Color Filter Types For Black & White Photography
By Dave Chevalier, http://www.lesliealongthelines.com
Printed: 09-JUN-2005

Since we are starting to talk about filters and the effects they provide our shots, I rummaged through some old MS Word files and found this handy reference for Black & White photography.

B+W UV
Black and white films are also sensitive to the effects of invisible UV light. A high percentage of UV light, present in a clear view at the sea or mountains, results in a hazy and washed out picture. The UV filter blocks out this light. Filter factor is 1.0.

B+W light yellow
Accentuates warm, soft, delicate scenes through the enhancement of yellow, orange, and red. It is especially suitable for portraits of women and children, skin tones in natural light, springtime landscapes, and nature scenes. Filter factor is approximately 1.5.

B+W medium yellow
Creates subtle differences between green tones and enhances the natural rendition of the sky. Recommended for landscape and foliage photography. It tones down skin blemishes and ruddiness in daylight portraits, and results in soft skin tones as well as intensified blond hair. Filter factor is approximately 2.0.

B+W dark yellow
Distinctly improves reproductions of fine structures such as sand or snow, increases contrast of foliage, and clears distant haze. It diminishes skin blemishes and freckles in artificial light. It also darkens eye colors and lightens lip colors. Filter factor is approximately 3.0.

B+W yellow-orange
Bright-orange filter darkens blue and violet as well as green and yellow-green. It is indispensable for all landscape and architectural photography, which requires vivid and clear contours. The sky is distinctly toned with the clouds clearly contrasted against it. This filter is popular for nude photography under natural light. Filter factor is approximately 4.0.

B+W yellow-green
Ideal for scenes where it is important to differentiate the green tonal values. The application is especially suited to landscape photography in the springtime because it enhances the light green color of the leaves. Due to its favorable effect on red tones, this filter is also suitable for portraits or group pictures taken in natural light. Filter factor is approximately 2.0.

B+W green
Dark green filter creates distinct differentiations of green tones in late spring and summer. Also recommended for floral pictures that are used graphically, for tonal separations in still-life photography, and for the correction of red tones in portraits with high-speed film. Filter factor is approximately 3.0.

B+W light blue
Recommended for the correction of artificial light with overtones of yellow-red such as with older photo lamps or normal household bulb illumination. Also used to darken skin tones for portrait or nude photography under natural light. Filter factor is approximately 1.5.

B+W blue
Blue enhances the tonal rendition of the sky by emphasizing mist in valleys and transmitting light rays over water, fog, and haze. In addition, this filter is used for the tonal separation in still-life photography and the correction of the light spectrum from artificial light sources. Filter factor is approximately 2.0.

B+W light red
Ideal for enhancing contrast in landscape and architectural photography, and it enhances white areas. For example, letting clouds stand out clearly against a darkened sky and drastically reducing distant haze. Also used for tonal separation in still-life photography. Filter factor is approximately 5.0.

B+W red
Creates a strong darkening of the sky, dramatic storm-like cloud reproduction, and strongly enhanced shadows due to its enhanced contrast. It also achieves good tonal differentiations in still-life photography by brightening yellow, orange, and red. Filter factor is approximately 4.0.

B+W dark red
This filter gives a surrealistic effect in landscape and architectural photography by producing a "storm-like" cloud effect, "moonlight" effect, and "wood" effect. It is indispensable for tonal separation in still-life photography and for the reproduction of documents, which have become illegible. Filter factor is approximately 8.0.

I hope everyone will find this useful.