White Balance

White Balance

  • Set the color temperature so objects on film actually look white.

  • All light resides on a color temperature scale, which is why different light sources have different colors (Kelvin scale)

  • Professionals will use a 18% gray card so that they have a consistent reference point to set exposure and white balance manually.

  • If you don’t have an 18% gray card you can use a white piece of paper to set white balance manually.

  • If the light coming from your subject is mostly blue, the camera will “compensate” by using a yellowish white balance and a reddish color profile.

  • You should set a custom white balance whenever the lighting changes.

How to Set a Custom White Balance (Canon T3i)

Setup White Balance Setting

  1. Click the Q button to the right of the display

  2. Select the AWB menu item on the left of the display

  3. Select the last option (Custom)

Set the Custom White Balance

  1. Take photo of the 18% gray card

  2. Click the "MENU" button the select the 3rd tab and "Custom White Balance"

  3. The camera will find your most recent photo of the 18% gray card. Click "SET"

  4. Click "OK"