White Balance instructions

[breadandbutter]

Hello,

I have searched on this forum how to set the white balance. I have found several threads, however I believe I'm missing one step.


The part I dont understand is when you take a photograph of the card (grey or white).


How do I take that picture? Do I take it with Flash if I plan yo shoot with Flash?
If I take the shot in manual mode, what are my settings?
The settings must be the same if I were to shoot?

[Kafn8td]

When I shoot in the house using strobes here is what I do when shooting in M. (Thanks TJ it works great!) This technique also ensures proper exposure until you move the lights/model.

1. Get everything set up and take a big white towel and have someone hold it where they will be posed. Use the flash/strobe just as you will when taking the actual photograph.

2. Fill the frame with the towel and take a picture of it. Check your screen with the histogram and look for the blinkies. Adjust your aperature until you start to lose some highlights, and then go up one F stop. You shouldn't have any blinkies.

3. Hit your menu button and scroll down to "Custom WB" and select it. Scroll to the last picture of your towel and select.

4. Set your WB to the custome setting and you are good to go.

[twofruitz]

I do it slightly differently.

1. Set up the scene, lights, --everything-- exactly how it will be.
2. Set the camera to P mode with auto white balance.
3. Put your grey card in the center of the scene and fill the frame with it.
4. Set WB in camera menu, then to custom white balance in WB modes.

All good :D

[breadandbutter]

Thank you very much. I took some sample shots and I can see a great difference using your techniques.

[LightUser]

Or to do it on the run just use a plain white coffee filter over the lens, put your focus on manual and shoot your custom white balance..works every time and a lot cheaper than the expodisc..but to look more professional if you want, put some of that filter between two clear filters.