View Full Version : Hmmm, wrong colour. looking for advice
Hi
Was taking some shots of my new reef set-up, including this Mushroom. However, it is purple but the pic comes out like this
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t124/mrsmugglebear/Marines/IMG_3189.jpg
The camera is a Canon 1000D with a 100mm macro lens. Have played about with the settings but no luck.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks
You need to adjust the white balance.. easiest in software (photoship, lightroom or GIMP for example).
You need to adjust the white balance.. easiest in software (photoship, lightroom or GIMP for example).
Thanks Alastair:) We're pretty new to dslr so still learning.
its better to white balance before you even take the shot in camera, the less post processing you do the better the pic
Thanks Paul:)
Will have a play around tomorrow in the daytime.
Shoot in RAW and adjust WB afterwards. No real need to set up beforehand for a shot like this IMO. More to it than WB though I reckon. I assume you used flash??? If so this will affect the colour of the shot due to the nature of the subject.
Shoot in RAW and adjust WB afterwards. No real need to set up beforehand for a shot like this IMO. More to it than WB though I reckon. I assume you used flash??? If so this will affect the colour of the shot due to the nature of the subject.
thanks Interzone:)
Yeh flash was used. We haven't got to grip with RAW yet but we're getting there.
thanks Interzone:)
Yeh flash was used. We haven't got to grip with RAW yet but we're getting there.
Shoot without flash and you will get a more natural colour in this case.
+1 on shooting raw, you should be able to adjust the white balance in DPP (the Canon utility on the disk with the camera) and export to a jpg.
If you shoot raw you can't get the white balance right in the camara because the canera ignores the white balance (and shooting raw gives you much more options in post-processing).
Making adjustments in post-processing does not make for a poorer image.. in fact it's the opposite, setting the white balance in the camera suggests you're shooting in jpeg or another compression mode.. which does make for a poorer finished image (but only the pixel peepers would neccessarily notice).
If you shoot raw you can't get the white balance right in the camara because the canera ignores the white balance (and shooting raw gives you much more options in post-processing).
You can if you use custom white balance. Use a piece of white paper under the tank lighting (ie next to the tank) and take the WB reading......
Raw files have not had while balance set. They are tagged with whatever the camera's setting was, (either that which was manually set or via auto-white-balance), but the actual data has not been changed. This allows one to set any colour temperature and white balance one wishes after the fact with no image degradation. It should be understood that once the file has been converted from the linear space and has had a gamma curve applied (such as in a JPG) white balance can no longer be properly done.
source (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/u-raw-files.shtml)
By far the best white balance solution is to photograph using the RAW file format (if your camera supports them), as these allow you to set the WB *after* the photo has been taken. RAW files also allow one to set the WB based on a broader range of color temperature and green-magenta shifts.
Performing a white balance with a raw file is quick and easy. You can either adjust the temperature and green-magenta sliders until color casts are removed, or you can simply click on a neutral reference within the image (see next section). Even if only one of your photos contains a neutral reference, you can click on it and then use the resulting WB settings for the remainder of your photos (assuming the same lighting).
source (http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/white-balance.htm)
Shoot raw, adjust the white balance later. Make sure you shoot at least one shot with a neutral reference (mid-grey or white) as part of the series. You might get lucky and get it right using auto white balance or using a user-defined white balance setting, but if you shoot raw you can tweak it in post-production.
The only time using manual white balance in camera will give a better result is if you're using a camera that doesn't support raw and only shoots jpg or tif. And even then there are ways around that if you miss the setting.
thanks Interzone:)
Yeh flash was used. We haven't got to grip with RAW yet but we're getting there.
That is the presumption i made, as you admit to being new to this game, and it's the exact reason why i didn't suggest shooting in RAW and to get it right first time.........
People who know their camera better than you know yours will suggest shooting in RAW, they seem to forget what it was like to be a dSLR newbie, you need to be able to walk before you can run.
Plus, RAW is a luxury, if you use it to "shoot-now, think later" you are just being lazy
Familiarise yourself with your 'in-camera' settings first, then join the smarty pants who like to play with RAW
:)
LOL......We are very new to DSLR cameras and only just getting to grips with it.
I tend to take lots of photos of the same thing and adjust different settings to see what results i get. If i get a particularly good shot i make a note of the settings, although the shot gets saved with the settings so i dont why i bother writing it down lol
ourmanflint
05-03-09, 20:48
The only thing I could add is if you start with RAW from the very beginning you will progress faster and get the results you want more often. JPEG s can be a pita when it comes to artificial light sources.
Rod
Are you using Flash?, that looks like a flash shot that's over powering the corals colour and bringing out the colours on the rock, try adjusting the WB and taking it without flash.
Dan .......... :wave:
Hi
Yeh, was using flash, but have been trying without, whilst adjusting wb. Will pop them up later:D
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