Blue Tint

I use my DSLR for surveillance and 9 times out of 10 I will be shooting from inside my car through the windshield. In doing so, the results display a blue hue or tint. It's not a major issue since my main objective is to confirm subject activity, but I'm wondering what I can do to resolve the issue. Perhaps a filter or playing with the white balance?

Appreciate all suggestions.

Thank you

You could shoot in B&W.
Try a Cloudy WB, but the best thing to do would be to shoot a frame at each WB & see which you like best.
Also you could try to post process (PP) each of those images to see what works the best.
Better yet, stop shooting through the windshield. ; )

Place a known neutral gray or white card outside the window through which you shoot and take a picture of it through the window. Then use this image to set a custom WB.

Kirk

...one does not even need to set a custom WB in camera...One merely shoots the white card thru the window, then uses that photo during post processing to sample with the eyedropper tool to set for 'neutral' color balance and uses those same settings on all the other photos taken.

Here's an example, shot through a tinted airport window. Setting white point and gray point (in curves) fixed it.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #18602190
You could shoot in B&W.
Try a Cloudy WB, but the best thing to do would be to shoot a frame at each WB & see which you like best.
Also you could try to post process (PP) each of those images to see what works the best.
Better yet, stop shooting through the windshield. ; )

B&W isn't good for surveillance. Customers want more natural tones and we want to make it easier for them to identify a subject as well as any other object coming into play.

kirkt wrote in post #18602443
Place a known neutral gray or white card outside the window through which you shoot and take a picture of it through the window. Then use this image to set a custom WB.

Kirk

Good idea. I'll try that. Thanks

Wilt wrote in post #18602522
...one does not even need to set a custom WB in camera...One merely shoots the white card thru the window, then uses that photo during post processing to sample with the eyedropper tool to set for 'neutral' color balance and uses those same settings on all the other photos taken.

I don't do any post processing nor even have a decent program to do such a thing. I shoot, load PC and add to report. My editing is basic cropping. On the other side, I would consider doing more PP if I knew what program to use. Suggestions?

Peano wrote in post #18602560
Here's an example, shot through a tinted airport window. Setting white point and gray point (in curves) fixed it.

Hosted photo: posted by Peano in
./showthread.php?p=186​02560&i=i199971173
forum: RAW, Post Processing & Printing

When you say setting white and gray point, how so? On the camera or using software?

BTW, I love the results, that's perfect. Thanks

kirkt wrote in post #18602443
Place a known neutral gray or white card outside the window through which you shoot and take a picture of it through the window. Then use this image to set a custom WB. Kirk

Since you don't want to do any processing, and nearly all your shots are taken through (presumably) the same car windshield, then kirkt's solution above is clearly the easiest way to go. You only have to set the custom WB once, save it with the settings that you typically use (under "C1" or whatever your camera uses for custom settings), and that's it!

kirkt wrote in post #18602443
Place a known neutral gray or white card outside the window through which you shoot and take a picture of it through the window. Then use this image to set a custom WB.

Kirk

Great simple solution!

Meanie wrote in post #18602668
When you say setting white and gray point, how so? On the camera or using software?

BTW, I love the results, that's perfect. Thanks

Using curves in Photoshop. There are three droppers, for white point, gray point and black point. Lots of tutorials around if you aren't sure how to use them.

Peano wrote in post #18602694
Using curves in Photoshop. There are three droppers, for white point, gray point and black point. Lots of tutorials around if you aren't sure how to use them.

Read the OP's posts. He doesn't have Photoshop and doesn't do any post processing or need to - at least for simple surveillance work.

Meanie wrote in post #18602667
I don't do any post processing nor even have a decent program to do such a thing. I shoot, load PC and add to report. My editing is basic cropping. On the other side, I would consider doing more PP if I knew what program to use. Suggestions?

I can suggest you consider purchase and use of (Corel) PaintShop Pro or (Adobe) Elements, both can be had very inexpensively. Nowhere near the cost or complexity of Adobe Photoshop, but you do not need Photoshop's power.

teekay wrote in post #18602840
Read the OP's posts. He doesn't have Photoshop and doesn't do any post processing or need to - at least for simple surveillance work.

I was replying to the OP's first post, in which he didn't mention not having Photoshop. He supplied that information after I posted my example. In my second post, I was replying to his question: "When you say setting white and gray point, how so?" I told him how so.