situations with difficult ambient light. While CTS filters shift the overall color temperature, Minus Green specifically focuses on removing the green cast – a major issue with fluorescent and tube lighting. On set, 1/2 Minus Green is often used alone or in combination with CTS to achieve controlled colors. This filter is essential when you have to shoot with fluorescent ambient light.