White Balance

[PetePederson]

Hey al! Im new and this is my first post.

I have a question on white balance. What do you all like to do with it. Im a wedding photographer and Im new to the business. Do you like to auto wb? Use the white balance card?
I mainly do all the post work and would like some advice on speeding up post wb work.
Thanks!
Pete
CK Photography Your Life Naturally

[SusanH1970]

Hi Pete, and welcome to DPS.

Auto WB is not your friend, particularly for portaits. I had a quick look at your website and to be honest, your WB is all over the place. Skin tones are either way too cool or way to warm, and a lot are underexposed. Work on getting exposure correct and definitely use CWB. Hope this helps.

[kirbinster]

Along the same lines does anyone know anything about UNIWB. I saw this somewhere and it is something of a green tint to use as a custom whitebalance when shooting raw only - not jpeg. Supposedly if you set the PRE on your Nikon with it you will get a better color range, and then you adjust the whitebalance in post processing.

[i speak in math]

UniWB is used so that the WB and histogram shown in the image preview on the camera more closely matches the WB and histogram of the RAW image. Yes, it typically makes you images look green before WB correction. If you shoot with UniWB, you will need to bring a white balancing card so that you can properly WB in post.

[Benji]

For perfect white balance EVERY TIME (when shooting Raw) I use a Kodak 18% gray card. They are about $18.00 for three of them (2 are 8 x 10 inches and the other is 4 x 5.) You meter the scene, set the proper exposure in your camera, place the gray card in the scene and make an exposure of the card. Then as long as you continue to use the same flash units you can use that same gray card reading. If you are shooting outdoors you will have to shoot the card every time you move to a new location. Then in Adobe Camer Raw you take the white balance eyedropper and click on the gray card, then Synchronize All and every shot you took with those lights and that gray card will have perfect white balance PROVIDED you didn't overexpose or underexpose the images (and the card!)

Benji

[111t]

I use the presets when I'm in a hurry. I find the electronic flash option is at least in the neighborhood when i'm using flash. When i'm taking my time i use a photovision target to set a custom white balance on my 50d. Put the target in the light the photo will be taken in. Shoot a full frame shot with no shadows falling on the target. Then set custom white balance to the image of the target.

If you're inclined to 'fix it in post' The photovision target can be used for that as well.

You can also use the photovision target to determine your exposure by centering the spikes on the histogram.

I carry the 14" model.

Here's a link to the manufacturer site.

PHOTOVISION TARGET
It really is a neat product to have. I use it a lot. There's a video clip linked on the site above that shows practical use of the target.

...And no, I don't work for them.

[peeperita]

i shoot raw, use the awb, and usually make white balance corrections, if neccessary,
in post ....but, that's just me....

peeper