White balance tells the camera what color of light you are working in, so whites look neutral. Light is described in kelvin: lower numbers are warm and orange, higher numbers are cool and blue. Use the table for quick settings and the tips for fixing casts.
Presets and Approximate Values
| Light source | Approx. kelvin | Preset to try |
|---|---|---|
| Candle or very warm lamp | 1800 to 2500 | Custom or manual |
| Household bulb | 2700 to 3200 | Tungsten |
| Fluorescent tube | 3800 to 4500 | Fluorescent |
| Midday sun | 5200 to 5600 | Daylight |
| Camera flash | About 5500 | Flash |
| Overcast sky | 6000 to 7000 | Cloudy |
| Open shade | 7000 to 8000 | Shade |
Golden Hour and Blue Hour
Low sun is warm, often near 3500 to 4500 kelvin, and many photographers leave white balance on daylight so the warmth stays. Auto may cool the picture too much and remove the glow. Never look at the sun through a camera, viewfinder or lens when composing these shots.
Fast Fixes
- Shoot raw, if you can, so white balance can be changed later without loss.
- Use a gray card, or a neutral white sheet, and set a custom value from it.
- Try auto first, then compare with the matching preset.
- Choose one setting for a whole set of pictures so colors stay consistent.
- Check skin tones, since they show a color cast quickly.
Mixed Lighting
- Window light plus a household lamp makes two color temperatures in one scene.
- Turn off one source or place a filter over the lamp to match the other.
- If that is not possible, balance for the main subject and accept a small tint in the background.
Editing programs let you move two sliders: temperature, for blue to yellow, and tint, for green to magenta. Small moves go a long way. Compare your edit with a neutral object in the scene, such as a white wall or a gray road, and avoid pushing skin to an unnatural shade.
Printing and screens also change appearance. Setting up a monitor profile, or at least turning off strong color filters at night, helps you judge colors more reliably.
When shooting video, set white balance manually before recording, since automatic shifts mid-clip look distracting. A custom value from a gray card takes only a few seconds and keeps clips consistent across cuts.
Check the camera menu for a quick way to reach this setting, since it is easier to adjust on the fly when it sits on a custom button or shortcut.
FAQ
Should I trust auto white balance?
It works well in daylight but can shift between frames in changing light. Use a fixed setting for series.
Is a warm or cool look a mistake?
No. Color can set mood. Make the choice deliberately.
The Short Version
Match the preset to the light, shoot raw when you can, use a gray card for tricky scenes, and keep one setting across a series. Warm tones in low sun are often worth keeping.