Detailed explanation of white balance setting skills of digital camera

The word photography comes from the Greek word φ ω? 0? 9 phos (light) and γ ρ α φ ι? 0? 9 graphics, that is, "drawing with light". Because there is light, human beings can distinguish the color and shape of objects, so "light" is an essential factor in photography. However, when people use cameras to record the surrounding color images, they often find that the actual tone is very different from the effect they see. For example, the image taken under fluorescent light will appear green, the image will appear orange-red under tungsten light, and the image will turn blue in rainy days. All this can be explained by a common saying-"You can't watch the color under the lamp". This proverb fully reveals the close relationship between light and color, which is why photography should introduce this important concept-white balance.

Basic concept of white balance-color temperature

Color temperature is the quantitative expression of color and Kelvin temperature (K). Color temperature is a physical quantity representing the content of spectral components in a light source and an international standard for measuring the color of a light source, not a concept of temperature. Instead, a black body (total radiator) is used to start heating from absolute zero (-273 degrees). When the temperature rises to about 800 degrees, the color begins to change from black to red. As the temperature rises, the color changes from red to orange to yellow to white to blue.

Color temperature phenomenon is also very common in daily life. In the process of ironing, black iron turns red after heating, melts into orange when the temperature rises further, and even turns into dazzling white when the temperature is higher.

The international unit of color temperature is K (Kelvin), and the color temperature value is expressed in Arabic numerals. For example, the color temperature of sunlight at noon is 5500K, the color temperature of tungsten lamp for photography is 3200K, the color temperature of sunrise and sunset is about 2000K, and the color temperature of candlelight is about1000 K. It is not difficult to find that the higher the color temperature, the bluer the light and the redder the color temperature. That is to say, when the color temperature of a certain color light is higher than other colors, it means that the color light is bluer than other colors, and vice versa.

The word photography comes from the Greek word φ ω? 0? 9 phos (light) and γ ρ α φ ι? 0? 9 graphics, that is, "painting with light". Because there is light, human beings can distinguish the color and shape of objects, so "light" is an essential factor in photography. However, when people use cameras to record the surrounding color images, they often find that the actual tone is very different from the effect they see. For example, the image taken under fluorescent light will appear green, the image will appear orange-red under tungsten light, and the image will turn blue in rainy days. All this can be explained by a common saying-"You can't watch the color under the lamp". This proverb fully reveals the close relationship between light and color, which is why photography should introduce this important concept-white balance.

Basic concept of white balance-color temperature

Color temperature is the quantitative expression of color and Kelvin temperature (K). Color temperature is a physical quantity representing the content of spectral components in a light source and an international standard for measuring the color of a light source, not a concept of temperature. Instead, a black body (total radiator) is used to start heating from absolute zero (-273 degrees). When the temperature rises to about 800 degrees, the color begins to change from black to red. As the temperature rises, the color changes from red to orange to yellow to white to blue.

Color temperature phenomenon is also very common in daily life. In the process of ironing, black iron turns red after heating, melts into orange when the temperature rises further, and even turns into dazzling white when the temperature is higher.

The international unit of color temperature is K (Kelvin), and the color temperature value is expressed in Arabic numerals. For example, the color temperature of sunlight at noon is 5500K, the color temperature of tungsten lamp for photography is 3200K, the color temperature of sunrise and sunset is about 2000K, and the color temperature of candlelight is about1000 K. It is not difficult to find that the higher the color temperature, the bluer the light and the redder the color temperature. That is to say, when the color temperature of a certain color light is higher than other colors, it means that the color light is bluer than other colors, and vice versa.

What is white balance?

White balance As the name implies, white balance. When we see white, white appears the color of colored light under the irradiation of colored light, but we still think it is white because human eyes have unique adaptability, and usually we can't find the change of color temperature. The sensor of the camera does not have this adaptability. If the color adjustment of the camera is inconsistent with the illumination color temperature of the scene, color cast will occur. It goes without saying that white balance is to offset the offset color by adjusting the color circuit inside the camera according to the color temperature of the actual shooting scene.

What is the function of white balance?

