White Balance Eyedropper in Lightroom?

I usually shoot with a whibal card to correct my white balance when imported and developing in LR, however, in the event that the scene is not the same as the whibal, I have to at times do it manually.

What do you guys usually try to target?

R: 70 G: 70 B: 70 ? or somewhere around that?

I have heard 60 to 65, I have heard, whatever is in the scene that is supposed to be white?

What is technically correct? I know that white balance can be subjective but really as a general rule, what is the right thing before going into the creative aspects of adjusting white balance.

White (but not specular white) and light grey are best. That's why it's called White Balance.

Because it's working in a linear colour space, there's a lot more detail to work with in the lighter greys, whereas PS does better with a mid grey.

Victoria Bampton wrote in post #5947238
White (but not specular white) and light grey are best. That's why it's called White Balance.

Because it's working in a linear colour space, there's a lot more detail to work with in the lighter greys, whereas PS does better with a mid grey.

Victoria, I understand that lol. My question was, what do you choose specifically when you use the eyedropper tool.

Do you shoot for 60-65 % or 70-75% grey in an image?

Higher the better.

hmm anyone else there are drastic changes between 60 and 70 or 80 for that matter

Doesn't matter what it is All the tool does it tell lightroom that the pixels you picked are supposed to be the same in R G and B values. Whether its 30% or 70% It wont changed.

V8Rumble wrote in post #5947960
Doesn't matter what it is All the tool does it tell lightroom that the pixels you picked are supposed to be the same in R G and B values. Whether its 30% or 70% It wont changed.

That doesn't make any sense at all...so you're saying if you put your eyedropper tool over 30% for RGB and or 70%, there are no difference???

You want a number? Head for something in the realms of 80-90 if you can. That's light grey.

Victoria Bampton wrote in post #5950926
You want a number? Head for something in the realms of 80-90 if you can. That's light grey.

Thanks Victoria. I'm presuming you try to strive to get all 3 RGB 80-90?

Ok, hang on, let's take this back a level.

Select the eyedropper.

Float over the image, watching, if you wish to, the numbers in the toolbar (press T) or the numbers in the eyedropper loupe.

Head for a light colour that should be neutral grey - around the 80-90 mark on that toolbar. The numbers will not be equal. All you're looking for is the fact that it's light grey - and you don't really need numbers to tell you that.

TBH, I usually turn the loupe off (in the toolbar) - it's quite distracting!

You can white balance on anything that has an absence of color...

White, Grey, Black .. Doesn't matter.

So long as the values for R - G - B are equal.
255, 255, 255 is the same as 0, 0, 0 as regards WB...

Quoting Andrew Rodney:

I just look for any spot on the picture where the three numbers are the same. work fine for me. then i just adjust it to my tastes afterwards.

howzitboy wrote in post #5951983
I just look for any spot on the picture where the three numbers are the same.

If the three numbers are the same, it's allready neutral...
Victoria is right:

Victoria Bampton wrote in post #5951674
Head for a light colour that should be neutral grey - around the 80-90 mark on that toolbar. The numbers will not be equal.

Wow talk about confusing. You're stating to shoot for 80-90 and then another is stating it doesn't matter as long as the numbers of RGB are equal...

So an RGB of 80-80-80 will be equal to 10-10-10?

Of course all 3 numbers won't be equal but shooting to have all three numbers relatively close to each other.