Manual white balance and gray card?

[Vtec44]

I Google and a did search on here but I'm still confused. I've set manual white balance on my cameras before, typically using a white piece of paper as a reference point but then from what I've read they're not white to the camera's digital sensor. So then comes the gray cards, 18% or 20%. Is it the same concept as setting manual white balance but using either an 18% or 20% gray card instead? Sorry if this has been asked before. I swear did a search but nothing came up.

 

[Josh66]

Yes, do it the same way you have been. Just make sure that the reference shot is properly exposed (just zero the meter out on it if you're using a gray card).

 

[Vtec44]

Okay now I feel dumb. hahahaha

Thanks.

 

[Josh66]

I think what leads to the confusion is that it's called 'white balance', but you don't actually need a 'white' target. What you really need is 'neutral'.

Some gray cards are more neutral than others (I like the WhiBal ones), but really, it probably doesn't even matter most of the time.

A gray card is also more likely to be properly exposed if you just have the model hold it while you take a shot to use the dropper on in PP. A white card *might* get blown out in that situation, making it useless.