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How to Fix the Color Balance With Gray Cards

One of the most significant improvements digital photography has over film photography is the ability to easily adjust the color correction of a picture. In the camera controls, you can set a custom white balance by taking a picture of a white card. Another option is to adjust the color balance of images in post production. When using this option, take a custom setting picture using a gray card.

Things You'll Need

Photographic gray card

Instructions

- 1
  Set up your shoot by hanging your backdrop, arranging your studio lights and positioning your subject or model in the picture.
- 2
  Have the model hold a gray card or position the gray card into the scene and take a test picture where the gray card occupies two thirds of the picture. Do not delete this picture.
- 3
  Proceed with your shoot and when finished download the images to your computer. Place the actual gray card on your desk for reference. Open the first picture you shot containing the gray card. Adjust the color controls in the photo editing program so the gray card in the picture matches the gray card on your desk. Write down the color values and adjust the model's images to match these color values.

Photography