Grey Card - usage

[donkeymusic]

Hello, last time i was in a studio we were shown a grey card, just wondered if anyone could suggest what exactly i need?

thanks

 

[KIPAX]

Hello, last time i was in a studio we were shown a grey card, just wondered if anyone could suggest what exactly i need?

thanks

for what... your question doesnt make a lot of sense to be honest my friend

 

[donkeymusic]

well to measure the white balance.

the grey cards i have seen are advertised as 18% grey, is this all that would need to measure against?

 

[EdinburghGary]

Yes. Get a nice big one, zoom right in, and tell your camera to get ready to record a custom white balance. Shoot, and boom - insta white balance sorted.

G.

 

[HoppyUK]

A few here http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&...=aps&hvadid=4577742530&ref=pd_sl_8klv2bubpa_b

I use this one - the 'classic' Kodak 18% Gray and 90% White cards set http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/item/109-199A/

 

[EdBray]

I use a Lastolite Eazybalance easy to carry around, has both a white and grey side.

 

[aztec]

the inside colour of lowepro bags are 18% grey which is useful if you dont have card to hand.

 

[JustinParker]

I use digital grey card from the US as per links on amazon

 

[40th Dimension]

the inside colour of lowepro bags are 18% grey which is useful if you dont have card to hand.

Really? I never knew that

 

[infra_dread]

Apart from having a grey card I also use a Lastolite tri balance. If shooting a wedding etc when I know where people are standing etc I do some test shots prior to the event with the tri balance where the couple will stand - this gives me a white balance reference when you can't get away with sticking bits of card infront of someones face. The tribalance allows you to get your blacks, whites and mids right although (on Mark Cleghorns advice) I use the black surround rather than the black panel for setting black point as using the black panel tends to block the shadows up a bit.

 

[EdMoss]

I've used one of these for years http://www.rawworkflow.com/whibal/ must get a new one as the white has gone a bit grey.

 

[blue max]

Also having the first shot with the card in the shot allows you to sample the grey card and colour balance on screen.

Graham

 

[User Name]

Isn't the grey side for exposure and the white side for white balance?

 

[infra_dread]

You can use the grey side to set white balance as well. Seems a bit odd but it does work.

 

[Canon Bob]

the inside colour of lowepro bags are 18% grey which is useful if you dont have card to hand.

The innards of my Lowepro bag are a different grey to my grey card :shrug:

Bob

 

[EdBray]

The innards of my Lowepro bag are a different grey to my grey card :shrug:

Bob

As is mine, and the exposure difference between the pair is exactly +1 stop in favour of the Lowepro.

 

[Bristolian]

the inside colour of lowepro bags are 18% grey which is useful if you dont have card to hand.

You beat me to it

It's all I ever use

 

[blue max]

Or you can use a typical scene and let the camera sort it.

*typical being 18% grey.

Graham

 

[donkeymusic]

so would i take the first shot and include the grey card?

Not quite sure where i then go from there

thanks

 

[Canon Bob]

so would i take the first shot and include the grey card?

Not quite sure where i then go from there

thanks

To save much typing, have a read of this and then ask again if something's not clear.

Bob

 

[HoppyUK]

so would i take the first shot and include the grey card?

Not quite sure where i then go from there

thanks

Edit: crossed post - thanks Bob

The 18% grey bit is only necessary for exposure setting. For white balance, anything that is neutral in colour will do, eg plain grey, clean white etc.

Once you have you selected a neutral target, you can then use it to do a custom white balance, or just include it somewhere in the first shot and that is then your colour reference for every picture taken under the same colour lighting.

In post processing, drop on to the target and that will give you a colour correction setting to apply to the whole shoot.