Neutral Grey Card

When taking digital photographs, a gray card can be an important accessory in the creation of the white balance and an accurate representation of color. A digital camera records the color of light very accurately. The eye and brain are highly adaptable to changes, not digital, it records what is there. Something can appear white to us, but if it has a dominant color, which appear on the digital file.

Using a gray card, the camera can be set to a true white balance, resulting in a more accurate record of all colors. This is particularly important when the light is blended from different sources. There may be a mixture of light and tungsten and even a few neon thrown in.

A gray card is a piece of cardboard that is gray. These days, they are often made of a material more durable than the card, but they are a neutral gray. The old photographic gray cards are not suitable because they are not neutral enough. They were used to assess the exposure rather than to judge a white balance and color neutrality.

photographic gray cards have a reflective surface of 18%. digital registration cards usually have a reflective surface of 18% or 25%. It does not matter what matters is their accuracy, they should be neutral gray.

The gray card is placed in the image so that the light falling on the subject also falls on the logbook. Reading the white balance is derived from the map. The photograph must be taken in RAW and not as a JPEG in camera.

Shorts with a correct copy of the bench with flash and tungsten lighting, then the best way to photograph a painting is outside. Choose a bright day with a diffused light, and be protected from the sun. The only way to make a precision white balance is to use a gray card.

Some samples of the gray card have a real white, 18% gray and black. Adjusting the image of these tones give an accurate interpretation of colors possible. Without registration papers there is no chance to get the colors of paintings like the original.

When the lighting conditions are fully controllable, as in a studio, a gray card is still a gadget essential. The exposure and color balance must be consistent in each image. Based on the reading, automatic instrument conditions means that when the subject is changed, the values will change. With a gray card, the digital photographer can take a specific reading from a single target point and the resulting parameters for white balance will be good for all images that lighting, even when the object is changed .

Two objects can watch the same color in a single type of light, but may look different colors in different light sources. For example, a matching scarf and handbag can be presented in different colors in a second type of light. This is due to the amount of ultraviolet light objects absorb and reflect. Using the gray card can help minimize the problems here.

The Cube takes the gray card to a more specific level.
The six faces of the cube are black, white and gray, but it also has other functions.

A cube is particularly useful in a studio environment.

aec The chrome ball above shall be made specular highlights is extremely obvious that do not contain the information.

aec The white face is the brightest highlight retaining the information.

aec The face is a gray 18% gray for the creation of neutrality halftone and color temperature.

aec The dark side of the shadow, keeping some details in the shadows.

aec The black hole, called the trap of Black, is an absolute black and is used as a reference point for the black face.

More on the cube and registration papers, including sources, is ---->