18% gray card vs white card

[tecboy]

Is there a difference for 18% gray card and white card for custom white balance? I thought 18% gray card is more accurate.

 

[Ysarex]

What's accurate is anything that's spectrally neutral -- gray or white. Can't beat a piece of white Styrofoam.

Joe

 

[tecboy]

Hmmm...I wonder where I have read or learned somewhere?

 

[unpopular]

I'd guess so also. It's what the meter is calibrated for and I'd guess it would be easier to quality control something that reflects a uniform grey than a uniform "white"

 

[unpopular]

Is styrophome inherently neutral, I mean, from a chemistry standpoint?

 

[tecboy]

So, what about WhiBal? They claim to be the most accurate white balance.

 

[Ysarex]

So, what about WhiBal? They claim to be the most accurate white balance.

They're very good -- just as good in fact as a Styrofoam coffee cup, but no better. If you have to look like you know what you're doing then spend the money on WhiBal. If you have to look like you know what your doing and look professional then spend more money on a ColorChecker Passport. But if all you want to do is get accurate white balance grab a take-out container at the gas station.

Joe

 

[Ysarex]

Is styrophome inherently neutral, I mean, from a chemistry standpoint?

Here's an oldie from the TPF archives -- note post #17 and graph from Helen:
WhiBal and other WB reference tools for setting WB AND exposure Page 2 Photography Forum

Joe

 

[unpopular]

Helen was awesome. Too bad she doesn't come around much anymore.

 

[Ysarex]

Helen was awesome. Too bad she doesn't come around much anymore.

Yep, I sure miss Helen. Nobody could settle a dispute like Helen and I used to love to sit back a watch a noob show up and try and disagree with her.

Joe

 

[tecboy]

I had not used a custom white balance for a long time, because I feel like I don't need to until recently when I photograph art paintings at the nonprofit school to get accurate color. I have tried WhiBal and other brands. They are all the same. I still don't understand what is so good about WhiBal that this forum praising about.

 

[tecboy]

Ok, I found this in my 70D manual.

 

[spacediver]

the 18% recommendation may be a precaution against saturation of the sensor.

 

[Patrice]

I might be mistaken but I thought a WB card is for accurate white balance setting while the 18% grey card is for accurate metering.

 

[Braineack]

its hard to read color in white.