White Balance Card VS Grey Card

2 years 9 months ago #721482 by Nikon Shooter
We often see these terms used indiscriminately at times — but they are
not at all the same. Or are they?

White Balance Card
A white balance card will permit to read whites under given light condi-
tions. This garanties whites will be captured correctly but is not sugges-
ting that the readings are making justice to the mood of a shot. Usually
having the same reflective value of white snow at around 80%.

Grey Card
Otherwise known as exposure card, this tool refers to the accepted ave-
rage reflectance
of "everything that can be seen"— like the many objects
and surfaces captured in a land or seescape — averaged at 18%. This is
the reference used with all reflected light meters, may they be handheld
or built-in a camera. Not to be confused with the incident light metering.

CONCLUSION
At this point, a white balance card and a exposure card are what they are
and nothing more — they can't be used interchangeably really. 

Or can they?
YES but only under one condition: the grey card MUST be of an neutral
shade of grey — of course an 18% grey. This would mean that both the
white balance and the exposure readings would be correct — if exposure
compensation values are ignored at this point that is.

I use a visit size card that fits neatly in my wallet… always with me!

Light is free… capturing it is not!
Photo Comments
,
2 years 9 months ago #721486 by TCav
A Gray card can serve as both an exposure card and a White Balance card, but if you really want to have an accurate white balance, use a sheet of your favorite photo paper instead. Not all photo paper is the same color, so using the paper you'd print onto will provide the white balance you'll need to accurately reproduce all other colors.

That is, unless your printer has a white ink cartridge.


,
2 years 9 months ago #721487 by Nikon Shooter
A NEUTRAL 18% grey card, yes… so cheap and practical
in wallet size.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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