White Balance

[int0xicatedxluv]

Hello,

I have had my little Powershot S400 for about 2 years now, and I realized recently that I've never actually used the White Balance option. I was curious to know what would be best to use it for? I just use the normal presents [daylight, tungsten, etc] but I'm wondering if using the custom white balance setting could help me get some better lit shots???

Thanks !!!

[Citizensmith]

If you've been using the standard settings and not getting a color cast you probably don't need to worry about custom white balance.

Custom is there if you don't trust the presets to be correct. Take a photo with a white (or at least neutral) subject in it. Identify that to the camera and it'll work out what color correction would be required to record that object as neutral (ie, red green and blue levels are all equal). This custom white balance can then be applied to any photos you take in the same lighting conditions.

[agent007]

Is is OK to use the custom white balance by pointing the camera to anything 'white' in the room? Like, the room ceiling? or a peice of paper?

[jimsolt]

Is is OK to use the custom white balance by pointing the camera to anything 'white' in the room? Like, the room ceiling? or a peice of paper?
The "anything" you point at needs to be really white. Some use a "gray card". In either case the subject needs to be truly neutral. Many ceilings, papers, etc. don't match these criteria. When that is the case, you get a faulty white balance.
Jim

[int0xicatedxluv]

hmmm. okay. thank you much for the info!!!

[agent007]

OK, But what when the ceiling 'is' white but a different hue because of indoor lighting? Using a white card indoors also changes color because of the indoor lighting correct?

TIA

The "anything" you point at needs to be really white. Some use a "gray card". In either case the subject needs to be truly neutral. Many ceilings, papers, etc. don't match these criteria. When that is the case, you get a faulty white balance.
Jim

[jimsolt]

OK, But what when the ceiling 'is' white but a different hue because of indoor lighting? Using a white card indoors also changes color because of the indoor lighting correct?

TIA
Absolutely correct.
That is precisely the point of custom white balance. It tells the camera what is white in the light it is in. The card, ceiling, whatever must be in the light you are shooting in to be of any value.
Actually if your model held the card and you used that, it is probably more accurate than the ceiling because the light would be slightly different, but if there is only one kind of lighting in the scene, it is probably very close to the same light color anywhere in the room.
I have very good luck with the auto white balance setting usually, and if you shoot in RAW you have tons of latitude, but it's always better to get as much right the first time as you can.
Jim