A color cast is a tint that colors the whole picture, such as orange indoor light or a blue shadow. You fix it by finding something that should be neutral, then adjusting the temperature and tint controls until it looks neutral. The steps below work in nearly any editor.
Spot the Cast
Look for white, grey or black items: a shirt, a wall, clouds or paper. If they look warm, cool, green or pink, you have a cast. Compare your photo with a version where the tint has been removed, and you will see how much of the mood comes from it. Remember that some casts are welcome, such as the warm glow of candles, so decide what you actually want.
Common Causes
| Cast | Typical cause | Slider to move |
|---|---|---|
| Orange or yellow | Indoor bulbs | Temperature toward blue |
| Blue | Shade or overcast sky | Temperature toward yellow |
| Green | Fluorescent lights | Tint toward magenta |
| Magenta | Mixed or filtered light | Tint toward green |
Fixing It Step by Step
- Open the white balance tool and try the eyedropper or auto option first.
- If the tool has a dropper, click on a neutral grey or white area. Avoid a bright spot that has lost detail, as it will not give a useful reading.
- Fine tune the temperature slider by small amounts, watching a neutral object rather than the whole scene.
- Adjust the tint slider to remove any green or magenta leftover.
- Check skin tones. They should look natural, not grey or sunburnt.
- Use the selective color or mixer tool for a stubborn color, such as a green spill on a face, and reduce only that hue.
Avoid Casts Next Time
- Set white balance to match the light, such as daylight, shade or tungsten, rather than leaving every shot on auto.
- Shoot in raw if your camera allows it. White balance changes are much more forgiving on a raw file.
- Hold a plain grey or white card in the first frame of a session, then use it as a reference later.
- Avoid mixing window light with room lamps when color accuracy matters.
Work in good conditions when you can. Edit at a normal screen brightness, away from strong colored walls that trick the eye, and take a short break before the final check. Your eyes adapt to a tint quickly, so a rest helps you see it again.
FAQ
Why does my photo look different on another screen?
Screens vary in brightness and color. Checking your edit on a second device helps, and keeping your screen at a medium brightness gives a more reliable view.
Is auto white balance enough?
Often it is close. It can struggle with large areas of one color, like a field or a red wall, so a manual correction is worth a few seconds.
The Short Version
Find a neutral item, correct temperature first and tint second, and check skin tones. Keep a warm or cool mood only when you chose it on purpose.