[interested_observer]

If you need some quick white balancing for whatever reason, and don’t have a white balance card or Expodisc handy, you can try using a standard coffee cup lid.

• Coffee Lids for White Balancing in a Pinch

[luftfluss]

Huh, never thought about that.

I guess toilet paper would work, too.... provided its unused.

[tromboads]

but... I.. I shoot raw :P

[kharry2012]

I will even white balance off of my son's (barely) white t shirt sometimes, and it works surprisingly well.☺

[eddie1960]

but... I.. I shoot raw :P

if your scene lacks a white reference though the ability to correct the WB is curtailed. if you are in a relatively controlled environment this is a handy trick that saves at least one step of PP

[paulh]

I will even white balance off of my son's (barely) white t shirt sometimes, and it works surprisingly well.☺

I've done this as well - I've even used my hand a few times in emergency situations.

[eddie1960]

Whe I end upo shooting in crappy LED lighting scenarios at clubs I pray someone is wearing white so I can correct the wacky lighting that sometimes is missing entire colour channels (the lighting guys seem to love the purple (no green channel at all )- If you have a white reference it's surprising what can be corrected then toned

[johnmflores]

Something white, grey, or black in the frame like a coffee lid, shirt, or laptop often helps to get the white balance into the ballpark, but sometimes you end up trying to white balance off of something that's a cool grey or a warm white so you've got to keep that in mind and adjust accordingly.

I keep a credit-card sized 18% grey card in my wallet. I'll use it along with my camera's custom white balance features to set white balance in the field. I also take a photo of it so I can reference it later.


18% Grey Wallet Card - Essential by john m flores, on Flickr

[eddie1960]

I had (until it disappeared with the bag full of gear stolen) 3 cards like that john, 1 18% 1 Black 1 White
All useful. Got them free as samples from a lino company (someone posted about it on here eons ago I think and I emailed off for some)

[CMS Houston]

but... I.. I shoot raw :P

I also shoot RAW, but I am also a believer in getting it right in camera. My perspective is why fuss around in ACR/LR with white balance if I don't need have to.

I have had a DIY solution that I recently replaced with an ExpoDisc. Yes, it is a more expensive option than a coffee filter, but a worthwhile investment to me.

[promacjoe]

I keep a clean white cloth painters towel in my kit. It has multiple uses. I can use it to set the white balance, not perfect but it gets it close. When using a tripod I can fold it, and lay it over the cameras eyepiece instead of using the little plastic cover that i don't like and always gets lost. Also if by the odd instance I need to clean something on my camera, I can lay it on the ground to help keep my camera and lens clean. It also helps keep lenses from rolling off a table, if I'm working on a picnic table. I can fold over one edge to use as a stop. I also have a large white balance cap that I sometimes keep in my kit. But my bag is normally full, and it is one thing that I do not consider absolutely necessary, Because I can Normally get the white balance off of something else.

[tromboads]

if your scene lacks a white reference though the ability to correct the WB is curtailed. if you are in a relatively controlled environment this is a handy trick that saves at least one step of PP

I also shoot RAW, but I am also a believer in getting it right in camera. My perspective is why fuss around in ACR/LR with white balance if I don't need have to.

I have had a DIY solution that I recently replaced with an ExpoDisc. Yes, it is a more expensive option than a coffee filter, but a worthwhile investment to me.

Yes yes I was being said cheeky

But still arguing, you make it sound like there is only one correct white balance?

[eddie1960]

Yes yes I was being said cheeky

But still arguing, you make it sound like there is only one correct white balance?

ha hardly as someone who has shot tons and tons of live music there is far from any one correct balance, but it's good to start with a solid reference point

[phoenixvision]

thank god for lightroom and post white balance corrections! White balance for me is the final piece of the adjustment puzzle after, aperature, speed, iso and flash setting....

[tromboads]

ha hardly as someone who has shot tons and tons of live music there is far from any one correct balance, but it's good to start with a solid reference point

Indeed