DIY White Balance cards????

[suncat20]

I'm having a lot of fun with my HV20. Its neat how you can tweak things for different looks. I like messing with white balance and getting different looks. Does anyone know some stuff I can use to make my own WB cards. The ones that they sell on some websites are so expensive!!!!!! I'm talking about the ones that come as a set that can create several different tones. There has got toe be a way to make these yourself.

[nzo]

I was curious about this too. Try a Google search (http://www.google.com/search?q=diy+grey+cards&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-41,GGGL:en) for diy grey cards.

The diy versions I've come across fall into what are called 18% grey cards, using various values of RGB grey tones, depending on whose info you read.

You're right, they are ridiculously expensive, for a bit of cardboard.

[Erik Bien]

There are directions for DIY warm and minus green cards in this very old thread (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=4840) on another forum (be sure to print on matte photo paper at highest quality).

[suncat20]

What do you guys think of this idea. Bring up different shades of the required colors on say maybe a computer screen. Then snap a digital photo of it. Tweak the colors if needed and make a print with whatever size you think will do. A step further than this would be lamination to protect it. Make different shades of the orange and blues and then swatch them together on a keyring. Would this be a waste of time??

[nzo]

If you have a prog such as Photoshop or one of the freebie equivalents, you can do it all in the prog and then print out, bypassing the digi cam.

[suncat20]

nzo, that idea is definitely superior to mine. The reason my idea came out like it did is because I don't have that wonderful program or a decent printer. That would be the way to do it though.:hv20-smilie03:

[w.pasman]

If I really need to, I use the back of my white business card (but make sure the thing is not even close to overexposed). But you need post color correction anyway so most of the time I just use the 'sunny' preset during the shoot.

[mattias]

get a rosco swatchbook and you can filter the balance from your regular whitecard endlessly.

/matt

[lordtangent]

Good tip mattias! Using the filter swatches would be a lot less hit-or-miss than any other DIY solution.

The swatch books are free at any lighting supply place.

something like 1/4 "CTB" would make a nice "warm card" for getting a warmer than normal white balance.

[nzo]

suncat20: for a Photoshop equivalent freebie check out The Gimp (http://www.gimp.org/windows/)

For a rundown of what you can do with it see HERE (http://www.connectedphotographer.com/issuesprint/issue200408/00001353.html)

[lordtangent]

And if you can't stand the goofy way Gimp menus are are layed out, look for Photogimp, which makes the menus like photoshop.

[bytehoven]

Great tip Matt.

:D

[cjcook]

What do think about this white balance lens cap http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150224527745&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005
? I Just ordered one. I figure I can't go wrong for the price. Still would like to know if anyone has ever used anything like this.

[Vennegoor]

I bought one too. I am using a grey card now, just want to compare what is easier to use, and what is giving the best result. Like you said, can't go wrong for that price.

[Numbox]

And if you can't stand the goofy way Gimp menus are are layed out, look for Photogimp, which makes the menus like photoshop.

Ok, looking at the screenshots, it still doesnt have a background and i hate working in a program and having to look at my desktop too. Know of a way to make Gimp use a full background like any other normal program? :hv20-smilie102:

[tcindie]

I would've made the same suggestion as mattias.. The Rosco swatch book is really the way to go. If you don't have a lighting supply house nearby (which most people probably don't) you can get the swatch book for free from Rosco.

This is the request form (http://www.rosco.com/us/filters/sbrequest.asp?type=cinegel) to have them mail out a cinegel swatchbook to you.. It's the one I've got, and really the most useful for video, as the others they have are lighting gels that are more like the party colors you see DJs use and such. Those wouldn't give you good effects at all. The best is generally subtle hue shifts.

EDIT: I just looked at the note on that request page... They say there is a delay of up to 3 months due to high demand. But once you fill in your info you can click "now" to see a list of authorized retailers who you can get a swatch book from immediately.

EDIT 2: Here's a good video (http://www.scottspears.net/whitebalancepage.htm) about white balance, and for a lot of other good tips, from the same site, go here (http://www.scottspears.net/filmmakpg3.html).

[stevewitt]

How big are the swatches in this swatch book? This sounds like a great idea.

[lordtangent]

The swatches are usually pretty small. Maybe like 2"x4-5" depending on the brand. Too small to be useful as actual gels on a light. (Unless it's a very small light!)

Even though the swatches are small what you can do is hold them up over the lens of the cam and "shoot though" them for this white ballance trick.