The current study investigates the effect of four different filter combinations on the pressure sensitivity, signal level and temperature sensitivity of pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) samples in an a priori calibration. Two different PSP formulations developed at the Aero-Physics Laboratory are studied, one using hydrochloric acid (PSP1-HCl) and the other acetone (PSP2-Ace). Both are incorporated in a sol–gel solution. The results show that the effect of choosing different bandwidths, central wavelengths and transmissions of the filters for the emitted and excitation wavelengths can have a significant impact on the behaviour of PSP, luminescent signal level, pressure and temperature sensitivity, and also eliminate the undesired wavelengths which can affect the final results.