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White Balance from a Grey Card...Why Not?


shane_gilbert1

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when I shoot table top I use a grey card. then I process the raw image in Capture One Pro and select the grey card image to set my white balance for the rest of the images.

 

to clearify this I choose either the flash or tugstan setting on my Canon 10D then I photograph a grey card. I find that the setting's on the 10D are pretty good. but when it comes to my table top work it has to be right on. you may even find a Macbeth color card useful.

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There are 2 kinds of gray cards. Traditional gray cards (like Kodak) are used to calculate exposure for shooting black & white film. They are not balanced for digital photography. A "digital gray card" is calibrated for white balance R128 G128 B128. You can get a 4x6" digital gray card for about $10 at a camera store, and they work really well.
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<p>Have a look at <a href="http://www.pictureflow.com/products/whibal/

WhiBalCharts.html">comparison charts</a>. Athough intended to sell you a product

(which I don't own, so I won't comment on it), they are useful because they include

measurements for almost every reference used for white balancing.

<p>If you compare the spectral charts of the grey references with the charts of the white

references, you will see that the greys are more neutral across the spectrum. E.g. look at

the Kodak grey card (which I use) and you'll see the grey side is significantly more neutral

than the white side. More neutral means better color balance.

<p>--ben<br><a href="http://www.marchal.com">marchal.com</a>

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