What is the white balance for? What special effect can it bring to our picture? Let's enjoy some beautiful pictures of white balance in different shooting environments first ~

cool tone

Cool colors give people a cold feeling. When shooting a cold snowy day, the color temperature inside the camera should be slightly lower than the color temperature of the spotlight, so that the snow and ice will appear blue, enhance the cold visual impression and feel immersive.

Family should give people a warm and comfortable feeling. When shooting the indoor environment, the color temperature inside the camera should be slightly higher than the color temperature of the spotlight according to the indoor light conditions, so that the indoor environment tends to be warm. So, how can we take photos that meet the requirements of ideal color tone?

warm tone

Application of White Balance-Basic Chapter

If you want to take a photo that meets the ideal tone, you need to master how to set the white balance correctly. If the white balance is set to the required difference before shooting, the ideal color reproduction of the image can be realized. The color temperature adjustment of traditional photography is done through the filter, while the white balance adjustment of digital photography is done inside the camera, which can be continuously adjusted from 2500 K-10000 K. The setting is simple, the continuity is good, and the shooting effect can be directly observed without carrying.

Many photographers misunderstand the setting of white balance as a simple color temperature adjustment, thinking that the higher the color temperature, the bluer the image, the lower the color temperature and the redder the image. But whether the image result is blue or red depends not only on the color temperature in the camera, but also on the color temperature in the shooting scene, and the shooting effect is determined by the difference between the color temperature in the camera and the color temperature in the scene. The usage rule is: 1, the internal color temperature is higher than the on-site color temperature, and the picture tone is red. 2. The internal color temperature of the machine is lower than the on-site color temperature, and the color of the picture is blue. 3. The internal color temperature is equal to the on-site color temperature, and the picture tone is normal.

It should be noted that the greater the difference, the higher the hue deviation, the smaller the difference, and the closer the hue is to the field normal value. How to set the white balance when using a digital camera?

When using a digital camera, you must understand the white balance setting in the manual, because there are many ways to set the white balance. If you want to create a variety of theme atmosphere in your creation, you should carefully study how to set white balance, especially don't rely too much on automatic white balance.

White balance settings are usually divided into the following four types: 1 and automatic white balance (AWB). 2, graphics set white balance. 3. Customize the white balance. 4. Manually set the white balance (k).

Using the difference of color temperature to control the color tone of the picture is an important creative means of digital camera shooting. If you master the white balance adjustment method of digital camera skillfully, you can set off the atmosphere of the picture at will. Photography is an art. In addition to a pair of eyes that are good at discovering beauty, if you can skillfully use photography technology, your photographic works will also "live".

Color temperature of artificial light

Artificial light refers to the light emitted by various artificial lighting lamps. According to performance, it can be divided into spotlight and astigmatism lamp, according to color temperature, it can be divided into high color temperature and low color temperature, according to use, it can be divided into daily lighting and special lighting for film and television, and so on. Due to different uses and functions, the color temperatures of various artificial lights are also ever-changing. Common artificial light color temperature is shown in the table below:

Color temperature of natural light

Natural light refers to the inherent elimination of nature. Sunlight and skylight are the main ways to eliminate natural light. Due to the laws of cosmic movement and the rotation of the earth, natural light changes all the time, which is influenced by time, season, climate, geography and other conditions. These changes will affect the color temperature of natural light. See the table below for natural light color temperature under different changing conditions:

Whether it is natural light or artificial light, as long as you carefully observe and practice repeatedly, you can master the law:

Color temperature control under natural light: as shown in the left picture above, the color temperature of cloudy scene in cold winter in the north is about 6800 ~7500K K. If automatic white balance is selected, the color temperature inside the machine is slightly higher than the color temperature of the scene, and it can be observed that the picture is red. If the indoor color temperature is lowered (upper right) and manually adjusted to 4600K, the indoor color temperature is much lower than the on-site color temperature, and the picture is cool blue, which can better show the cold after snow in winter in Beijing and the unique sense of history of the Summer Palace.

The color temperature control of artificial light source is to use artificial lighting, and the color temperature of this light source is a strictly tested standard. The adjustment of its color temperature is based on the needs of creative content. As shown above, the left side was taken at a normal color temperature. Although the color of the picture is accurate, it lacks attractive food color. In order to show the delicious food, the color temperature of the camera should be raised or the color temperature of the lighting should be lowered to make the picture warm and the visual effect of noodles will be more attractive.