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08/16/2007 01:25:16 AM · #1 |
Thanks in advance for your help. I'd like to start using gray cards to set my custom white balance.
What kind do you use? Why? Where to you buy them?
Online locations are preferred as I probably can't walk down to your local camera shop to get them :)
Message edited by author 2007-08-16 01:26:18. |
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08/16/2007 01:30:14 AM · #2 |
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08/16/2007 01:32:44 AM · #3 |
B&H Photo has some good ones that are fairly priced. I have ine that includes b&w. Cant remember the name but they only ad a few & it was 20 beans. I really like 'em. Helps level things out real nice.
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08/16/2007 01:33:56 AM · #4 |
When did we start using gray cards for white balance?
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08/16/2007 01:35:32 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
When did we start using gray cards for white balance? |
All you need is a neutral color, it doesn't have to be white. White is rarely white, so you are better off with gray.
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08/16/2007 01:41:35 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
When did we start using gray cards for white balance? |
All you need is a neutral color, it doesn't have to be white. White is rarely white, so you are better off with gray. |
Hmmm.. it still doesn't make sense to me. When you set a white balance on a gray card, you are basically telling your camera that that shade of gray is white.
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08/16/2007 01:44:04 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Hmmm.. it still doesn't make sense to me. When you set a white balance on a gray card, you are basically telling your camera that that shade of gray is white. |
Nope, you are telling it that that shade of gray isn't blue or red or orange. You're balancing hue, not luminosity.
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08/16/2007 01:45:09 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Hmmm.. it still doesn't make sense to me. When you set a white balance on a gray card, you are basically telling your camera that that shade of gray is white. |
Nope, you are telling it that that shade of gray isn't blue or red or orange. You're balancing hue, not luminosity. |
I'm ignorant about custom white balance. I know how to do it but i never use anything other than auto. I tweak the colors in post processing if I need to.
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08/16/2007 01:52:26 AM · #9 |
I have the "old style" pocket one of these WhiBal cards. Want the new one now. They work great and are made of a solid material that is the same all the way through, so if ya scratch em, etc. they still look the same (they can be sanded also). Not to mention waterproof.
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08/16/2007 01:58:32 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by dacrazyrn:
I have the "old style" pocket one of these WhiBal cards. Want the new one now. They work great and are made of a solid material that is the same all the way through, so if ya scratch em, etc. they still look the same (they can be sanded also). Not to mention waterproof. |
Those are nice to have. You can take your first shot with one in it, then you can use that shot for a levels adjustment and have perfect white, gray and black points.
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08/16/2007 02:02:50 AM · #11 |
You know those diffusers that cover the flourescent lights in workplaces and I've seen in some peoples kitchens. Well that plastic is darn near the same material as those expensive discs that you will find on the internet for custom w/b. My facilities guy throws one of those out every month. If I could figure out how to cut it nicely I'd sell em... :)
That is what I use...darn near perfect white balance...set the lens to manual focus, grab a piece of that diffuser plastic and hold it flush on the lens...point at subject...shoot through the stuff and set custom w/b to the resulting shot... works every time when Auto won't get you close enough. |
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08/16/2007 02:06:42 AM · #12 |
You could probably cut it with a hole saw bit for a drill.
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08/16/2007 02:25:21 AM · #13 |
| A hacksaw should cut that plastic fairly well, then sand the edges. |
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08/16/2007 03:11:21 AM · #14 |
On occasion I'll use pavement or concrete for a custom WB. I have a small card that's about 1/8" thick made of plastic which fits nicely into my camera bag if I need something more accurate. Generally I'll only do a custom WB when I am using my IR filter or I have weird mixed lighting. Like fluorescent, incandescent and flash. Otherwise I'll go by the conditions and use a preset.
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