Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

What type of filter is used to correct the color from fluorescent light without additional modifications?

1. Yellow filter

2. Red filter

3. Magenta filter

4. Cyan filter

The correct answer is: Magenta filter

The use of a magenta filter is appropriate for correcting the color cast that fluorescent lighting often produces in photographs. Fluorescent lights typically emit a greenish hue, which can make images appear unnatural and unflattering. The magenta filter counteracts this green cast, effectively balancing the color temperature and restoring more natural skin tones and colors in the scene. A yellow filter would not adequately neutralize the green tint, as it primarily enhances warm tones and may even exacerbate the color discrepancies. A red filter focuses on increasing red tones and could lead to an imbalance, making the overall image overly warm. Similarly, a cyan filter would shift colors towards the blue spectrum, which wouldn't address the green tint effectively and could further skew the color balance. Therefore, selecting a magenta filter is the most effective option for neutralizing the green color cast created by fluorescent lighting, resulting in more accurate and pleasing images.