Cheap DIY White Balance Reference Tool.

[John G]

After a few recent edits where my white balance choices have been seen to be incorrect and I am aware when left to my own devices, I just can't help leaning toward a warm colour rendering. It was a pleasure to see a few examples of how this warm render can be created unknowingly. More importantly a simple tool,
that is very easy to make and cheap to produce will serve as a REFERENCE for a pointer when using a Post Process Software to do WB corrections.
To view this DIY tool and see the effect it can have on WB, visit the main page of www.photographylife.com at present it is the first Title seen when scrolling.   

[Bjørn Rørslett]

PFTE discs are very commonly used  for white-balancing in ultraviolet photography.  The material is cheap and available in various shapes (discs, tape etc.).  I have used these for many years.

[David H. Hartman]

John,

Thanks for posting this!

Dave

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Very interesting. I think this target would be great for close-up and macro. It also may help control the problem of blow out the red channel.

If I can't add something to the scene then a Melita white, 8 to 12 cup coffee filter used over the lens makes a pretty good incident WB meter. The color balance may be a touch warm. This is easily correctable or the warmth may be attractive with many subjects.

Dave

[pluton]

A sheet of white office paper is better than nothing.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I wouldn't bet on that. Such paper is very often treated with optical whiteners that really can throw off colour balance.

Asphalt (bitumen) is fairly neutral grey.

[David H. Hartman]

I hope Melita isn't using optical brigbteners in coffee filters as I don't particularly want to glow in the dark.