Gray cards and RAW? (Page 2): This is interesting but I don’t get it. So you have your kelvin set to say 4800 on a sunny day. You take a picture of a fire truck. Now you match what...

streetmarty Loc: Brockton, Ma

BboH wrote:

I use the Kelvin, setting the temperature for what I perceive the light conditions to be. To check, I shoot something that is predominantly red - if what my camera shows matches the object then my WB is OK; if not I tweak the Kelvin.

This is interesting but I don’t get it. So you have your kelvin set to say 4800 on a sunny day. You take a picture of a fire truck. Now you match what pops up in the lcd to the truck? Is that correct? Thanks

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

The camera lcd can be set to different levels of brightness. The light that the lcd is being viewed in can also change how the lcd image looks, as well as any in camera processing that is taking place before the jpeg is displayed on the lcd.

Sounds like voodoo to me, but to each their own...

streetmarty wrote:

This is interesting but I don’t get it. So you have your kelvin set to say 4800 on a sunny day. You take a picture of a fire truck. Now you match what pops up in the lcd to the truck? Is that correct? Thanks

streetmarty Loc: Brockton, Ma

Notorious T.O.D. wrote:

The camera lcd can be set to different levels of brightness. The light that the lcd is being viewed in can also change how the lcd image looks, as well as any in camera processing that is taking place before the jpeg is displayed on the lcd.

Sounds like voodoo to me, but to each their own...

I’m with you, let’s wait for the explanation!!

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

I don't know about other brands but the lcd brightness DOESN'T affect the recorded image on my two Sony cameras. Exposure compensation does, of course. I can even turn off the lcd and use only the VF and whaddya know, I still get an image file.

Not on my wife's P1000 (Nikon) either.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Gene51 wrote:

Gray cards are for metering and not a great way to set white balance or color tint - both of which must be addressed for good accurate color. The ColorChecker Passport is hands down the best device for doing that. And it even has a gray card for metering.

sbohne

Gray cards can be used for white balance. Have you ever looked at your custom white balance file? It's gray. But normally, a gray card is included in the scene so you can load your image, go to "Curves" in PS and click on it with the mid tone (gray) eyedropper. It neutralizes the colors. Try it.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

sbohne wrote:

Gray cards can be used for white balance. Have you ever looked at your custom white balance file? It's gray. But normally, a gray card is included in the scene so you can load your image, go to "Curves" in PS and click on it with the mid tone (gray) eyedropper. It neutralizes the colors. Try it.

Only if you are sure your gray card is made for color balance and is truly color neutral. I use a Lastolite WB circular white balance target which folds up like a circular reflector. It is white on one side and gray on the other and has hash marks to focus on so you don't have to turn off autofocus. The white side can even double as a reflector.

streetmarty Loc: Brockton, Ma

sbohne wrote:

Gray cards can be used for white balance. Have you ever looked at your custom white balance file? It's gray. But normally, a gray card is included in the scene so you can load your image, go to "Curves" in PS and click on it with the mid tone (gray) eyedropper. It neutralizes the colors. Try it.

Yes, I’ve done that a thousand times. The point is if your going to work the WB in post why bother with the gray card? Thanks

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

streetmarty wrote:

Yes, I’ve done that a thousand times. The point is if your going to work the WB in post why bother with the gray card? Thanks

So you don't have to work the WB in post.

streetmarty Loc: Brockton, Ma

JohnSwanda wrote:

So you don't have to work the WB in post.

Interesting, so you never tweak the WB in post? Cool.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

streetmarty wrote:

Interesting, so you never tweak the WB in post? Cool.

That's when I have the time and circumstances to take the custom white balance. Also, sometimes I tweak it a bit when I want a different WB than is correct, like warming up skin tones a little. But then I select the skin tones and just tweak them.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I use an unconventional, but very effective in camera WB, which does appear in the RAW image. I do all of my color adjustment during processing. I've tested all of my cameras using a Macbeth Color Chart. I believe they are now owned by X-Rite. Once my testing is complete, I rarely use the chart while taking photographs.

For those who will state the most of my work is in black and white, for digital, I have to have the correct colors to start.
--Bob

streetmarty wrote:

Hello all, br br We all have our favorite things ... (show quote)

streetmarty Loc: Brockton, Ma

rmalarz wrote:

I use an unconventional, but very effective in camera WB, which does appear in the RAW image. I do all of my color adjustment during processing. I've tested all of my cameras using a Macbeth Color Chart. I believe they are now owned by X-Rite. Once my testing is complete, I rarely use the chart while taking photographs.

For those who will state the most of my work is in black and white, for digital, I have to have the correct colors to start.
--Bob

Thanks Bob, but what is the unconventional but effective process? Sounds very interesting!!

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

streetmarty wrote:

Hello all, br br We all have our favorite things ... (show quote)

No, you are not missing anything. All white balance possibilities are contained in a raw file. The only difference is in what the jpg display image embedded in a raw file shows. It is a total waste of time to set WB if you are going to process the raw, although it can be nice to have the display image in the ballpark.

streetmarty Loc: Brockton, Ma

kymarto wrote:

No, you are not missing anything. All white balance possibilities are contained in a raw file. The only difference is in what the jpg display image embedded in a raw file shows. It is a total waste of time to set WB if you are going to process the raw, although it can be nice to have the display image in the ballpark.

Bingo!! Thank you!!