Have you ever taken a picture and it just didn’t look quite right? Maybe the colors were off, or the skin tones looked strange. Chances are, you had an incorrect white balance setting! In this article, we will discuss what white balance is, how it works, and how to set it correctly for different lighting situations. Understanding white balance is one of the most important things a photographer can learn in order to take great pictures indoors and outdoors alike!
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What Is White Balance?
Simply put, white balance is the setting on your camera that allows it to correctly interpret the colors in a scene. Every light source has a different color temperature, which is measured in Kelvin.
For example, sunlight has a color temperature of around 5000-6500K, while fluorescent light has a color temperature of around 4000K.
When you take a picture, your camera needs to know what color temperature the light is in order to correctly set the white balance. If it is not set correctly, your pictures will have a color cast – meaning they will appear either too yellow or too blue.
Why Is White Balance Important?
White balance is important because it allows you to control the overall color tone of your pictures. If you want your pictures to have a warm, sunny feel, you would set your white balance to a higher Kelvin setting.
Conversely, if you want your pictures to have a cool, blue feel, you would set your white balance to a lower Kelvin setting.
You can also use white balance to correct for color casts caused by different light sources. For example, if you are taking pictures indoors under fluorescent lights, your pictures will likely have a greenish tint because of the color temperature of the light.
But if you set your white balance correctly, you can eliminate that green tint and make your pictures look more natural.
Is White Balance The Same As Exposure?
No, white balance is not the same as exposure!
Exposure is the amount of light that hits your camera’s sensor when you take a picture.
White balance is how your camera interprets the colors in a scene.
It is important to understand the difference between these two concepts because they are both critical to taking great photos!
What Is Color Temperature?
As we mentioned before, color temperature is a measure of the color of light, and it is measured in Kelvin.
For example, sunlight has a color temperature of around 5000-6500K, while fluorescent light has a color temperature of around 4000K.
Why Is Color Temperature Important?
Different light sources have different color temperatures, and your camera needs to know the color temperature of the light in order to set the white balance correctly.
You can use the color temperature of light to control the overall tone of your pictures.
White Balance Presets
Most cameras have white balance presets that you can use to quickly and easily set the white balance for different lighting conditions.
For example, most cameras have a “sunny” preset that is ideal for taking pictures outdoors on a sunny day.
Other common presets include “cloudy,” “shade,” “tungsten,” and “fluorescent.”
When To Use White Balance Presets
White balance presets are a great starting point for setting the white balance, but they are not always accurate.
However, here’s a general rule of thumb of when to use the following white balance presets in your camera:
Sunny – works best for shooting during the mid-morning or mid-afternoon when sunlight is abundant
Shade – this works for scenarios where there is heavy shade, such as in the woods or shooting underneath tree canopies
Cloudy – this is best for outdoor scenarios when the sky is overcast
Flash – this is mainly used for shooting compositions that are lit by flashes or camera speedlights
Incandescent – this is commonly used for indoor shots with standard warm bulb lighting
Fluorescent – this is commonly used for indoor shots with fluorescent bulb lighting
What Should My White Balance Be Set At?
The answer to this question depends on the lighting conditions and the look that you are going for with your pictures. If you aren’t sure what to set your temperature at for your photos, you can always leverage your camera’s auto white balance feature to do the work for you!
Shooting With Auto White Balance
If you’re shooting in JPEG format, your camera will automatically set the white balance for you.
However, if you’re shooting in RAW format, your camera will not automatically set the white balance. This means that you will need to manually set the white balance or use a white balance preset.
To set the white balance manually, you will need to use a white balance tool.
Most DSLR cameras have a white balance tool built-in, but if your camera does not have one, you can always use a white balance card.
Once you have your white balance tool, you will need to take a picture of it in the same lighting conditions as your subject.
Then, you will need to go into your camera’s menu and select the “use image” option for the white balance.
This will tell your camera to use that image as a reference point for setting the white balance.
Why You Should Use A Custom White Balance
Custom white balance is important because it allows you to get the most accurate color possible in your pictures.
When you use a custom white balance, you are essentially telling your camera what the “true” color of light is in a scene.
This is important because different light sources can have different color temperatures, which can throw off the white balance.
For example, incandescent light has a color temperature of around 3000K, while sunlight has a color temperature of around 5000-6500K.
By using a custom white balance, you can ensure that your pictures are accurate and true to life.
How To Set A White Balance In Adobe Lightroom
If you’re editing your pictures in Adobe Lightroom, you can easily set the white balance by clicking on the “WB” icon in the Develop module.
Then, you will need to select the “As Shot” option from the drop-down menu.
This will tell Lightroom to use the white balance that was set when the picture was taken.
If you’re not happy with the results, you can always adjust the white balance by clicking on the “Temp” or “Tint” sliders.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you to understand the basics of white balance and color temperature in digital photography.
Remember, setting the white balance correctly is essential for getting accurate colors in your pictures.
If you’re ever unsure of what to set your white balance at, you can always use the “As Shot” option in Adobe Lightroom or your camera’s auto white balance feature.
