Wattage or Color Temperture?

[Guest]

I think this is a very newbie question, and I'm sure the answer will seem obvious after its answered-but that's why i post it here, so don't make fun of me.

When lights are stated as a 1k, 5k, 10k, is this referring to color temperture of the light, or the wattage of the light?

I have always assumed it represented the wattage, because when I hear the happenings on sets, I hear that there are 1k's, 5k's and 10ks, so naturally it doesn't work to mix color tempertures, but on the same token, K is also used for Kelvin. Can somebody verify my assumption? Thanks.

 

[Kevin_Zanit]

It is referring to wattage.

The k should really be kw for Kilowatt, but it is shortened. 1kw is 1,000 watts.

K for Kelvin is in degrees Kelvin.

A tungsten light source is in the neighborhood of 3200 degrees Kelvin.

Daylight (or HMIs) are in the neighborhood of 5600 degrees Kelvin (although daylight gets much higher).


Kevin Zanit