Finding the color temperture on a photo

[jesusq]

I am interested in shooting Basket Ball. I was told since the lighting in a Gymnasium could be really bad, that I should take a few pictures, copy them to a laptop and check for the color temperature. Once I find the color temperature, I should set the auto white balance to that temperature. This way, I can get better results when I continue to take pictures.

My question is, what app or software can I use to get the color temperature of the picture?

[Jesper]

I am interested in shooting Basket Ball. I was told since the lighting in a Gymnasium could be really bad, that I should take a few pictures, copy them to a laptop and check for the color temperature. Once I find the color temperature, I should set the auto white balance to that temperature. This way, I can get better results when I continue to take pictures.

My question is, what app or software can I use to get the color temperature of the picture?

What camera are you using? On the 10D, you can use Custom White Balance like this:

1. Make a photo of something with a neutral white or gray color. Make sure that at least the center area of the photo is covered with the color.

2. In the menu, goto Custom WB and choose the photo you've just taken as the reference for custom white balance.

3. Set the camera to custom white balance with the button on top.

Have a look in the manual of your camera.

[jesusq]

I have the Canon 10D.

But what I meant was, after I take a picture, do I have to see the image on the laptop and run any app to see the color of the image?

I think I should rephrase my question as to, how to you meter the white balance for a basket ball gym where the light could be bad and different from gym to gym.


Thank you for your help.

[maderito]

I have the Canon 10D.

But what I meant was, after I take a picture, do I have to see the image on the laptop and run any app to see the color of the image?

I think I should rephrase my question as to, how to you meter the white balance for a basket ball gym where the light could be bad and different from gym to gym.

Thank you for your help.
The answer is the same as Jesper gave. You do a custom white balance when you're at the game. You may have to read the 10D manual to see how to do that - but he outlines the essential steps. Once done correctly, your JPEG images will come out of the camera corrected for the lighting conditions in the basketball arena.

You could take a RAW shot at the game and check the white balance in RAW processing software (assuming you have a computer at the game). As far as I know, it is only during RAW processing that you find out what the camera computes for white balance when it is in AWB mode. Of course you can also correct the white balance (temp, tint, etc.) during RAW processing.

You could purchase a color temperature meter - they're not cheap!

You could experiment with different manual color temperatures on the 10D before the action in the game begins until your pics look about right.

You could shoot a perfectly exposed white target and neutralize the resulting gray image in your image editing software with curves or levels. Save the levels or curves correction and apply it to all other images. But that's the same as setting custom white balance.

So that brings us back to where we started. :) Unless you need to re-phrase that question once more?

BTW - color temp is not stored in EXIF data. Also, arena lighting is typically quite warm - like tungsten (K~3200). You might start there. If the image still looks yellow, lower the temp; otherwise, increase.

[iwatkins]

http://www.expodisc.com/

This looks like an interesting product for setting up custom WB. I have no experience of it though.

Cheers

Ian