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100
Reference–Advanced Photography
Keeping Colors True: The White-Balance Menu
What Is “White Balance”?
The color of the light reflected by an object depends on the color of the light source.
The human brain is able to detect and compensate for such changes in color, with
the result that a white object will look white to humans whether viewed in sunlight,
under overcast skies, or indoors under incandescent or fluorescent lighting. To a
camera, however, the “whites” produced by these different sources of light vary in
color, some being slightly blue and others yellow or red. A digital camera can adjust
colors according to lighting so that colors that appear white to the human eye also
appear white when viewed in the final picture. This adjustment is called “white
balance.”
Choosing a White Balance Setting
In auto mode, white balance can be chosen from the
white-balance menu (in other modes, white balance is
adjusted automatically according to the type of scene).
The following options are available:
SELECT
SET
S
1
OFF
MENU
QUAL
SIZE
A
WHITE BALANCE
Auto
White Bal PresetWhite Bal Preset
FineFine
IncandescentIncandescent
FluorescentFluorescent
CloudyCloudy
SpeedlightSpeedlight
A
Auto
Option
White balance automatically adjusted to suit lighting conditions. Best
choice in most circumstances.
Description
White Bal Preset
Fine
White object used as reference to set white balance under unusual
lighting conditions.
White balance adjusted for direct sunlight.
Incandescent
Fluorescent
Use when taking photos indoors under incandescent light.
Use when taking photos indoors under fluorescent light.
Cloudy
Speedlight
Use for photos taken outdoors under overcast skies.
White balance adjusted to match light produced by flash.
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