White backgound
- Thread starter w3bbo
- Start date
White comes out grey because of the way your camera's meter works.
Here is the theory:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_card
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-metering.htm
Basically overexpose from what the meter says and you will get white.
PS: To fix the grey ones you already took, if the lightest part of the image is the grey you can also adjust levels in photoshop and make the grey look white. Not the best solution but might work for image you already took, especially if you used RAW.
Here is the theory:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_card
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-metering.htm
Basically overexpose from what the meter says and you will get white.
PS: To fix the grey ones you already took, if the lightest part of the image is the grey you can also adjust levels in photoshop and make the grey look white. Not the best solution but might work for image you already took, especially if you used RAW.
If you take a picture of a white sheet of paper, the camera will adjust the exposure so that it come out at 18% grey. You need to adjust the levels (either over-expose when shooting or adjust afterwards).
Of course, if you have a studio with lights and a white backdrop, you light the subject and expose that correctly, then shine stronger lighting on the background to blow it out to pure white.
Andrew
Its a 400D but as I'm new to cameras (jumping in at the deep end) I still have lots to learn both with the camera and photoshop. I've not messed with the manual settings of the camera as I'm still getting used to the fixed ones (macro etc) so any help anyone can give is hugely appreciated.
I'll try the suggestions thus far. Thx again.
I'll try the suggestions thus far. Thx again.
Soldato
agreed with above I do this also and it works a treat when shooting jewellery..
bascially take a shot of a white piece of paper and then set the white balance in the camera to that image its really easy to do and problem solved
then just over expose on the light meter and voila
bascially take a shot of a white piece of paper and then set the white balance in the camera to that image its really easy to do and problem solved
then just over expose on the light meter and voila
bascially take a shot of a white piece of paper and then set the white balance in the camera to that image its really easy to do and problem solved
Correct White Balance should be set off something that is spectrally neutral grey.
Soldato
I usually use a gently curved piece of card and no flash, out of direct sunlight to avoid hard shadows.
Yes, the WB is a bit mad in that shot.
Yes, the WB is a bit mad in that shot.
Man of Honour
If you shoot RAW then you can take the white balance reading off anything white in the scene aftewards without any issue at all, especially useful and time saving as you don't have to faff with custom WB settings for every new scene on camera.
These were done just like that!
These were done just like that!