White Balance Compensation, how do you use it?

[Camo 757]

Hello,

have been messing around with custom WB settings and wanted to know from people with experience how they use it for different types of situations? Are there bounderies I should stay within or is just a matter of taste?

Thanks

[AjP]

only if I shoot JPG in same place with prety much same light condition, I do use custom WB, but most of the time I shot RAW and I don't care much about WB at all. RAW is great way and don't want even think about jpg and wb...

[ron chappel]

I use the custom settings on occasion ,such as when i need a quick indoor snapshot -AWB doesn't cope very well with common globes or flouros
If i'm doing something that requires abit more fussiness like my Ebay pics i'll do a custom white ballance.It's really quick and easy

[lostdoggy]

I know in the DRebel you have to take a picture of something white and then in custom white balance use the picture to tell the camera that this picture is white and the camera will adjust it self to that white as reference point for WBing all other pictures. It really not worth it unless you plan to remain in the same lighting condition for the rest of the photo shoot. If lighting condition changes you would have to create another WB point. Most of the time if you are shooting in RAW you can just shoot a picture of something white like a plain white index card and when you are converting the RAW you can use the card for your WB point for the Shoot. While the camera is set on Auto WB. Like it was said before it is really useful in JPEG mode since you can't change the WB after the fact.

[KenW]

I shoot RAW and use a WhiBal, White Balance Reference Card before or after my shots. Download them to CS and when I open the Raw file I just use the eyedropper tool on the 18% gray WhiBal card and it instantly sets it to the correct white balance. These settings can then be set to change all the files shot in the same light. Simple and Perfect! It can't get any easier. If I can do it, well anyone can.

Ken

[kram]

I used to shoot jpg for ease of use. Just to learn what RAW about, I did some sample shots. And just for the ease with which one could modify white balance, I have now started shooting only RAW. I hardly touch the camera from the Auto WB setting.

[dave_bass5]

i use mainly AWB for jpg's but i also have a WB shift set slightly to the left on my 350d. it just looks better to me.
mostly shoot RAW though

Dave.

[ScottE]

I shoot RAW and most of the time I have the camera set for auto white balance. I make an exception when taking portraits, especially in mixed lighting. For example if there is an open window supplying natural light and artificial lighting as well. In that case I have the subject hold a white card in front of her face and use a shot of that to set the custom white balance.

Scott

[BrandonSi]

I shoot raw and completely ignore white balance until post processing.

[wilflee]

If you're in a difficult lighting situation (ie. mix of tungsten & florescent lights, or mercury vapour street lamps), then shoot a piece of white paper (which will look grey, by the way, if you use auto exposure) or grey card under those lights. Then, use that photo to set the white balance. This will make the subject look like it's been shot in daylight. If you want the dramatic coloring of colored lights, then set the camera to daylight WB. Tungsten lighted scenes will look yellow and florescent will look blue/green. Samething if you go to a night club and want to preserve the effect of colored lights, don't use AWB. Shoot with daylight WB.

If you shot JPG with daylight WB setting and need to correct color balance (ie. trying to make the yellow picture white), the easiest way is to use the Levels tool in Photoshop and adjust the mid point of individual color channels.

[PhotosGuy]

Are there bounderies I should stay within or is just a matter of taste?
If you're shooting with abnormal light like a sunset, I'd use a daylight WB to get the warm colors that I see. I usually use a custom Wb even though I mostly shoot RAW to get a good starting point. I'll NEVER trust Auto WB! Look at pic #2 to see why:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=54281

[muscleflex]

how do you set WB in PS?

[wilflee]

how do you set WB in PS?
It's part of Camera RAW.