Grey card and Color palette HELPP!

[photographylover13]

Ok so iv have been trying to find out how to get info on the cards and color palettes obviously its a huge part of photography that I apparently missed. So what im trying to find out is what are they for and exactly what do the do and how do you use them...and im trying to find out the same for the color palette? With all the bright colors ..any thing I receive will be appreciated!

 

[The_Traveler]

A color checker and grey card are used as standards to 'correct' the exposure and colors in the image.
The card has known values for each color and tone and one can adjust the image to match.

 

[Scatterbrained]

 

[Scatterbrained]

Here's a shorter clip that just shows how to use the color checker:

 

[hirejn]

Check out xritephoto.com for the ColorChecker (a product name, not a generic term). The CC is used to make color profiles, which automatically correct colors for a given spectrum of light. This works only in Lightroom, and I think OnOne, but not Aperture or any generic software. It also serves as a WB target in post or in camera, with color patches serving as known references and as warming or cooling patches. To use these features, you use the white balance tool in your software to select a neutral patch on the card in an image you took (usually a reference image).

A gray card can work similarly, but only if it's spectrally neutral. Some gray cards are not neutral enough for WB. The new ones from Xrite are. Some people use gray cards for exposure since they're supposed to be 18% gray, or whatever the accepted number is, but this is not a very accurate method in my experience. When using a card for WB in camera, follow the camera's procedures for taking a photo of the card and using it as a reference image for white balance. Exposure must be correct or it could influence the color cast.

 

[Ysarex]

Check out xritephoto.com for the ColorChecker (a product name, not a generic term). The CC is used to make color profiles, which automatically correct colors for a given spectrum of light. This works only in Lightroom, and I think OnOne, but not Aperture or any generic software.

PhotoNinja will likewise build ICC camera profiles using Passport and/or other standard reference targets.

LR isn't generic?

Joe