Grey cards - DPChallenge Forums

06/13/2007 08:22:49 PM · #1

do you use them? what is a good one to get? do you use it more for exposure or color balance?

thanks

06/13/2007 08:25:20 PM · #2

Originally posted by BHuseman:

do you use it more for exposure or color balance?

Both. I like to shoot one before each studio shoot to have both a WB point and midtone levels point to give consistency.

Message edited by author 2007-06-13 20:25:36.

06/13/2007 08:26:26 PM · #3

Do you use it outside of the studio though? What kind do you use? does it have black, grey and white, or just grey? what should I look for in one?

thanks

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by BHuseman:
do you use it more for exposure or color balance?

Both. I like to shoot one before each studio shoot to have both a WB point and midtone levels point to give consistency.

Message edited by author 2007-06-13 20:27:11.

Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR

06/13/2007 08:32:33 PM · #4

$6.99 US for 2

And yes, I do use one often for outdoor shoots.

Message edited by author 2007-06-13 20:33:32.

drz01

Pentax K50

06/13/2007 08:45:03 PM · #5

Not affilated....
Here are a set of cards sutiable for digital photography
Cards...

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

06/13/2007 08:57:11 PM · #6

I was thinking about getting some gray cards but I was lost on what to get.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/13/2007 09:22:35 PM · #7

thanks, I will pick some up. Can you elaborate a little on how you use them? Do you use custom WB in the camera, or do you do it photoshop?

thanks again

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

$6.99 US for 2

And yes, I do use one often for outdoor shoots.

Dirt_Diver

Nikon D3s

06/13/2007 09:27:55 PM · #8

I don't understand what the purpose of these are, can someone please explain?

06/13/2007 09:31:32 PM · #9

My understanding is that you take a picture of one of these near the subject you plan to photo. Then you can set both the exposure (if it is 18%) and the white balance. Because grey will look different under different lighting conditions you can then tell the computer or camera this is what was supposed to be grey and then remove color casts. This is supposed to be better than just using white paper. But I don't know for sure, that is why I am trying to get some education myself.

Originally posted by Lowcivicman99:

I don't understand what the purpose of these are, can someone please explain?

06/13/2007 09:39:59 PM · #10

I'll see if I can answer a few questions at once. Stay with me, my thought train derails often. :-)

OK, how to use them:
Let's say I'm on an outdoor shoot and want to set exposure. I have my model hold the card, I fill the frame with the card and set my exposure, either manually or with AE lock. I can now shoot away knowing that my exposure is set correctly, unless the lighting changes.

Now, I could do a Custom WB while I have the model holding the card, but I shoot in RAW, so I just take a shot of her holding it and use that to set WB later. I even do this in the studio. Also, once in Photoshop, I can use it as a neutral midtones gray point in the levels dialog. This will give me the closest to natural skintones and color I can get.

If I got the 3-shade cards, I could set the three levels points (black, white and mids) to each of the three shades and have perfect levels, but I often play with curves anyway, so it's a bit pointless for me and a cheap 18% gray card will do.

06/13/2007 09:41:49 PM · #11

Originally posted by BHuseman:

This is supposed to be better than just using white paper. But I don't know for sure, that is why I am trying to get some education myself.

It's easy to blow the highlights on white paper making it useless as a WB point. Not to mention most "bright white" paper is tinted slightly blue.

06/13/2007 09:55:33 PM · #12

Sweet, thanks for the answers. I just ordered two of them.

Now you say you have the model hold the card and then fill the frame with the card. does that mean you need to zoom in on the card, then back out to take the photo?

Originally posted by fotomann_forever: