Custom White Balance

[chris72]

Yesterday mt teacher show me a custom WB. He take a tracing paper and shoot through, (he stick the tracing paper in front of a lens) I hope you understant what I write.
Advantages:
NO light reflections
Good diffuse light

I compare this technique with a traditional WB custom shoot. I think first is more warmer. Please make this test and please write if technique is good or not.
Thank you

[chris72]

It's like a ExpoDisc Digital White Balance Filter

[easternherp]

Depending on what colour the tracing paper is will affect the colour reading. Different brands have different colours. This is where the expodisc is better as it is a correct neutral colour. People have used lids off food cartons and anthing else that is diffuse.
If you find one that works and gives you the colour you like then stick with it.

[Wilm]

Another low-cost trick isto use the translucent front of a CDs jewelcase. Simply take a piece of fine sandpaper and make it diffuse. It also gives quite good results and is from my point of view more handy.

:cheers:
Wilm

[easternherp]

When using these lens filters, do you stand with the camera where your subject will be and point it back towards where the camera will be or do you point towrads where the subject is?

[Wilm]

When using these lens filters, do you stand with the camera where your subject will be and point it back towards where the camera will be or do you point towrads where the subject is?

Andrew,
I point it where the subject is. Otherwise I would create a white-balance for the opposit direction.

:cheers:
Wilm

[killians913]

Wilm,

Let me make sure I understand your response....you stand at camera position and point the camera at the subject to get a white balance reading?

Lockett

[Wilm]

That's right !

I usually do a custom white-balance when shooting landscapes. Therefor my camera is mounted on a tripod already. I do the WB with the homebrewed filter, then I do the shot. Works from my point of view.

:cheers:
Wilm

[MikePL]

In my opinion the camera should be pointed at the light source (incident light metering).

Imagine that it is late afternoon and the light is warm. You are shooting a portrait of a person who stands in front of a big blue wall. The reflected light will be cooled by the blue wall and therefore the camera will have a too warm setting, and your subject will be yellow. If you point the camera at the light source all your subjects will be rendered perfectly, no matter the setting.

Am I right?

[easternherp]

Mike, I think i am with you on this one. Why do fuji say take a wb reading from a white card? to measure the colour of light falling onto the subject. With the expodisc and home made ones you can't really do this as it will always see some colour that is around.
But I guess if you get the result you want it doesn't matter.

[sandman]

I still use the old pringles lid , if the W/B is off you've still had a snack . :lol:
But tracing paper has been used successfully in the past .
One question , as the D2X has a W/B sensor on the top how would you meter with an expo? .
I'd still meter from the subject .

Brian

[easternherp]

I have just done my first cwb and used some printers tracing film. Neutral in colour and lovely diffusion, worked a treat. Going to keep some in the case for when I need it. It is a very thin plastic type of film so won't tear too easily.
If anybody in the UK wants any I can send you some.

[rhbourbonnais]

Many people use a coffee filter for this.
The best way is to stand at the subject and take the preset pointing at the camera position. If this isn't possable, like with a scenic, then camera position will work. Prior to buying the expensive expodisk, I make one out of a coffee filter and some other stuff. The details are on my web site here:

http://www.sweetlightstudios.com/core/expo.html

Robin

[schreiber]

One word: WhiBal! It's amazing and works miracles! www.whibal.com -> look at the videos.