Gray card

Hi , I am starting a new studio with very little space . Plus i am very new to studio lighting. I have recently purchased ( The AlienBees 400 ). My main goal is to get good at shooting High Key. What a mess! I have a lot of Questions . I havent taken any photography classes but love shooting pic's. How do you use a 18 % gray card? I heard it really helps. How?

Gray card is not for indoor/studio flash photography. Get a flash meter, that'll get you the correct exposure.

Welcome

Do get a flash meter... also seamless white paper for the white background.

How many bees do you have?

A gray card is 18% gray (zone 5) because thats what your meter see the world as. If color say for a product shot that you might be shooting is REAL important shoot your first frame with the gray card in it. If you can get the density and the color right on the card everything else will be very close.
Some product photographers use to put a gray card in the frame and shot the transparency then send the film (sheet) out to be processed to see how the labs E-6 was running that day. When the got the film back they would filter to insure they would get the correct color.

What you should probably do is get a color chart and shoot it with the gray card then adjust your camera setting so when your shooting in the studio you always get good color and will have to do minor adjusting.

gasrocks wrote in post #3280806
Gray card is not for indoor/studio flash photography. Get a flash meter, that'll get you the correct exposure.

Could a gray card not be used to calibrate/match the exposure on the camera and light meter?

I'm not sure I understand the question

This is a little confusing, especially the bit about indoor photography...

This is what I use a 18 % gray card for :

1. White Balance. Shoot my gray card in the same light as the subject and set custom WB for the grey card picture.

2. Exposure. I will place the grey card in the same lighting as the subject and meter the greycard with either the camera or my light meter.

18% gray is the shade that meters are calibrated with, that's because 18% gray is neutral and uniform.