How to Create a Custom White Balance in Photography
Creating a custom white balance ensures that the colors in your photos are accurate and natural, even in challenging or mixed lighting conditions. While preset white balance modes (like Daylight, Cloudy, or Tungsten) work well in standard lighting, custom white balance lets you calibrate your camera to the specific lighting of your scene. This is especially useful in scenarios where preset modes or Auto White Balance (AWB) fail to deliver accurate results.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create a custom white balance.
What is Custom White Balance?
Custom white balance allows you to manually set the white balance for your camera based on the light source in your environment. It involves using a neutral reference object (usually a gray card or white sheet) that reflects the light accurately.
When you create a custom white balance, the camera uses the reference object's color to adjust the photo’s colors, ensuring that whites look white and other colors appear natural.
Why Use Custom White Balance?
Accurate Colors: Essential in scenes with tricky lighting, like indoors or mixed light sources.
Correct Color Casts: Neutralizes unwanted color casts caused by tungsten, fluorescent, or colored lights.
Professional Results: Ideal for product photography, portraits, or any situation where color accuracy is critical.
Consistency Across Shots: Ensures uniform colors, especially in controlled environments like studios.
When to Use Custom White Balance
Mixed Lighting: Scenes with multiple light sources (e.g., tungsten and daylight) that create conflicting color casts.
Unusual Lighting Conditions: Colored lights, stage lighting, or environments like aquariums.
Indoor Photography: Under artificial lights like tungsten or fluorescent bulbs.
Studio Photography: To ensure consistent color accuracy with artificial lighting setups.
Tools You’ll Need
Neutral Reference Object:
Gray Card: Preferred because it provides a neutral tone and is designed for accurate calibration.
White Sheet or Wall: A plain, non-reflective white surface can also work but may be less precise.
Your Camera:
Ensure your camera has a Custom White Balance setting (available on most DSLRs, mirrorless, and advanced compact cameras).
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Custom White Balance
1. Place Your Neutral Reference Object
Position your gray card or white sheet in the same light that’s illuminating your subject.
Ensure the reference object is evenly lit, with no shadows or reflections affecting it.
2. Set Your Camera to Manual or Preset White Balance
Switch to a preset white balance mode like Daylight, Tungsten, or Auto for now. This is temporary and helps you capture an initial reference shot.
3. Take a Reference Photo
Fill the frame with the gray card or white object.
Ensure the card is sharply in focus and properly exposed (not too dark or bright). Adjust your exposure settings if necessary.
Take the photo.
4. Access the Custom White Balance Setting
Locate the Custom White Balance option in your camera’s menu:
On Canon: Go to the Shooting Menu, select Custom White Balance, and choose your reference photo.
On Nikon: Go to White Balance, select Preset Manual, and use the reference photo.
On Sony: Go to White Balance, select Custom Setup, and follow the instructions.
5. Set the Reference Photo
Select the reference photo you just took. The camera will analyze it and use it to set the custom white balance.
Confirm your selection when prompted.
6. Apply the Custom White Balance
Switch your camera’s white balance mode to Custom (indicated by a specific icon, usually a symbol like a "flag" or "two triangles").
7. Test and Adjust
Take a test shot of your subject under the same lighting.
Check the colors on your camera’s LCD screen. If the colors still look off, repeat the process and ensure proper exposure for your reference photo.
Tips for Better Custom White Balance
Ensure Proper Lighting: The light illuminating the reference object should match the light on your subject.
Use a Gray Card: Gray cards are more reliable than white surfaces because white objects may have subtle color tints.
Avoid Reflective Surfaces: Reflections can affect the accuracy of your white balance calibration.
Re-Calibrate When Lighting Changes: If the lighting changes (e.g., moving from shade to sunlight), create a new custom white balance.
Combine with RAW Shooting: Even with custom white balance, shooting in RAW gives you flexibility to fine-tune colors during editing.
Custom White Balance on Different Cameras
Canon
Take a reference photo of the gray card or white surface.
Open the Custom White Balance menu.
Select the reference photo and confirm.
Set the white balance mode to Custom.
Nikon
Go to White Balance in the menu.
Select Preset Manual and choose Measure or Use Photo.
Take a new reference photo or select an existing one.
Confirm the selection.
Sony
Open the White Balance menu.
Choose Custom Setup.
Take a reference photo of the gray card or select one from your gallery.
Save and apply the custom white balance.
Creative Uses of Custom White Balance
Warmer or Cooler Tones:
Intentionally use a reference object with a slight tint to add creative warmth or coolness to your image.
Colored Lighting Effects:
Calibrate for unusual lighting, like neon lights, to maintain natural skin tones while preserving the ambiance.
Advantages of Custom White Balance
Accurate Colors: Essential for product photography and professional work.
Consistency: Ensures uniform color tones across multiple shots.
Overcomes Limitations of Presets: Works in tricky lighting where presets or Auto WB struggle.
Conclusion
Creating a custom white balance allows you to achieve accurate and consistent colors, even in challenging lighting situations. By using a neutral reference object like a gray card and following the steps outlined above, you can take full control over your photo's color tones. Practice this technique, and you’ll find it invaluable for achieving professional-quality images with true-to-life colors.
