Nikon D3X - Optimal White Balance Setting

D3X Technical Guide
16 17
Using a cubic gray chart in measuring white balance Selecting a white balance preset menu by locating
a flat gray chart near the subject
Situations in which a cubic gray chart (white balance target)
is used
➀
When measuring white balance under incandescent light
➁
Under the mixed lighting of flash and incandescent light
➂
When flash light is a priority
Lighting settings: A large
flash on the right as a main
illumination; an incandescent
light above the subject’s head;
external light from windows
Situation
➀
Situation
➁
Situation
➂
Measured around the subject’s face
(strongly affected by incandescent light)
Measured with front objects (near the
large main flash)
Color temperature setting is effective when images are taken in JPEG format
When used with White Balance Fine Tuning, a finer setting with increments of 5 mired
is made possible.
: Available in Color Temperature setting (Kelvin)
: Available in White Balance Fine Tuning (Kelvin)
Color temperature is not necessarily
uniform at a shooting site. Locate
a flat gray chart near the subject
to be expressed with faithful color
re product ion. Th e ch ar t shou ld
be set so that it has an inclination
identical to that of the subject’s light-
receiving angle.
2500 3030 3850 5260 8330
2530 3080 3920 5410 8700
2560 3130 4000 5560 9090
2600 3170 4080 5710 9520
2630 3230 4170 5880 10000
2670 3280 4260 6060
2700 3330 4350 6250
2740 3390 4440 6450
2780 3450 4550 6670
2820 3510 4650 6900
2860 3570 4760 7140
2900 3640 4880 7410
2940 3700 5000 7690
2990 3770 5130 8000
Optimal white balance setting
➀
➁
➂
How to make a white balance target
1) Make two loops of about 10cm diameter with A4-size hard paper on which
gray pigment with 18% reflectivity is printed (e.g. Silver/silk gray card)
* Use of approximate colors or conventional 18% reflector is not recommended.
2) Set loops as shown and locate them at the point where color should
be appropriately reproduced.