obnoxious white balance, help?

[Gadabout]

So recently in all the photo's I've been taking that have been out in the sun, the white balance makes them all way way orange/etc. I have it set to auto white balance and I've only gone through a few of the default white balances but I've never set a custom one.

So how exactly do I set one if I'm out on the streets and do NOT have a grey card? Do I just keep playing with it, shoot more to the right? for colder white balance and vice versa for warmer?

[SkipD]

Simply shoot in RAW and worry about the white balance in post-processing (during the RAW conversion step).

You can probably find something that is white in one of the images out of several done in the same light. Click on that with the eyedropper white balance tool in post-processing software and then transfer the numbers acquired that way to the rest of the series.

[tracknut]

Originally Posted by Gadabout

So how exactly do I set one if I'm out on the streets and do NOT have a grey card?

The card does not have to be gray specifically, it needs to be neutral, from grays to white. So a white piece of paper will work. Presumably that could be easier to find.

That is, in addition to the raw/pp method Skip suggests.

Dave

[zerovision]

pp is always a good way to adjust for the right white balance, but if you don't use a grey card for the first shot of each location, then you may still be unhappy with the results.

You can always shoot Kelvin mode "K". Look at the different presets in you WB such as direct sunlight, shade, cloudy, etc. Each should show Kelvin temperature as you scroll through each icon. Use that temperature as a starting point based on what you are looking for. If it is still too worm then dial the Kelvin temperature down until you get the results you are looking for. You may still have to tweak it in pp.

You can also spend the money and get an expo disc for each of your lenses, but they run $99 each. Then you can do a custom WB anytime anywhere.

[PhotosGuy]

Some people swear that AWB is OK outdoors. I'm not one of them, & AWB really sucks under artificial light. I ran a test indoors & have never used it since. Notice that the very last exposure in the 2nd image of tests was of a gray card, & it's way off.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...ad.php?t=54281

If you shoot white paper ON THE METER READING, it will photograph gray, just what the cam needs for Custom WB. Use that exposure for the WB set-up.
It's pretty good for adjusting exposure too, when there are bright highlights that aren't important in the frame.
What’s best for exposure, Gray cards, white paper, expensive attachments for the lens?
Gray Card…White Paper. What’s best?

[Wilt]

Beware of using just any old white paper to set WB !!!

[zerovision]

I like the x-rite color checker passport. Check out their website. I works great for adjusting for skin color.

[JWright]

What camera are you using?

If it's one that has the capability of white balance shift and bracketing, I'd check to make sure you haven't accidentally changed those settings.

[mistat0m]

I just go with RAW and fix the WB in post. I'm too lazy to try to get it right for jpegs.

[neilwood32]

I always use RAW for the ability to adjust WB after the event. Not simply because the camera might have missed the correct setting but also because I occasionally like to use a different one to alter the tone of an image.