do people use grey / test cards

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scottyboy

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scott
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hello all,

do photographers use test cards
do you use a grey card or white or 3colour card?

please explain

many thanks
scott
 
I use a grey card and/or white card, mainly for white balance but sometimes for exposure too. Handy to include a grey card in the first shot of a session, so you can reference it in post processing and sort the colour easily.

I also like to use a colour bar and a grey scale for studio stuff, but I've lost them.

Edit: just bought a new set, from here :) http://shop.colourconfidence.com/product.php?xProd=1868
 
i have seen a card which is white grey and black
is this so you can set the colours better in photoshop cs4 ?
 
aye, a whibal card when i remember or a piece of white card/paper if it's been left at home/studio
 
Well I can only think film and have a grey card but never use it, as for many shots Kodak grey is all around e.g. darker grass and shrubs, deep blue sky, pavement, grey walls, sun tanned hand and so on. So if for example I'm photographing blossom against a blue sky background I know the shot will be ok, but if it was bright white sky background, I would point the camera to a green shrub or grass, lock the exposure and then take the shot.
 
I use my own palm as a substitute grey card for judging exposure. My palm ay +1.3 is equivalent to a grey card at +0.

As for white balance, since I shoot raw I'm not at all fussed about accuracy at the time of shooting. It's easy to correct with a click or two in Lightroom. In any event, I'd prefer to set a balance that looks good, rather than one which is technically accurate. I like my grey days to look a little blue. I like my tungsten lit room to have a warm glow. Ditto my "golden hour" shots. Tuning out all colour casts by setting WB accurately is not how I roll. I don't recall ever receiving a comment that my images have a strange cast to them.
 
I set exposure using something mid grey toned and by checking the histogram on the lcd

I use RAW so wb isn't really an issue
 
I use a grey card for exposure and a white card for white balance.....sometimes.
 
I bought a Whibal a long time ago..but usually forget its in the bottom of me bag..:bonk:..as i shoot raw anyway..i sort it out in photoshop..;)
 
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