White card to calibrate white balance?

[ShutterBugL]

Is anyone using a white card to calibrate white balance? If so, what do you use?

I read about WhiBal (see http://www.rawworkflow.com/products/whibal/index.html) which is supposedly quite good. But man, it costs an arm and a leg! Wondering if there are more affordable alternatives.

 

[espn]

Think you meant, grey card.

 

[ShutterBugL]

Think you meant, grey card.

I meant white card actually. : )

Check out that link to WhiBal: one of the cards is a white card.

 

[Deadpoet]

I meant white card actually. : )

Check out that link to WhiBal: one of the cards is a white card.

you use a 18% grey card to measure white balance!

 

[LittleWolf]

you use a 18% grey card to measure white balance!

I assume that should read "you CAN use an 18% gray card...". There's no special requirement apart from not having a colour cast. A sheetof unexposed, fixed photo paper or inkjet photo quality paper should be good enough for practical purposes.

 

[KCLow]

I thought white card is to set WB and grey card exposure?

 

[catchlights]

I thought white card is to set WB and grey card exposure?

you can use any card have neutral tone to set white balance, so grey card can use for set white balance.

 

[hondasleeper]

It looks like a great product but just too damn expensive. I think a gray card would serve it''s purpose at a fraction of the cost. FYI when using a white piece of paper be careful and ensure that it is pure white, some papers have a slight hue to it, it might throw your custom color balance off.

 

[kijer]

use styrfoam cup can oreadi... ;P

 

[ShutterBugL]

Thanks for your comments, everyone.

It looks like a great product but just too damn expensive. I think a gray card would serve it''s purpose at a fraction of the cost. FYI when using a white piece of paper be careful and ensure that it is pure white, some papers have a slight hue to it, it might throw your custom color balance off.

Agree about the cost. That's why I'm exploring cheaper alternatives. Will check out the grey cards you mentioned.

Kiher's sytrofoam cup idea is also interesting -- it'll still work when wet!

Out of curiosity, anyone here using some other homemade white / grey card or some other homemade alternative for white balancing?

 

[hondasleeper]

Formica sample or paint swatches? If you can find one to match the 18% gray card.

 

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

learn something new everyday... i always thought white card = white balance, 18% grey card for metering.

 

[catchlights]

learn something new everyday... i always thought white card = white balance, 18% grey card for metering.

the RGB value for white card is 255, 255, 255.
and the 18% grey is 128,128,128, as long it is neutral in color, can use for white balance setting.

 

[smtan24]

Those cards look like nylon plastic. What a rip off. Probably cost them a few dollars to manufacture.

 

[ShutterBugL]

Formica sample or paint swatches? If you can find one to match the 18% gray card.

that's what my wife suggested too :bsmilie:

 

[ShutterBugL]

Those cards look like nylon plastic. What a rip off. Probably cost them a few dollars to manufacture.

dunno leh. some of the reviewers say very good quality and it really serves its purpose.:think:

 

[lsisaxon]

Those cards look like nylon plastic. What a rip off. Probably cost them a few dollars to manufacture.

Yeah.. but they are calibrated. That's the difference..

 

[G-man]

Evergreen sheet styrene, $9 from Bras Basah Artfriend, or get Tamiya 1mm pla-plate, same thing except Tamiya's come with 1 side matt and 1 side coated with a sheen, so use the matt part. :bsmilie:

 

[lsisaxon]

Evergreen sheet styrene, $9 from Bras Basah Artfriend, or get Tamiya 1mm pla-plate, same thing except Tamiya's come with 1 side matt and 1 side coated with a sheen, so use the matt part. :bsmilie:

Have you done a spectral analysis on them? If not, you won't know if they are really neutral.

 

[G-man]

Well I am just an amatuer hobbyist, so I am quite happy as long as it looks white to me, my colours come out accurate and they work, it's fine by me.

If you're doing it pro, then yea I say invest in something that'll last you a long time. In my case, i have tons of styrene sheets lying around as I build gunpla model kits too so those were good enough for me.:thumbsup: