White Balance Target For Nikon & Canon DSLR

credit: eccentric-light.com

How to use a White Balance Target.

No matter what make or model or DSLR you are using you will need to take a picture of your white balance target at some point. We will discuss below how to set custom white balance on a Canon or Nikon DSLR but there are some rules that apply to all cameras.

First, set up your target in the exact lighting that you are going to be shooting in. This means that you will be calibrating your camera to the exact lighting temperature that is going to be falling on your subject. When taking the sample photograph, make sure that the target fills the frame as much as possible and be extra sure that your shadow does not cover any part of the target. When capturing the sample image it is best to get your exposure correct there and then, as this will also affect how your camera records the white balance. The Seamless White Balance Target consists of grey, white and black segments. To get the best results when setting a custom white balance on your camera, fill your frame with the neutral grey part.

How to set a custom white balance on a Canon DSLR.

The principle is basically the same no matter what type of DSLR camera you are using, it is only the method that changes. On a Canon DSLR capture an image of your White Balance Target as described above and press the play button so you can review the image. Next, press the menu button and scroll through the settings until you find the “Custom WB” tab. Select it and you will see your grey card image. Then simply press “set” and the camera will automatically make the changes to your custom white balance settings. Then all you have to do is select the custom white balance setting from the white balance menu and you’re all set to go.

How to set a custom white balance on a Nikon DSLR.

On a Nikon DSLR camera, hold down the “WB” button until you see the letters “PRE” flash on your LCD screen on the top of your camera. Then take a picture of the grey card using the guidelines above. The LCD panel will then flash the word “good” to let you know that the custom white balance has worked. Similar to the Canon camera, simply select the custom white balance from the white balance menu and start shooting.