Grammar of the Shot, 2nd Edition

Natural or Artificial Light

These values of degrees Kelvin are extremely important to film shooting because the physical film emulsion is balanced by the manufacturer to want to see either 3200 degree light as “white” or 5600 degree light as “white.” The balance toward 3200 is referred to as tungsten balanced, and the film that seeks 5600 degree light as white light is called daylight balanced. The electronic light sensors on most video cameras [charge-coupled devices (CCDs)] are also calibrated to record tungsten (3200) or daylight (5600) and often have a setting for both so you can switch back and forth as needed.

Now tungsten is called tungsten because it is the chief element in the metallic filament inside the light bulb (or lamp) that glows ...