Custom WB

snigg

snigg

Messages
359
Edit My Images
No
Can I just check I understand custom white balance correctly.

Would you need to redo the CW value each time the light/location changes?
 
Yes, but within reason you can correct it in PP if shooting in RAW.
 
Providing exposure is correct then generally, no. However there are limits to how much you can correct. Custom WB is particularly useful when a scene is lit by mixed types of light, e.g. a combination of tungsten and flourescent, or daylight and tungsten.

I use halogen and tungsten to light my table top and product projects, so custom WB is vital.
 
Yellowbelly said:
Providing exposure is correct then generally, no. However there are limits to how much you can correct. Custom WB is particularly useful when a scene is lit by mixed types of light, e.g. a combination of tungsten and flourescent, or daylight and tungsten.

I use halogen and tungsten to light my table top and product projects, so custom WB is vital.
Click to expand...


good point, good to know that :thumbs:
 
Yellowbelly said:
Providing exposure is correct then generally, no. However there are limits to how much you can correct. Custom WB is particularly useful when a scene is lit by mixed types of light, e.g. a combination of tungsten and flourescent, or daylight and tungsten.

I use halogen and tungsten to light my table top and product projects, so custom WB is vital.
Click to expand...
With mixed light like this your going to struggle to get an accurate WB even if you do a custom one don't you think? Where would you take a reading?
 
rjbell said:
With mixed light like this your going to struggle to get an accurate WB even if you do a custom one don't you think? Where would you take a reading?
Click to expand...


You know I just looked for this thread as I kept thinking the same, it takes me a few days to process info :eek:

Why would Custom white balance be any more useful on mixed lighting, as surely the same setting could be chosen in PP?
 
snigg said:
You know I just looked for this thread as I kept thinking the same, it takes me a few days to process info :eek:

Why would Custom white balance be any more useful on mixed lighting, as surely the same setting could be chosen in PP?
Click to expand...

In mixed lighting, you can only correct for one light source, either in post or with a custom WB. It's almost impossible to do anything more. Though if you go for the main subject and get that right, chances are the rest won't matter so much. Might get away with it.

The most common situation is flash (bluish) with tungsten light (yellow/orange) indoors, and the way around that is to gel the flash with a light orange filter (known as CTO) so the two light sources match in colour.
 
rjbell said:
With mixed light like this your going to struggle to get an accurate WB even if you do a custom one don't you think? Where would you take a reading?
Click to expand...

I use a grey card taken at the most important part of my image. Been doing it this way for a couple of years with excellent results.
 
snigg said:
isn't a gray card for exposure not white balance?
Click to expand...

Both, either.

Many people assume white is the only point to measure WB, but any truly neutral grey will work. In fact many 'whites' are far from neutral, for instance new white shirts are often quite blue.
 
I'm glad this thread came up, I have been a little intimidated by white balance and just used fully auto mode so after reading the grey card instructions and watching a few YouTube videos I have a basic grasp.

I'm going to order an 18% card and give it a try. Cheers!
 
Skaldosi said:
I'm glad this thread came up, I have been a little intimidated by white balance and just used fully auto mode so after reading the grey card instructions and watching a few YouTube videos I have a basic grasp.

I'm going to order an 18% card and give it a try. Cheers!
Click to expand...

You can buy 18% micro fibre lens cleaning cloth and kill to birds with one feather.
 
Skaldosi said:
I'm glad this thread came up, I have been a little intimidated by white balance and just used fully auto mode so after reading the grey card instructions and watching a few YouTube videos I have a basic grasp.

I'm going to order an 18% card and give it a try. Cheers!
Click to expand...

I use auto white balance all the time and tweak in post if need be. I would only ever use a grey card if I was shooting product that had to be rendered exactly 'as is'.

For 99% of photos, I'm not interested in what is 'correct', only what looks good. :)
 
Jayst84 said:
I use auto white balance all the time and tweak in post if need be. I would only ever use a grey card if I was shooting product that had to be rendered exactly 'as is'.

For 99% of photos, I'm not interested in what is 'correct', only what looks good. :)
Click to expand...

The most trouble I've had is when taking shots indoors of my guitars. I never quite understood why they looked so yellow and didn't fully understand why until I went through this thread.

Also now I understand the basics I can now be a little more creative with it. Whilst I certainly won't be shooting with custom WB all the time I expect I should have more of an idea when I should be. Hopefully :)
 
weybourne said:
The grey inside of many camera bags will do the job too (a tip I learnt from TP forums :)).
Click to expand...

It's a bit of an internet myth. I've yet to find one that is truly either 18% grey, or properly neutral. Even bags of the same brand vary.
 
HoppyUK said:
It's a bit of an internet myth. I've yet to find one that is truly either 18% grey, or properly neutral. Even bags of the same brand vary.
Click to expand...

My bag gets me close enough - I must be lucky or blind (or have a badly calibrated monitor) ;) :D
 
Close enough would be good enough for me too if i was ever bothered to to a a custom WB. Your all must be better photographers than be as i will only have 5 shots i want to work on from a days shoot so WB in ACR is much easier for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top