Understanding White Balance

Rob Barron, AKA 'My Photo Tutor' (www.myphototutor.com) explains why we need white balance, what it is and how to use the custom white balance function on your dSLR.

The principles apply to all dSLRs, irrespective of make or model though method of selection will naturally differ.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• White
• Balance
• Photography
• dSLR
• MyPhotoTutor
• gadget
• electronics

[journeyquest1]

Problem is that some photos cant be taken over after you figure out whats wrong and make a correction setting. Sometimes its now or never. Having a camera that has so many settings can really slow you down for some types of phtography.

[MPTutor]

@journeyquest1 Actually, I prefer to get to know my camera in-depth so that I am not slowed down by adjustments and things. It really does become 2nd nature after a while if you work at it :o)

[MPTutor]

Thanks for all the recent comments, I am very grateful to you for your kind encouragement :o)

I have now started a Blog which I add posts to at least weekly. It is at robbarron(dot)wordpress(dot)co­m and I would love for you to come and subscribe. No charge of course :)

[Altima1830]

There is a big fundamental mistake that people do when trying to set custom WB & its using a W card or W paper. The camera sees W as a 18% grey. If U shoot in AWB to a W surface the sensor its going to under exposure the image bcos it think its was overexposure, if U shoot to a surface where there is a lot of black the sensor its going to overexposure bcos it think it was underexposure. So when U custom WB using a 18% grey card, the sensor balance all colors from that shoot as a true W

[MPTutor]

@Altima1830 You are both right and wrong Altima. Most DSLRs these days have the custom white balance function and allow you to CHOOSE whether you use white or mid-grey as your main setting. This is because everyone has access to a sheet of white paper but not everyone has a mid-grey card to get it spot on. On my blog at wordpress(dot)robbarron(dot)co­m you will find an atricle I have written talking about the same point you make about how cameras use mid-grey. Cheers,

Rob Barron MPTutor

[Ashleiiigh2010]

You're just incredible, you know that? I have always wanted to be a photographer, but because i am so young, i didn't think i could. But now that i know i have more help for e.g. you & other tutors online, i could and will really get somewhere. It's great that you want to help people, thank you so much for this.

[jamie1234591]

Great! Thanks!

[tegankhurmy]

i just wasn't getting this and you've made it so simple! thank you so much!

[ethiofekade]

thank you very so much.

[framethis]

Hi Rob..i do understand how to use white Balance .but my friend did not know .i tried a few times to explain this method to achieve perfect whites in interior photography .but alas im a bad teacher ha ha .but then i searched you tube and i found this video that you made .i sat my friend down and said to her .take a look at this video .and 15 minutes later she was smiling from ear to ear ..Thank you Bob .the best 9mins viewing for this week .the feline is now purring ha ha

[nonerho]

very good explanation on white balance...doesnt need a rocket scientist to understand this on how you explained it....cheers!

[hdegroothdegroot]

This is really helpful. Well done. We need someone to do an unboxing or review of our new digital white balance/ color correction / exposure product - works with FCP, Premiere, Aperture, Las Vegas, Lightroom, video, in-camera custom WB, DSLR, etc. See us at digitalimageflow(dot)com - we will ship you a free one if you are interested...check the listing for new product (DKC-Pro) on our home page and contact us ..thanks!

[Altima1830]

Hi, I'm not intending to start an argument but on the camera manual, U might find that setting WB may not work properly under certain light conditions -2 bright colours is 1 of them. Thats when 1 would want to use a G card (more neutral) instead of W card to set the camera. I know U know this but as UR teaching people about the subject (which I applaud) I made a constructive comment. However on the digital era we can adjust the image with the PC as long the person shoot in RAW mode.