GL2 White Balance to Warm Cards at DVinfo.net

Paul Nuttall · April 1st, 2004, 03:55 AM

I shot my first wedding last month with my new GL2 and the footage is "reddish". Following the advice from others on another forum I had white balanced to a 1/2 warm card (very light shade of blue).

My question is this- I have heard and can tell after using the GL2 that the Gl2 tends to be warm or red already. Are others having success using the warm cards w/ the GL2? If the Gl2 is already warm/red shouldn't I just balance to a plain white card? Any other tips I sould be aware of for better color (shooting indoors, churches, etc.)?

TIA for your comments,

Paul

Bill Ball · April 1st, 2004, 08:19 AM

First, you are going in the wrong direction with the warm card. The warm card shifts the color balance toward red. So white balance on white.

Second my Gl2 tends toward red also. To some degree this can be controled by using the custom set up menu to reduce the red level and then making sure you have the custom key on when you tape. Try setting it down a notch or two.

Third, the red shift is more pronounced in low or warm (i.e. household type) light. I bet you wont have a problem outside in daylight but watch for it in low light situations. Using higher color temp--cooler--(e.g. 3200k or higher video lights) light indstead of regular incandesent warm lights helps.

Travis Cossel · April 1st, 2004, 11:32 AM

I've had the same experience. When filming outside, the colors tend to be pretty close to right on with the GL2. When in low-light situations (for me, stage performance events) things go toward red, especially if you leave white balance on auto (bad idea). If you film with an XL1, the red effect is much worse than with a GL2 (which I prefer over the XL1 for many reasons).

I would take Bill's advice and have your custom key set to reduce the red effect, and then active the custom key when in low light situations.

By the way, I've also found that the GL2's manual white balance feature is very good, so use it whenever possible.

Bob Harotunian · April 1st, 2004, 12:25 PM

Just to reiterate, always manual white balance when lighting conditions change. BTW, I flip the Warm Card over and use the white side for accurate color reproduction.

Travis Cossel · April 1st, 2004, 04:31 PM

The only reason I was suggesting having your custom key set up to reduce the red is that in some instances, often at weddings, you change lighting conditions frequently, and you may not have time to redo your white balance all the time. But it is quick and easy to hit the 'custom key' if you have to.

I agree, though, if you have the time, always manual white balance.

April 1st, 2004, 03:55 AM	#1
Paul Nuttall New Boot Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Atlanta, Ga. Posts: 22	GL2 White Balance to Warm Cards I shot my first wedding last month with my new GL2 and the footage is "reddish". Following the advice from others on another forum I had white balanced to a 1/2 warm card (very light shade of blue). My question is this- I have heard and can tell after using the GL2 that the Gl2 tends to be warm or red already. Are others having success using the warm cards w/ the GL2? If the Gl2 is already warm/red shouldn't I just balance to a plain white card? Any other tips I sould be aware of for better color (shooting indoors, churches, etc.)? TIA for your comments, Paul

April 1st, 2004, 11:32 AM	#3
Travis Cossel Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,933	I've had the same experience. When filming outside, the colors tend to be pretty close to right on with the GL2. When in low-light situations (for me, stage performance events) things go toward red, especially if you leave white balance on auto (bad idea). If you film with an XL1, the red effect is much worse than with a GL2 (which I prefer over the XL1 for many reasons). I would take Bill's advice and have your custom key set to reduce the red effect, and then active the custom key when in low light situations. By the way, I've also found that the GL2's manual white balance feature is very good, so use it whenever possible. __________________ Black Label Films www.blacklabelweddingfilms.com

April 1st, 2004, 04:31 PM	#5
Travis Cossel Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,933	The only reason I was suggesting having your custom key set up to reduce the red is that in some instances, often at weddings, you change lighting conditions frequently, and you may not have time to redo your white balance all the time. But it is quick and easy to hit the 'custom key' if you have to. I agree, though, if you have the time, always manual white balance. __________________ Black Label Films www.blacklabelweddingfilms.com

April 1st, 2004, 08:19 AM	#2
Bill Ball Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NEW JERSEY Posts: 216	First, you are going in the wrong direction with the warm card. The warm card shifts the color balance toward red. So white balance on white. Second my Gl2 tends toward red also. To some degree this can be controled by using the custom set up menu to reduce the red level and then making sure you have the custom key on when you tape. Try setting it down a notch or two. Third, the red shift is more pronounced in low or warm (i.e. household type) light. I bet you wont have a problem outside in daylight but watch for it in low light situations. Using higher color temp--cooler--(e.g. 3200k or higher video lights) light indstead of regular incandesent warm lights helps.

April 1st, 2004, 12:25 PM	#4
Bob Harotunian Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 360	Just to reiterate, always manual white balance when lighting conditions change. BTW, I flip the Warm Card over and use the white side for accurate color reproduction.