To set a custom white balance for infrared photography, point the camera at green foliage in sunlight, use the custom white balance function, and shoot in raw. The default look is a strong red cast, and a custom setting removes most of it. Fine color work then happens in editing.
Why Infrared Needs a Custom Setting
Cameras that are converted for infrared, or fitted with an infrared filter, record light that the normal color processing does not expect. Auto white balance often gives a heavy red or magenta image. A custom white balance gives you a neutral baseline, so the colors can be shifted toward the blue-and-white look many people want.
Step-by-Step Setup
- Switch to a mode where you control white balance, such as manual or aperture priority, and set the file format to raw.
- Find a large area of sunlit green grass or leaves. Foliage reflects infrared strongly, which makes it a useful reference.
- Fill the frame with the foliage. Focus is not important for this step, so you may switch to manual focus or defocus slightly.
- Open the white balance menu and choose the custom or preset option. Select the frame you just shot, if the camera asks for a reference image.
- Apply the setting and take a test shot. The image should look much more neutral, often with pale or yellowish foliage.
- If your camera lets you set a very wide color range, you can also try a gray card or a white sheet in the same light for comparison.
Refine in Editing
- Open the raw file and set the white balance with the dropper tool on foliage. Some raw editors allow extreme values, so check the range of the slider.
- Try a channel swap, which exchanges red and blue to turn orange sky into blue.
- Adjust hue and saturation to taste, and convert to black and white if color does not suit the scene.
Tips for Better Results
| Situation | Suggestion |
|---|---|
| Cloudy sky | Reset white balance if conditions change a lot |
| Focus looks off | Infrared focuses differently, so use live view and test |
| Color looks muddy | Pick brighter, sunlit foliage as the reference |
| Different filter strength | Expect different colors and re-do the setup |
FAQ
Can I fix white balance later if I shoot raw?
Yes. Raw files hold the most data, so a custom setting is mostly a way to see better colors and get a helpful baseline.
Why not use auto white balance?
Auto modes expect visible light. With infrared, they tend to give inconsistent results from shot to shot.
The Short Version
Shoot raw, set a custom white balance on sunlit foliage, and fine-tune the result in editing with white balance and channel swaps. Repeat the setup when light or filters change.
