RAW & white balance

[AlQ]

I've started shooting some RAW photos and like the control it affords with respect to WB, color, etc., as well as the flexibility to go back and edit.

This may be a stupid question but when adjusting WB in a RAW photo, how do you go about determining what is best?....is it merely an issue of preference and ability to control?....trial and error?

....and what is the typical workflow when getting started with processing a RAW photo?

I've been shooting for about a year now but have progressed pretty fast, having taken some classes and am pretty familiar with post-processing.

Any advice is welcome.

thanks!

Canon XSi, 70-200 f2.8, 100-400 f4.0, and the 2 kit lenses.

[RichardTaylor]

What software are you using?

[corvus2606]

most raw editing programs let you use a colour picker in the white balance section, I usually use that to pick out a neutral white colour in the image, then tweak it till i'm happy with it.

white balance is generally a subjective thing, some people like it warm, others like it cold, and some go for the natural white, but what you use should be what the image is asking for if you get what I mean

[AlQ]

Thanks for the replies.

I use Photoshop Elements 8.0 which has a plug-in that pops up when opening a RAW file. You can choose a number of presets, "as shot" or enter in your own value for WB.
I also use Photomatix for HDR photos.

..."what the image is asking for"...i.e. thinking back, what the real image looked like, yes?

[corvus2606]

Originally Posted by AlQ

Thanks for the replies.

I use Photoshop Elements 8.0 which has a plug-in that pops up when opening a RAW file. You can choose a number of presets, "as shot" or enter in your own value for WB.
I also use Photomatix for HDR photos.

..."what the image is asking for"...i.e. thinking back, what the real image looked like, yes?

It kind of depends, I find that every image I work on kind of guides me in what I do. Some I go with what is natural, others look better warm or cold. I guess its better to say 'do what looks best'

[AlQ]

Thanks very much for the feedback; I appreciate it!

[RichardTaylor]

This thread, in the tutorial section of this site, may help.

Beginning RAW processing

[AlQ]

Thanks very much Richard!

[ravncat]

I have a few modes for White balance in RAW

- Mood - I generally know before I make the shot, if I am going to do this, I chose a white balance based on the mood of the image, or myself. This results in all kinds of tones, cool and cold to yellow and warm. I adjust the tint and temperture as I like, for the content of the image, without regards to a neutral white

- Realism - When I want to get close in color, I'll do custom white balances, as well as bring a neutral grey card with me. I can shoot that in the lighting I am shooting under once - and then use those settings for the following images. Along with profiling the cameras spectral response to that scene. A calibrated monitor is a must.

- Quick - when I don't have time for the grey-card and say im on vacation with my wife, when I'm not spending alot of time on photography - I'll leave the camera on a preset (usually sunny) and then use what I remember are neutral tones in the image, to set white balance later. It gets me a good 80-90 percent of the way towards my higher level workflow.

- Mixed lightings of evil - I will almost always perform custom in camera white balance on the scene - even though I am shooting raw.