White balance question
Apr 20, 2014 10:57:57 #
jcret
Loc: Brown Deer, WI
I use with a Nikon D3000 camera, shoot raw and I am satisfied with the results I get with the exception of having some problems with white balance. I understand that all fluorescent lights and that all incandescent lights are not the same color temperature. I usually set my white balance on the camera to match the lighting, but do not always get the same results. Therefore I use auto white balance when shooting indoors with mixed lighting and still get less than desirable results. The orange faces I am seeing are driving me nuts and sometimes editing with PS Elements 12 doesnt give me the results I would like.
Two questions:
1. Any suggestions on getting more consistent results setting white balance using the D3000?
2. Would I have more WB options with a D7100 and would it perform better than the entry level D3000?
I appreciate any help that I can get.
Two questions:
1. Any suggestions on getting more consistent results setting white balance using the D3000?
2. Would I have more WB options with a D7100 and would it perform better than the entry level D3000?
I appreciate any help that I can get.
Apr 20, 2014 11:00:22 #
You are shooting RAW so just correct the color imbalance in post processing and don't worry about it too much.
Apr 20, 2014 11:02:11 #
Apr 20, 2014 11:05:03 #
I'm not sure if this helps. I have a D5000 and also shoot raw. Raw is supposed to capture everything the camera "sees" and you should be able to adjust white balance problems in post-processing. I'm not sure if this is just a feature of individual camera models, but when I have adjusted white balance in the camera before shooting, what I see in post-processing is closer to good lighting than when I haven't adjusted WB in the camera, and it's a little easier to finish the post-processing. In theory, it shouldn't make any difference. If you're shooting JPEG, it's another story altogether, as the camera is designed to accept your adjustments in producing the JPEG.
Maybe someone else can give you a better answer.
Maybe someone else can give you a better answer.
Apr 20, 2014 11:18:16 #
RMM wrote:
I'm not sure if this helps. I have a D5000 and als... (show quote)
White balance settings on the camera do not affect the RAW image data. Period or, as my British friends might say, full-stop.
The white balance setting is stored with the image file and, depending on what processing program you use, may be applied automatically on import. Lightroom does that. But then it is very simple to change it. Even so whatever you use does not affect the RAW data...only the image you see.
The white balance settings also affect the small jpeg created in-camera along with the RAW data so you can see the image on your LCD. That image is stored along with your RAW image but serves no function once you transfer the image out of the camera. It does not affect your RAW data.
Shooting RAW and then experimenting in Lightroom is one way to see how sucky the auto white balance can be. I thought it was fine till I started doing this. I still leave the camera on auto white balance but most often change it to daylight or cloudy when processing. I don't do indoor mixed lighting but am sure you'd find the same general result.
Apr 20, 2014 11:20:00 #
twindad wrote:
Break out the wallet and buy an Expodisc.
A Whi-Bal card is another option. Here is some info to help you learn what it does.
http://www.whibalhost.com/_Tutorials/WhiBal/01/
However like others have said just adjust to taste in post.
Apr 20, 2014 11:21:44 #
Get a WhiBal card from B&H or elsewhere and use it. Takes all the guess work out when you get to post processing.;)
Apr 20, 2014 11:36:53 #
Mixed lighting will ALWAYS be a headache unless they are positioned in the same spot, bundled together. You may have a 5000K source providing highlights from one location, and a 3200K source giving fill-light from another location. You cannot white-balance for two different sources simultaneously, unfortunately.
Apr 20, 2014 11:42:09 #
Danilo wrote:
Mixed lighting will ALWAYS be a headache unless they are positioned in the same spot, bundled together. You may have a 5000K source providing highlights from one location, and a 3200K source giving fill-light from another location. You cannot white-balance for two different sources simultaneously, unfortunately.
Very good point, though the original post didn't say whether there was mixed lighting.
Apr 20, 2014 11:44:46 #
RMM wrote:
Very good point, though the original post didn't say whether there was mixed lighting.
Actually, he does.
Apr 20, 2014 11:48:32 #
DavidPine
Loc: Fredericksburg, TX
Shoot RAW and make adjustments in post processing. Bryan Peterson stated we should shoot cloudy and adjust in LR unless we are shooting indoors. Good luck.
jcret wrote:
I use with a Nikon D3000 camera, shoot raw and I a... (show quote)
Apr 20, 2014 19:37:12 #
This kind of goes to the extreme, but the professional way of dealing with mixed lighting is to balance them with colored gels. If using 3200K incandescent lighting with daylight coming in from a window, a orange/yellow gel will cover the window, matching it to the incandescent lighting. For us "small time guys" it's better just to avoid these things unless we're dealing with a critical shot.
Apr 20, 2014 22:07:42 #
Solid answer by Danilo. Photovision has a nice Digital Calibration Target that helps with both WB and exposure.
Apr 20, 2014 22:29:51 #
Re your comment: "The orange faces I am seeing are driving me nuts." You may wish to try the photo-editing software techniques for correct skin tones.
Here are a few Web-sites that you may find useful:
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/understanding-adobe-photoshop-cs6/adjusting-skin-tones/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/03/09/useful-photoshop-tips-and-tricks-for-photo-retouching/
http://www.graphicconnectionkc.com/skin-tone-correction.html
http://help.smugmug.com/customer/portal/articles/93363-how-do-i-correct-skin-tones-
Happy Easter.
Here are a few Web-sites that you may find useful:
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/understanding-adobe-photoshop-cs6/adjusting-skin-tones/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/03/09/useful-photoshop-tips-and-tricks-for-photo-retouching/
http://www.graphicconnectionkc.com/skin-tone-correction.html
http://help.smugmug.com/customer/portal/articles/93363-how-do-i-correct-skin-tones-
Happy Easter.
jcret wrote:
I use with a Nikon D3000 camera, shoot raw and I a... (show quote)
Apr 20, 2014 22:30:25 #
Danilo is the only one who has it right. You cannot "balance" mixed light sources if they are illuminating different parts of the image/subject. Correct the tungsten and the fluorescent gets worse - balance the flash and tungsten is yellower, etc.
Now if the mixed sources fall on the subject with roughly equal intensity, then one can use an Expodisc, Passport ColorChecker, or the Photovision target with not-to-bad results.
But just shooting raw, just use an Expodisc, etc, does not really address the issue of mixed color temperature lights. Danilo's comment about gelling all the lights to the same temperature is the classic solution and it works - and what a pain in the butt!
Now if the mixed sources fall on the subject with roughly equal intensity, then one can use an Expodisc, Passport ColorChecker, or the Photovision target with not-to-bad results.
But just shooting raw, just use an Expodisc, etc, does not really address the issue of mixed color temperature lights. Danilo's comment about gelling all the lights to the same temperature is the classic solution and it works - and what a pain in the butt!
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