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Thread: Dark cloth; why other side is red?

  1. #1
    jvuokko's Avatar
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    Red face Dark cloth; why other side is red?

    Hi,
    this is really dumb question
    It has been in my mind for a long, long time, but I haven't dare to ask about it.

    But now I am too curious.

    Many times the focusing cloth is black from other side and red from the other side. What is decided function for red color?
    I have used such focusing cloth, and found that red side just is not dark enough, so I have to use black side and turn red side to outside.

    Is the red side only for protecting photographer from heat of the sun?
    Jukka Vuokko
    Flickr

  2. #2
    All metric sizes to 24x30 Ole Tjugen's Avatar
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    Re: Dark cloth; why other side is red?

    Or from hunters...

  3. #3
    windpointphoto's Avatar
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    Re: Dark cloth; why other side is red?

    When Ron Wisner was selling this type, his thought was as protection from cars and trucks on the side of the road.

  4. #4

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    Re: Dark cloth; why other side is red?

    In case photography dosen't pan out you can try your hand at bull fighting?

    The opposite side off a focusing cloth is a contrasting color (I've been told) so that :
    1. It will reflect heat better on warm days, making it a touch cooler under the cloth.
    2. Provide some conspicuity in case you're photography in night or heavily overcast conditions so no one will mistakenly run over you.

    as for me, I think the whirl at bullfighting would be a possibity except my focusing cloth is white on the 'other' side

    Cheers!
    "I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority"---EB White

  5. #5

    Re: Dark cloth; why other side is red?

    Better Red than dead?

  6. #6

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    Re: Dark cloth; why other side is red?

    Red would go with the bellows on my B&J. I'm gonna get one!
    Pete.

  7. #7
    3d Visual Effects artist
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    Re: Dark cloth; why other side is red?

    I don't know about red, but white does seem to help in the heat. I suppose Red could have been used to try and be a bit more classy looking, or just different?
    Daniel Buck - 3d VFX artist
    3d work: DanielBuck.net
    photography: 404Photography.net - BuckshotsBlog.com

  8. #8
    joseph
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    Re: Dark cloth; why other side is red?

    I would imagine it has something to do with not producing a strong after-image,
    in the case of light leaks-

    j

  9. #9
    Hopelessly Lost
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    Re: Dark cloth; why other side is red?

    I know that in wet plate and ortho film, the film is only blue light sensitive (therefore not red). it could be something like that. A lot of wet plate shooters line the inside of their portable dark room tents with either yellow or red so as to block exposing light in addition to the black.
    www.hollisbennett.com

    Huh? Oh, right, keep moving.

  10. #10
    Glenn Mellen
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    Re: Dark cloth; why other side is red?

    Purely "style" I would think... they come in all colors. Wista is green, Wisner is red, Delta black on both sides, Harrison is silver, Blackjacket is silver, other brands I've seen are white. Methinks most of the colors are covered, or have been covered in the past. But then again, I haven't seen pink or yellow..... yet.

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