Have you ever taken a photo and noticed that the colors just look off? Maybe the whites look too yellow or the skin tones look too pink.
This is often caused by the lighting conditions in the scene and can be corrected by using a custom White Balance setting on your DSLR or mirrorless camera.
But what is a custom White Balance and how do you use it? In this article, we will explore the topic of custom White Balance and how it can improve the color accuracy of your photos. We will also discuss the pros and cons of using custom White Balance and provide examples and answers to frequently asked questions.
What is Custom White Balance?
White Balance is a camera setting that adjusts the colors in an image to accurately represent the colors of the scene as they appear to the human eye. The camera’s White Balance system tries to neutralize the color cast of the scene so that whites appear white, rather than yellow or blue.
When the camera’s White Balance is set to automatic, it will attempt to correct the color cast based on the scene’s overall color temperature. However, this is not always accurate and can result in images with incorrect or unnatural-looking colors.
This is where custom White Balance comes in.
Custom White Balance allows you to manually set the White Balance of the camera by taking a photo of a white or gray reference object under the same lighting conditions as the scene you want to photograph.
The camera uses this reference photo to adjust the colors in the scene to more accurately represent the colors as they appear to the human eye.
Pros of Using Custom White Balance
There are several benefits to using custom White Balance:
Improved color accuracy
As mentioned, custom White Balance allows you to manually set the White Balance of the camera, which can result in more accurate and natural-looking colors in your photos.
Consistency
If you are shooting in a studio or other controlled lighting environment, custom White Balance can help ensure that the colors in your images are consistent from shot to shot.
Greater creative control
Custom White Balance allows you to adjust the colors in your images to suit your creative vision. For example, you can warm up the colors in an image by using a lower color temperature setting or cool down the colors by using a higher color temperature setting.
Cons of Using Custom White Balance
While there are certainly benefits to using custom White Balance, there are also some potential drawbacks:
Extra setup time
Setting up custom White Balance requires an extra step in the photography process. You will need to take a photo of a white or gray reference object under the same lighting conditions as the scene you want to photograph.
This can add an extra layer of complexity to your workflow, especially if you are working quickly in a fast-paced environment.
Potential for user error
Custom White Balance relies on the user to accurately set the White Balance of the camera. If the reference photo is not taken correctly, the colors in the final image may still be incorrect.
Examples of Using Custom White Balance
Here are a few examples of situations where custom White Balance can be particularly useful:
Studio lighting
If you are shooting in a studio with controlled lighting, custom White Balance can help ensure that the colors in your images are consistent from shot to shot.
Mixed lighting
If you are shooting in a scene with multiple light sources, such as sunlight and tungsten light bulbs, automatic White Balance may not be able to accurately correct the color cast. In this case, custom White Balance can help ensure that the colors in your images are accurate.
Creative effect
As mentioned, custom White Balance allows you to adjust the colors in your images to suit your creative vision.
Product photography
Accurate colors are especially important in product photography, as incorrect colors can make the product appear differently than it does in real life. Custom White Balance can help ensure that the colors in your product images are accurate and true to life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about custom White Balance:
How do I set a custom White Balance on my camera?
To set custom White Balance on your camera, follow these steps:
- Set your camera to custom White Balance mode. This is usually found in the camera’s menu system or by pressing a dedicated White Balance button on the camera.
- Take a photo of a white or gray reference object under the same lighting conditions as the scene you want to photograph.
- Use the camera’s menu system to select the reference photo as the custom White Balance setting.
Can I set a custom White Balance in post-processing software?
Yes, you can set custom White Balance in post-processing software such as Adobe Lightroom or Capture One.
In these programs, you can use the White Balance tool to adjust the colors in your images by selecting a white or gray reference point in the image.
Is it better to use custom White Balance or auto White Balance?
It ultimately depends on the situation. If you are shooting in a controlled lighting environment or if color accuracy is a top priority, custom White Balance can be a good option.
However, if you are shooting quickly or in a rapidly changing lighting environment, auto White Balance may be a more practical choice.
Conclusion
Custom White Balance can improve the color accuracy of your photos by allowing you to manually set the White Balance of the camera.
It can be especially useful in situations where automatic White Balance may not be able to accurately correct the color cast, such as in studio lighting or mixed lighting situations.
While custom White Balance requires an extra setup step and can be prone to user error, it can also give you greater creative control over the colors in your images.
Whether you choose to use custom White Balance or auto White Balance ultimately depends on the situation and your personal preferences.
