Wednesday, March 29, 2006
White Balance in Digital Camera
Lighting
Sunlight or light from an incandescent or fluorescent lamp contains a mixture of all colors in different proportions. We can’t see the subtle difference. But the color of the image we capture is affected by the color composition of the light source.
The temperature of color corresponds to the exact color of the light source. The color temperature scale ranges from the lower color temperature of reddish light to the higher color temperature of bluish light. Based on this, a system known as white balance has been evolved to effect balancing of image sensors to match light of a particular color temperature. The relative sensitivity of the sensor to different colors is adjusted automatically or manually to match the colorcast of the light (image) it has to record.
White Balance Settings
Pictures in natural colors can be taken by selecting the white balance specific to the conditions of light at the time of shooting. For indoor photography with flash in well lit rooms with very little natural light or for out door photography in sunlight or a cloudy or overcast condition, you have to select the correct white balance setting as detailed in the manual of your camera.
An Auto white balance setting in your camera adjusts the white balance automatically. Distinct settings are
provided for you to take pictures outdoors in sunlight or under cloudy sky or in a shady place. For indoor photography, separate settings for taking pictures under the light of tungsten light or white fluorescent lamps
or daylight fluorescent lamps are provided. A manual white balance setting enables you to make the required adjustment manually. An icon indicates each setting.
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