What is the use of the gray card in photography?
What is the use of the gray card in photography?
A gray card is a middle gray reference, typically used together with a reflective light meter, as a way to produce consistent image exposure and/or color in video production, film and photography.
Why is a grey card 18 percent?
18% grey comes from the world of print,m and is based on reflection. An 18% grey card reflects back 18% of the light that hits it. And it is actually the geometric mean between white paper (95% reflective) and black ink (3.5% reflective).
Why do you use a GREY card to set white balance?
A grey card is designed to help photographers to adjust their exposure and white balance settings consistently by providing a reference point. This reference point will set a white balance, or color balance, point for a particular image set and all images captured thereafter.
How do you know white balance is correct?
If you set your white balance to the color temperature of the scene you’re photographing, it should look great! If you’re photographing light bulbs that have a color temperature of 3000 K and you set your camera’s white balance to 3000 K, the light should look white!
What is a white balance card and how does it work?
A white balance card (or gray card) helps you adjust the white balance and exposure settings of images by providing a reference point. The reference point prompts your camera to compensate for any white light on an image.
Is the 18% Grey Card the perfect WB solution?
Unfortunately, while it seems like a perfect WB solution, being small, plastic, and including a lanyard, the 18% gray card has a slight blue tone. I compared it to my other gray references and it’s just a bit too far on the cool side. I’m talking by 550 degrees off.
How does an 18% gray card help your photography?
Here’s a rundown on how an 18% gray card helps. Camera meters are set to expose for 18% gray, this is a standard in photography. However, if you point a camera at a mostly white subject, say, snow, a white wedding dress or a giant pile of sugar, the camera meter will underexpose the image because it’s trying to make the image gray.
How do you correct white balance and exposure on the spot?
You can use your grey card to correct both white balance and exposure on the spot. In the case of white balance, the most common thing to do is to use the grey card during the photo shoot. You’ll get a reference image and can correct your colors during post-processing.
