White Balance Importance

Richard Hunter · February 18th, 2007, 05:36 AM

Hi Grazie. I wonder who you're talking about? :)

I can't email you the preset, cos it's not like that. What I mean is that I usually WB using a white card or warm card in the shooting location sometime before golden hour, and that is stored as a user WB preset. Using a white card is probably similar to using the Sunlight setting but I prefer to do it myself to suit the local conditions (and I really like to use a warm card).

Then when the lighting changes (golden hour, sunset or whatever), the effect is captured fully rather than being compensated away by a new WB setting. Get what I mean?

Richard

Cole McDonald · February 18th, 2007, 01:56 PM

My best advice on this topic is "Don't use auto". Even if you have the WB wrong...at least it'll be consistant. Outdoors, I like to WB every hour as the sun changes position, indoors, I'm not so stringent...once per setup will be fine as the lighting changes.

The problem with auto is it will always try to fish (pun intended) for something to call white. The WB of the shot will shift around as you move the camera or subjects move within the frame.

Dale Guthormsen · February 18th, 2007, 11:22 PM

good evening,

What a great thread!!! I shoot 80% outdoor wild life. rest indoor event stuff.

1. I always white balance indoors.

2. Outdoors I am prone to use sand and snow (we have snow 5 months a year it seems). Most of the footage is excellent.

3. we have lots of sunlight the rest of the year and I seldom ever have my xl or gl go searching for white.

4. I shoot sunsets all the time as the prairies in the fall are staggeringly beautiful.

I always shoot in manual setting aperature and shutter to emphesize the sunset, generally underexposing slightly.

If that doesn't get it right I adjust my custom presets to have a little more red and adjust the green slightly. Everyone seems to require things a little different.

Question: Sounds stupid, as I haven't run a test, but you guys changing wb all the time, do you shoot the shady side of a card or the sunny side of the card?

does it matter if you shoot the shady side of the boat then shoot the sunny reflective water??

Ash Greyson · February 18th, 2007, 11:27 PM

Unless the lighting changes pretty dramatically, there is no real need to WB that often. The XL2 is very effected by the white balance and it can really help with color saturation, warmth, etc. It is probably the biggest tool you have to control the image of the XL2. I suggest getting or making your own warm and cool cards. I dont remember the last time I actually balanced to white =o)

ash =o)

Richard Hunter · February 20th, 2007, 04:06 AM

There's an interesting tutorial on lighting at the link below. It deals mainly with natural lighting and helps you to appreciate the purpose and importance of white balance. Pity it is not completed, but what is there is worth reading.

Richard

http://www.itchy-animation.co.uk/light.htm

February 18th, 2007, 01:56 PM	#17
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	My best advice on this topic is "Don't use auto". Even if you have the WB wrong...at least it'll be consistant. Outdoors, I like to WB every hour as the sun changes position, indoors, I'm not so stringent...once per setup will be fine as the lighting changes. The problem with auto is it will always try to fish (pun intended) for something to call white. The WB of the shot will shift around as you move the camera or subjects move within the frame. __________________ Web Youtube Facebook

February 18th, 2007, 11:22 PM	#18
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	good evening, What a great thread!!! I shoot 80% outdoor wild life. rest indoor event stuff. 1. I always white balance indoors. 2. Outdoors I am prone to use sand and snow (we have snow 5 months a year it seems). Most of the footage is excellent. 3. we have lots of sunlight the rest of the year and I seldom ever have my xl or gl go searching for white. 4. I shoot sunsets all the time as the prairies in the fall are staggeringly beautiful. I always shoot in manual setting aperature and shutter to emphesize the sunset, generally underexposing slightly. If that doesn't get it right I adjust my custom presets to have a little more red and adjust the green slightly. Everyone seems to require things a little different. Question: Sounds stupid, as I haven't run a test, but you guys changing wb all the time, do you shoot the shady side of a card or the sunny side of the card? does it matter if you shoot the shady side of the boat then shoot the sunny reflective water?? __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

February 18th, 2007, 05:36 AM	#16
Richard Hunter Trustee Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines Posts: 1,110	Hi Grazie. I wonder who you're talking about? :) I can't email you the preset, cos it's not like that. What I mean is that I usually WB using a white card or warm card in the shooting location sometime before golden hour, and that is stored as a user WB preset. Using a white card is probably similar to using the Sunlight setting but I prefer to do it myself to suit the local conditions (and I really like to use a warm card). Then when the lighting changes (golden hour, sunset or whatever), the effect is captured fully rather than being compensated away by a new WB setting. Get what I mean? Richard

February 18th, 2007, 11:27 PM	#19
Ash Greyson Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,689	Unless the lighting changes pretty dramatically, there is no real need to WB that often. The XL2 is very effected by the white balance and it can really help with color saturation, warmth, etc. It is probably the biggest tool you have to control the image of the XL2. I suggest getting or making your own warm and cool cards. I dont remember the last time I actually balanced to white =o) ash =o)

February 20th, 2007, 04:06 AM	#20
Richard Hunter Trustee Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines Posts: 1,110	There's an interesting tutorial on lighting at the link below. It deals mainly with natural lighting and helps you to appreciate the purpose and importance of white balance. Pity it is not completed, but what is there is worth reading. Richard http://www.itchy-animation.co.uk/light.htm