Inexpensive White Balance Cards? at DVinfo.net

Tim Buege · June 25th, 2003, 10:41 AM

Hi,

I'm looking for some suggestions on what to use for white balance cards. I'm not interested in spending $65 for WarmCards.

I have a Canon GL2. The other night, I setup in my dining room to take some shots of my wifes scrap booking cards. I used the halogen work light from my garage to get the illumination I needed, and I grabbed a piece of paper from my printer to white balance with.

Problem is, the shots all came out pinkish. I'm assuming this has something to do with the paper. I think it may have a slight bluish tint to it.

Where can I get a cheap "true" white card to white balance with?

Thanks!

Dany Nativel · June 25th, 2003, 02:26 PM

I got a set of 3 cards from Amazon (through one of their "used" department) for something like $10 (or a little bit more). It's a Kodak set that includes 2 large cards and a small one you can easily carry on your bag. The card is white on one side and 18% grey on the other side. So everybody is happy (white vs grey balancing).

Dany

Tim Buege · June 26th, 2003, 08:06 AM

Thanks. Actually, I found something I already have: a sheet of Matte Heavyweight Photo paper by Epson. I did a bunch of test shots around the house last night in various rooms with different lighting, white balancing in each room. The colors turned out great!

Eric Lian · June 27th, 2003, 11:25 PM

The most inexpensive white balance card is a regular white piece of paper. In fact, some of the PR people in this county are so camera savvy, that the first thing they do after they walk up to the mic podium is hold up the piece of paper they have their speech written on, in front of their face, so all of the camera-persons can adjust.

It's almost like a weird, unspoken ritual.

How simple is that?

June 25th, 2003, 10:41 AM	#1
Tim Buege Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Maplewood, MN, USA Posts: 62	Inexpensive White Balance Cards? Hi, I'm looking for some suggestions on what to use for white balance cards. I'm not interested in spending $65 for WarmCards. I have a Canon GL2. The other night, I setup in my dining room to take some shots of my wifes scrap booking cards. I used the halogen work light from my garage to get the illumination I needed, and I grabbed a piece of paper from my printer to white balance with. Problem is, the shots all came out pinkish. I'm assuming this has something to do with the paper. I think it may have a slight bluish tint to it. Where can I get a cheap "true" white card to white balance with? Thanks! __________________ Tim Buege tjbuegeATvisiDOTcom

June 26th, 2003, 08:06 AM	#3
Tim Buege Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Maplewood, MN, USA Posts: 62	Thanks. Actually, I found something I already have: a sheet of Matte Heavyweight Photo paper by Epson. I did a bunch of test shots around the house last night in various rooms with different lighting, white balancing in each room. The colors turned out great! __________________ Tim Buege tjbuegeATvisiDOTcom

June 25th, 2003, 02:26 PM	#2
Dany Nativel Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Odenton, MD Posts: 106	I got a set of 3 cards from Amazon (through one of their "used" department) for something like $10 (or a little bit more). It's a Kodak set that includes 2 large cards and a small one you can easily carry on your bag. The card is white on one side and 18% grey on the other side. So everybody is happy (white vs grey balancing). Dany

June 27th, 2003, 11:25 PM	#4
Eric Lian Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 61	The most inexpensive white balance card is a regular white piece of paper. In fact, some of the PR people in this county are so camera savvy, that the first thing they do after they walk up to the mic podium is hold up the piece of paper they have their speech written on, in front of their face, so all of the camera-persons can adjust. It's almost like a weird, unspoken ritual. How simple is that?