10 Replies Latest reply: Jun 6, 2012 8:14 AM by Geoff the kiwi RSS

    Where is the white balance card

    pennipeter Community Member

      I can pull up the white balance eye dropper but the card is not there. How do I get it ?

      When I watch tutorials they always show it.

      Thank you !

        • 1. Re: Where is the white balance card
          JimHess Community Member

          You have to have your own card.  You include the card in the photo.  Otherwise you can click on a neutral area in your photo.

          • 2. Re: Where is the white balance card
            DdeGannes Community Member

            Sorry but this one is a classic. No offence intended.

            • 3. Re: Where is the white balance card
              trshaner Community Member

              Darn, I still don't see that Lamborghini from last week's photo shoot in my driveway!

               

              Seriously, do a search on Amazon for white balance card. They are available for about $10 and up.

               

              Another option for your current pictures is to use the White Balance eyedropper on an area you believe to be white, but not overexposed (i.e. R, G, B 95% or less). This will get you close and then you can fine-tune the WB Temp and Tint settings.

               

              BUT, you really need a hardware monitor calibrator to insure your display is showing colors AND brightness accurately.

               

              http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/article_pages/colour_management/prints_too_dark.html

               

              Lacking a hardware calibrator this website will help you adjust your display to get closer matching of your screen to prints:

               

              http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/

              • 4. Re: Where is the white balance card
                DdeGannes Community Member

                I have all my stuff in place, I was realy commenting to the responce to the original post, which I refrained from making a comment.

                 

                Its unbelievable that one would expect the white balance card to appear within the photo when the eye dropper tool was selected .

                • 5. Re: Where is the white balance card
                  JimHess Community Member

                  In all fairness, if someone has never used a white balance card before, trying to understand from a video where the presenter assumes a lot can be a little confusing. The question seems a little humorous to some of us. But the OP was really sincere and is trying to learn. You know, it's kind of like the guy who didn't know the DVD had to go into his coffee cup holder on his computer.

                  • 6. Re: Where is the white balance card
                    pennipeter Community Member

                    To all of you who think it's funny and those of you who take it seriously. 

                    This is a learning forum. 

                    I have seen several tutorials about white balance and each time the same card looks similar to a bingo card with squares comes up. 

                    Sometimes the answer is in front of us. Such as hit the K key twice. This one is not.

                    Thank you to those who have tried to help.

                    Penni

                    • 7. Re: Where is the white balance card
                      MikeKPhoto Community Member

                      Jim, I am with you on this one, while humor has it's place, can be very off putting to someone who has the desire to learn, and just proves there are no silly questions, just silly answers.

                       

                      To the Original Poster, as you have discovered, the white card or grey card for that matter is included in one of the session shots. That is used to measure the color temperature with the eye dropper and set the white balance. I usually shoot a colored checker board type of card, I have found a good one to the the Xrite Color Passport not really cheap, but it does the job, and as you become more comfortable with managing color you can use the software that comes with the card to build camera profiles.

                       

                      Hope this helps and feel free to get back if you have more questions

                       

                      Cheers

                       

                      MK

                      • 8. Re: Where is the white balance card
                        trshaner Community Member

                        I fully agree more there are no “silly questions,” but had to chuckle when I first read this post. Lightroom is an extremely sophisticated and powerful software package, which has gotten even more complex with the latest LR4 release product. I hope the OP can take the comments “tongue-in-cheek” and realize we sincerely want to help others in the forum. I’ve been flamed a few times here and it’s not a good feeling. That certainly was not my intent.

                         

                        Pennipeter, it’s obvious you take photography and LR seriously and want to improve your work. We will try to help you achieve that objective. Some of us here still remember the original Lightroom 1.0 ‘Five Rules,’ and Rule #5 is “Enjoy.”

                         

                        I'll place my vote for MikeKphoto's ColorChecker Passport ($100) suggestion, if it fits your budget, AND you already are using a hardware monitor calibrator. If not then this should be the highest priority item on your photography wish list. Without a calibrated monitor the CC PP is not going to be very helpful.

                         

                        I also posted a LR 'Feature Request' for improving the White Balance eyedropper tool, which has been implemented in LR4. It is now view Zoom dependent and the Scale adjustment actually changes the sample area. You can read more here:

                         

                        http://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/white_balance_eyedropper_tool_option

                         

                        Cheers,

                         

                        TR

                        • 9. Re: Where is the white balance card
                          JimHess Community Member

                          Well, if I hadn't asked questions that others considered stupid in the past maybe I would feel differently.  But let's try to answer the original question.  It would be nice if a white card feature could be included in Lightroom.  But the white card has to be able to reflect the light in the photograph so that its color temperature can be measured.  So you need to purchase a card, or at least hold a sheet of white paper in a test image that is taken in the same light as the image you are photographing.  You take the sample with the eyedropper on that white card to set the white balance.  Then you apply that setting to all the images that are taken in that light.

                          • 10. Re: Where is the white balance card
                            Geoff the kiwi CommunityMVP

                            We were all new once and those who haven't asked a similar question form a queue over on the dark side pleae

                             

                            And for those who don't know, the little icon in the menu bar of the reply box has a purpose