White Balance in digital photo is to fine-tune white
It’s easy. You just change white. But, the adjustment needs a deep consideration. It affects all the colors in your photo.
Usually, you do not need to do it. White balance adjustment is needed if you would like to:
1. Fine-tune the white towards the real white
2. Make the white your favorite one
Basically, what you are seeing and the photo you take are not the same. Your brain processing and digital processing in the camera are different.
White is also different.
Please see the photo below. You might have an experience of taking such a yellowish photo.
The photo I took is on the left side. But, the real world was like the photo on the right side. The color of the light in the room is a bit yellowish but the photo I took was too yellowish.
When we see yellowish or reddish or bluish white, our brain processing fine-tunes the white towards pure white as much as it could. Digital camera has such a feature but it is not the same as ours.
If you do not like the color of your photo, take photos again ! Or fine-tune the white by yourself. I fine-tuned yellowish white toward the real one. This is white balance adjustment.
White is the base of your photo so it is most important because it decides the mood of your photo.
Before going the main topic, let us review light and our eyes. If you have not read Introduction and light and our eyes, you must check them first. Basic knowledge is most important.
Review
1. Our Eyes
Our eyes have 3 sensors for Red, Green, and Blue light.
Thus, we can see the difference of the balance of Red, Green, and Blue light.
2. Light and White
The combination of Red, Green, and Blue light can express all the colors. Please see the photo below. White is the overlap part of Red, Green, and Blue light.
White = Red + Green + Blue
White is the result of our brain processing when we see Red, Green, and Blue light.
Look at white on TV with a magnifying lens, You can see Red, Green, and Blue light.
White Balance
White Balance is to fine-tune white. First, you need to learn about white more.
1. Various White
There are many different white : Bluish white, snow white, yellowish white, and reddish white.
EXAMPLE: in terms of the white clouds, the color varies in a day. First, it is reddish/yellowish white appearing in the morning and evening. Next, pure white appears in a cloudy day. Finally, bluish white appears in the afternoon.
Why white is different ?
Because white consists of Red, Green, and Blue light. As the balance of Red, Green and Blue light change, the white will also change.
White = Red + Green + Blue light
Please see the photo below. I changed the balance of Red, Green, and Blue light. The white on the left is the original. The white on the right is the one I changed the balance. The size of the letters is the level of light.
Various types of white
- Pure White : It appears when Red, Blue and Green light are the same level.
- Bluish White : Blue light is higher than Red and Green light.
- Yellowish White : Red & Green light are higher than Blue light. The combination of Red and Green becomes Yellow.
- Reddish White : Red light is higher than Green and Blue light.
White balance is the balance of Red, Green, and Blue light
2. White depends on Light Sources
Our eyes and digital camera capture Red, Green, and Blue light. These lights come from light sources.
White depends on the balance of Red, Green, and Blue light coming from light source.
Let us consider the case of the sunshine.
When you take a photo outside, the white in your photo depends on the time of the day or weather.
TIME
- In the morning and evening : Reddish/Yellowish white. Red and Green light are greater than Blue light.
- In the afternoon : Bluish white. Blue light is greater than others.
WEATHER
- Sunny day : Bluish white. Blue light is greater than others.
- Cloudy day / Snow day : Pure white. Red,Green and Blue light are of the same level.
There are many light sources. Sunshine, lighting fixtures, fire, flashlight and so on.
Imagine that if you take photos under the lighting fixtures with bluish white LED, how does the white in your photo appear ?
White becomes bluish.
Next, how about the lighting fixtures with yellowish white LED?
White becomes yellowish.
This is the last question. How about lighting fixtures with Red LED only ?
There is no white. Red only!
Usually, you can easily change white in your photo using a slider.
You do not need to change Red, Green and Blue data respectively. The function changes the balance of Red, Green, and Blue data at the background and changes white.
Let’s use white balance function.