Plumbers tape for White Balance?

[petersmart]

I came across this neat little trick for setting up WB in a photograph which I'd never heard of before:

https://petapixel.com/2018/09/08/plumbers-tape-is-a-cheap-way-to-white-balance-photos/

Seems a really neat way to set WB for a few pennies.
.

 

[Box Brownie]

Well that is wheeze of solution. I have my WhiBal card when needed

Just struck me though, I wonder what a TSA agent (or equivalent) would make of "white tape" & a "block of white material" in your camera bag???

 

[petersmart]

Learn Polish and tell them you're a plumber
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[Brian G]

I came across this neat little trick for setting up WB in a photograph which I'd never heard of before:

https://petapixel.com/2018/09/08/plumbers-tape-is-a-cheap-way-to-white-balance-photos/

Seems a really neat way to set WB for a few pennies.
.

What a load of tosh!
I saw that and wondered if plumbers tape is a different shade of white compared to, say, electrical insulating tape or white gaffer tape?

 

[petersmart]

What a load of tosh!
I saw that and wondered if plumbers tape is a different shade of white compared to, say, electrical insulating tape or white gaffer tape?

On the site they say:

"Plumber’s tape works as a white balance reference because of the properties of the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) used.

Sintered PTFE has been known to have high spectral purity, low opacity (that’s why 4 layers is enough), and a very diffused reflection with close-to-1 factor for many years,” LibRaw states.
.

 

[Brian G]

On the site they say:

"Plumber’s tape works as a white balance reference because of the properties of the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) used.

Sintered PTFE has been known to have high spectral purity, low opacity (that’s why 4 layers is enough), and a very diffused reflection with close-to-1 factor for many years,” LibRaw states.
.

More tosh!
White tape is white tape.
Obviously a load of BS created by the tape manufacturer.

 

[myotis]

I came across this neat little trick for setting up WB in a photograph which I'd never heard of before:

https://petapixel.com/2018/09/08/plumbers-tape-is-a-cheap-way-to-white-balance-photos/

Seems a really neat way to set WB for a few pennies.
.

The original article, from 2016, is here https://www.fastrawviewer.com/blog/diy-white-balance-reference

Given the authors specialist expertise in this area, I suspect this will be a reliable approach.

 

[st599]

Sorry, but no.

Most white tape is not spectrally flat nor diffuse, some even flouresce.

 

[j07cmt]

More tosh!
White tape is white tape.
Obviously a load of BS created by the tape manufacturer.

I'm sure they are making millions off the back of photographers snapping it up at 50p per roll

 

[billy nomates]

I have no expertise on the subject of WB, but just wanted to point out that PTFE tape is very different from insulating tape.
50p a roll... typical B&Q overpriced rip off, you can get a roll for 29p at screwfix.

 

[Brian G]

Sorry, but no.

Most white tape is not spectrally flat nor diffuse, some even flouresce.

Yes of course.
My white is whiter than your white - shades of the old washing powder wars!

 

[Nod]

When a "pure" white is needed, only a pure white will do.

It would be quite interesting to see what RGB values assorted tapes have when shot with a "real" pure white reference.

 

[st599]

Yes of course.
My white is whiter than your white - shades of the old washing powder wars!

Washing powders use optical brightening agents which flouresce UV light into the blue spectrum.

For camera white balancing you need a spectrally flat, non-specular reflector. The further you move from those properties the less accurate the white balance will be.

 

[dcash29]

What a load of tosh!
I saw that and wondered if plumbers tape is a different shade of white compared to, say, electrical insulating tape or white gaffer tape?

I've actually tried it a while back and the results were very good, have you?