Help setting WB for studio shots

[GR3Z]

I've bought my self some smartflashes to venture in the realms of studio photography and would like to know the best way to set custom WB, does anyone use the WB bracket feature in there camera ( would it be easier just to shoot raw) or shall I set the camera to 5500k? I've read about 18% grey cards but wouldn't know how to use one.

 

[Garry Edwards]

I don't use Canon so can't tell you how to do it on your camera, but the best option is to set a custom white balance.

Basically this means fiddling around in the menu and taking a photo (not literally) of a bit of white paper, with the flashes firing. What this does is to take account of all the factors that can affect the colour - the colour of the flash obviously, but also decor, furniture and anything else in the room..

The question of raw or jpeg gets asked and answered all the time, but what I personally do is to use jpeg for setup shots and training and to use raw for the images that matter to me. If your camera can do both at the same time, as many can, you can just shoot raw + jpeg.

 

[arad85]

I've read about 18% grey cards but wouldn't know how to use one.

You buy one, take a photo of it in-situ with the flashes firing, you go into the menu, select custom WB, and select the photo you have just taken as the WB point. The card must fill the centre spot metering circle. P99 of your user manual

BTW, it's better to shoot 18% grey as it won't clip. You need something where none of the channels R, G or B clip so you can get the ratios right. Sometimes something very white can clip leading to the wrong ratios being taken.

 

[Garry Edwards]

You buy one, take a photo of it in-situ with the flashes firing, you go into the menu, select custom WB, and select the photo you have just taken as the WB point. The card must fill the centre spot metering circle. P99 of your user manual

BTW, it's better to shoot 18% grey as it won't clip. You need something where none of the channels R, G or B clip so you can get the ratios right. Sometimes something very white can clip leading to the wrong ratios being taken.

That's a good point. Be sure though to get a 'real' 18% (or 12%) grey card. I've seen all sorts of cards in all sorts of colours that are well off