Understanding White Balance

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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.

Comments

25 responses to “Understanding White Balance”

  1. Denise Smith Avatar
    Denise Smith

    why dont you bring a dvd out cos i would like to buy one and you explain well.

  2. Denise Smith Avatar
    Denise Smith

    thankyou peace be with you.

  3. tanzilaslam6 Avatar
    tanzilaslam6

    Hey, have you come across “MagicSFXphoto” (just do a Google search for it…)? On their website you can watch a useful free video demonstrating how you can create outstanding photos. This helped Matt to take photos that leave you with that jaw-dropping-effect while you look at them. Hopefully it works for you too…

  4. CupOfTeamOfficial Avatar
    CupOfTeamOfficial

    Great video!

  5. Philip Pedersen Avatar
    Philip Pedersen

    THX 😀 ! But can you use WhiteBalance when you filming to ?
    :O

  6. vinayakdhulap Avatar
    vinayakdhulap

    Thanks friend I have never had such a good explanation Bob !! thanks a hundred time .I wish to knoe about Customising the C nf settings and how to get the best sharpness in DSLR1000d

  7. kandibred3 Avatar
    kandibred3

    As a stay at home/homeschool mom Thank You!!

  8. blastpost Avatar
    blastpost

    Thanks for this MP! simple and informative. Subscribed!

  9. Rad Pepito Avatar
    Rad Pepito

    thats why i shoot in RAW so you can still change the white balance later … but i do use custom white balance.

  10. jamie robbins Avatar
    jamie robbins

    Great! Thanks!

  11. Khashayar Khastoui Avatar
    Khashayar Khastoui

    with what white balance should you take photo from a gray card?

  12. Tegan Khurmy Avatar
    Tegan Khurmy

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

  13. ethiofekade Avatar
    ethiofekade

    thank you very so much. 

  14. martin murphy Avatar
    martin murphy

    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

  15. MPTutor Avatar
    MPTutor

    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)

  16. journeyquest1 Avatar
    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.

  17. nonerho cantonjos Avatar
    nonerho cantonjos

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

  18. hdegroothdegroot Avatar
    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!

  19. Altima1830 Avatar
    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.

  20. MPTutor Avatar
    MPTutor

    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

  21. Altima1830 Avatar
    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

  22. MPTutor Avatar
    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 🙂

  23. Anhslaught Avatar
    Anhslaught

    This is such a great video. I just had a full lesson on white balance! 🙂

  24. MsEMJackson Avatar
    MsEMJackson

    You are really great at explaining in an easy to understand way. Thank you! I can’t wait to try it and see how my eBay photos turn out. This will definitely help my sales. : )

  25. perenijsje666 Avatar
    perenijsje666

    Thanks for the great tutorial. Subscribing!