Color film for mixed lighting?

[Richard Wasserman]

I need some recommendations for a color—preferably negative—film to use in a building interior. This place is lit with just about every source imaginable—flourescent (I don't know what temp, probably whatever they could get cheap), incandescent, halide, daylight, you name it. I'll be scanning. Thanks!

[Kirk Gittings]

When I was shooting color negs for commercial architecture, maybe 5 years ago. I always found the Fuji films to be the most forgiving. I'm not sure what is available these days.

[bgh]

I used some Kodak Portra 400NC last year while shooting a church interior which had a similarly mixed bag of lighting, and was very pleased with it.

Bruce

[Richard Wasserman]

I use and like very much the Portra films, although I have only used them in daylight. I just checked B&H, and they are pretty much my only option, so I'll give Portra 400 a try. I can go and test a roll before I do the actual project itself in 4x5.

[Greg Lockrey]

Chose the predominant light source and filter the others to match.

[sully75]

hate to say it but that sounds like an awesome place to use good ol' digital.

[Richard Wasserman]

I don't think my D40 is going to give me the quality I need.

I'm not sure filtering is in the cards either as this is sort of a one time event for me (I think) and I would need to filter each shot differently. Add to that the fact that I don't have the filters, and don't really know precisely what to do with them.....

If I shoot a grey card will Photoshop save my butt?

[Kirk Gittings]

I don't think my D40 is going to give me the quality I need.

I'm not sure filtering is in the cards either as this is sort of a one time event for me (I think) and I would need to filter each shot differently. Add to that the fact that I don't have the filters, and don't really know precisely what to do with them.....

If I shoot a grey card will Photoshop save my butt?

It always helps to shoot a grey card. You can even put it in a place that you can easily clone it out and save the "test" exposure. One method I have used successfully is to place a grey card-I bought one of the 8x10 plastic ones and cut it into 4 pieces-underneath every different light source. When you go to scan the neutralize the major source. Then in PS do a different duplicate neutralized for each of the light sources and blend to suit. I usually like the mix of daylight and tungsten but "clean up" the greens from fluorescents and metal halide.

[Filmnut]

I would say to use a colour neg film, expose well, and in the past the Fuji films were more forgiving with mixed light, then scan and use Photoshop to make the edits nec to give an overall pleasing image.
Keith

[Richard Wasserman]

Thanks Kirk, that sounds promising!