Setting White Balance w w/o Flash

[petert]

This may seem like a strange question, but I'm asking sincerely... when setting your white balance in an occation where you're going to use a flash, do you set your WB with the flash enabled or disabled?

I think enabled, but lately I've been getting some strange (off color) results and I'm wondering if I'm setting the WB incorrectly (or the mixed environment of lights is making things look tinted in a strange way).

Thanks...

[petert]

PING! ...is there no help for me?

[johnastovall]

With both the 5D and 20D I just set Auto White Balance and then make any corrections in ACR. With digital and RAW I just don't see it to be that much of an issue any more.

[petert]

Hmmm...

Not the answer I was expecting. I would think that if you were in a studio shooting situation, you'd be concerned about AWB shift on each image since there's nothing to keep it from reinterpreting the scene and creating a different WB for each image, right? ...or is that being too anal about it?

I was thinking that you'd want to shoot a WB sample with the flashes enabled so that whatever the scene is at the time the flash fires, it would be properly balanced... which is what I've been doing, but sometimes it seems that I get too warm an image when I'm back at the computer...

I don't know... guess that's why I was asking...

[Clint_Smith]

gernally my WB setting stays on flash....two reasons. My portrait work is either outside or in studio. So Flash is close enough for both. I fine tune in RAW images in processing software. Now, if I am shooting in a room that I can't use flash I generally let the AWB handle the file, but color correct the RAW files in post prosessing.

This is the main reason I shoot in RAW, because I don't wanna worry about WB while shooting. The only reason I go to AWB sometimes is just to keep me from being distracted by orange or blue images on the LCD...shooting RAW may take more time to process, but it allows my creative juices to flow better in the field or studio.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by petert

Hmmm...

Not the answer I was expecting. I would think that if you were in a studio shooting situation, you'd be concerned about AWB shift on each image since there's nothing to keep it from reinterpreting the scene and creating a different WB for each image, right? ...or is that being too anal about it?

I was thinking that you'd want to shoot a WB sample with the flashes enabled so that whatever the scene is at the time the flash fires, it would be properly balanced... which is what I've been doing, but sometimes it seems that I get too warm an image when I'm back at the computer...

I don't know... guess that's why I was asking...

If you really want to be anal about it shot a GretagMacbeth color target and a white blance card in every shot.

/

[petert]

Who you calling anal??!!

Just kiddin' ...I already use the color card... it's saved my butt a few times now...

[petert]

Originally Posted by Clint_Smith

gernally my WB setting stays on flash....two reasons. My portrait work is either outside or in studio. So Flash is close enough for both. I fine tune in RAW images in processing software.

OK - this makes sense and I'll give that a try... thanks...

Originally Posted by Clint_Smith

This is the main reason I shoot in RAW, because I don't wanna worry about WB while shooting. The only reason I go to AWB sometimes is just to keep me from being distracted by orange or blue images on the LCD...shooting RAW may take more time to process, but it allows my creative juices to flow better in the field or studio.

Agreed... I usually (mostly... well, only when I'm not in a "don't care" situation) shoot RAW. Yeah, it takes more time (not to mention diskspace) to shoot RAW, but 9 times out of 10, I'm happier with the end results.

[NoLight]

If you have the card then shoot the card in the lighting you'll be using flash and all.. Then your set!!

[Clayton Wallace]

I generally have my WB set to my flash temp (ABs, 5600K) for studio, and to flash or auto for outdoor. I try to get it as close as possible, but often find there are multiple color temps. Yep, RAW is the best bet. I still shoot jpg if I know the output and the temps aren't weird, but if it is tricky lighting (indoor weddings) I default to RAW.

[K1000]

Originally Posted by petert

This may seem like a strange question, but I'm asking sincerely... when setting your white balance in an occation where you're going to use a flash, do you set your WB with the flash enabled or disabled?

I think enabled, but lately I've been getting some strange (off color) results and I'm wondering if I'm setting the WB incorrectly (or the mixed environment of lights is making things look tinted in a strange way).

Thanks...

I purchased this target so that exposure and color balance can be handled at once. The more I use the target, the less I use RAW. The only time I encounter off color images indoors is when my small Novatron 240 had not recycled fast enough.

Be sure and look at the on-line tutorial to see how simple the process works.

Good luck.