Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Coloring with White Balance

By Matthew Rivers


When new camera models are released, designers often promote the better image processor. Since these processors record white balance information, they can rebuild RAW shots into jpeg files by storing the data easily on your memory card. Because of this, advanced processors can sometimes take up much or the memory, either on your card or camera.

Using Presets

Adjusting white balance is possible by using the histogram found on your camera's viewer. To obtain better results, adjusting each color separately on a different channel will be the best method. As you continue to gain experience with image editing, training your eyes will be key to improving your white balance, especially when it comes to using custom settings.

Automatic white balance settings allow the image to be processed automatically to remove unwanted color casts. For example, photographs taken under incandescent bulbs tend to be more blue, but the automatic setting will attempt to correct this by adding a reddish cast to this type of lighting. Usually, auto white balance will produce the desired results, but you'll find that the better the processor, the better your automatic settings will be.

How Can Custom White Balance Be Used?

When automatic white balance settings are unusable, then you can move forward with custom settings. In this mode, you usually start by setting the white balance using a white card or piece of paper. Later, from the information you've gathered by using this card, you'll be able to use it as your reference for the type of lighting used for the following pictures.

Really, the white balance card just saves you a lot of time when it comes to using your software for editing the photos. Because you have taken a picture of a white card, you'll be able to use those same settings and apply them to the photos with the same lighting. In this way, you adjust the photo until the card or paper actually becomes white.

With this concept in mind, you can use the white balance pointer on your camera in the same way. Now, instead of using a card or piece of paper, you can select the sample area from which your camera will draw information about the lighting in order to determine the proper hue. That's why you'll find it essential to carefully select your sample area. When more than one type of lighting is used, this can be difficult. However, with time and experience you'll be able to do this rather easily in order to obtain proper white balance.




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