Cam Color
i made IR cam by replacing original filter w/a piece of dark color film - what if there was no filter?
the dark film filters out the visible light - i've already reassembled the camera, but now wonder what if i didn't replace the filter but left it out altogether. would it be totally distorted, or perhaps it would just be extraordinarily detailed? also, the purpose is to monitor a neighboring parking lot at night, which is difficult for my cheap cam with or without IR so perhaps i should have removed all filters because i'm desperate to catch whatever i can ... how does this all work?
of course the dark film is not an IR filter, it is a visible-light filter, and works fine. the question was what if i had no filter at all. though you actually hit the nail on the head, my problem indeed is that i have no light source, thanks! i'm still wondering though what if i don't use a filter at all.
Dark colour film is NOT an IR filter.
Here is a link to such a filter and the process used to make such a conversion.
http://www.lifepixel.com/tutorials/
It seems you have left out an important part of the scheme. Adding a good IR source of light in your neighborhood parking lot. High Temperature Mercury Vapor lamps produce the most IR
More you will find helpful
http://www.dpfwiw.com/ir.htm