Does a flash umbrella change the color temperature of your light?
Asked 12/15/2013
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When using a flash with a shoot-through or reflective umbrella, can the umbrella material shift the color of the light? Do white, silver, gold, or cheaper umbrella fabrics affect the flash color differently?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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Most umbrellas I've seen are white or silver to maintain whatever color is directed at it. So if you gel your flash it should be relatively unaffected by the umbrella. However, if your umbrella is a different color, then that would affect the color of the light hitting your subject.
Or think of it this way, the umbrella material is often like those 5-in-1 reflectors. Silver on one side and gold on the other for certain effects, or a scrim to soften the light, but maintain the natural color for the scene.
Originally by user9510. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user9510
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—an umbrella can affect the color of flash, depending on its material and color.
If the umbrella is neutral in color, such as white, grey, black, or a neutral diffusion fabric, it should have little to no noticeable effect on color. White and silver umbrellas are commonly used because they are intended to preserve the light’s original color fairly well.
If the umbrella is colored—such as gold—or if the fabric isn’t truly neutral, it can shift the light by reflecting or transmitting some wavelengths more than others. This applies whether you are shooting through the umbrella or bouncing the flash into it.
Quality can matter too: better umbrellas are often made with materials designed to stay more color-neutral, while cheaper fabrics may introduce a slight cast.
So the practical answer is: neutral umbrellas usually keep flash color close to unchanged, while colored or lower-quality umbrellas may alter it.
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