Custom white balance vs dial in value

[PrimaPhoto]

I've been reading about WB, custom WB auto Auto WB (speaking of the 20D here). I'm shooting some computer components here at work, I've set up a nice big sheet of white paper to make a seamles background, oh and I'm using a 500Watt photoflood light and a large reflector. BUT, I can't seem to get the backbround white?
I've tried Auto WB and dialing in a value of 3400 (color temp for photoflood light).

I'm telling you I am very dicouraged ???

Any comments or ideas?

Thanks

[gasrocks]

Yes, can be frustrating. Shoot RAW + jpeg. and/or do a manual white balance - hey, you already have a white bkgnd!

[cactusclay]

YOu could take a pick of the white sheet, using that as you base, then go to custom wb and set in on the shot of the sheet. Might work.

[kawter2]

Yes, can be frustrating. Shoot RAW + jpeg. and/or do a manual white balance - hey, you already have a white bkgnd!


In any crucual situation I always shoot RAW + JPG expecially when i cant get a good WB

[smittymike19]

if the background is white, set it as your cutom white balance.
1. take a picture of the white board. Make sure you fill the frame with only the board. Make sure you shoot it using whatever lighting you are going to use to take your shots as this affects the color of your board (different lights will cause slight color casting to whites).
2. after you take the picture go to your menu and select custom white balance, and select the picture you just took of the white board as the picture to reference.
3. go into white balance selector menu and selct the white balance icon.
4 take another picture of the white board and it will be perfect. if not your camera is at fault.

[robertwgross]

I'm not aware of any normal camera that has this feature, but wouldn't it be neat if a camera could display the Kelvin temperature of what it thinks is in the shot you just took?

Maybe that is too techy, but it could be useful.

---Bob Gross---

[wolf]

If you have your camera set for evaluative or center weighted metering the camera will try to make your white background 18% grey. Fool the camera by setting your metering to partial metering and av mode and meter on the computer component only. Oh and also do a custom white balance (preferably with a grey card) because you are using a floodlight.

[snibbetsj]

I'm not aware of any normal camera that has this feature, but wouldn't it be neat if a camera could display the Kelvin temperature of what it thinks is in the shot you just took?

Maybe that is too techy, but it could be useful.

---Bob Gross---


I've thought about that before and that would be a great feature. :)

[PrimaPhoto]

Thank you everyone for your information it is a big help.
I seem to have no problem in the studio when I do high key work Model Gallery example (http://www.primaveraphoto.com/model_galleries/)
Setting the camera to AWB when using strobes.
I will try all the information you have provided.

Thanks again everyone.

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Update:

Ok now I have white! :D

I did the set custom white balance as it states in the manual (page 50 I think) and now the whites are indeed white. My menu says it is at 5200 but I gues I over-rode this with the custom white balance.

I attached one of my "exciting" pictures. Well there's a touch of grey in the lower right but now I'm on the right track. The bottom image is way out of wack but I think I will reshoot the series again.

Thanks everyone

Mark

[PhotosGuy]

If you have your camera set for evaluative or center weighted metering the camera will try to make your white background 18% grey. Fool the camera by setting your metering to partial metering and av mode and meter on the computer component only. That's true for setting the exposure to get the settings to the right area of the Histogram, but the cam needs some info (gray) in the pic to get a good reading for the WB. Don't remember where I read that. ;-)

[robertwgross]

There is something strange going on at the very bottom of the second photo.

---Bob Gross---

[PrimaPhoto]

Yes Bob the bottom photo was from the first set. Even the lens flare at the bottom is not right.

I'm reshooting them now things look much better.

I am going to try using Partial metering on Av mode too.

Mark