Partial white balance correction?

[nickzou]

So I used my phone's flash as a back light since I only brought one flash home with me for the holidays but the colour temperature is clearly different between my phone and my Vivitar. Is there a "proper" way of fixing white balance in only a portion of a photo?

 

[analog.universe]

Fixing mixed temperatures in post is especially tough, since both colors will be mixed in varying amounts throughout the photo. If there is enough difference, you may be able to create a layer mask by hue... still quite a challenge though, depends on the photo. Ideally you'd want to gel one of your flashes before you take the shot to get them to match. Care to post the photo?

 

[Robin Usagani]

export several different JPEGS with different WB and set it on different layers on PS. How do you merge it? Up to you. Architectural photographers do this a lot combined with HDR.

 

[Garbz]

You don't need to export multiple RAW files, just learn how the colour adjustment tools in photoshop work and then mask them accordingly. Oh and ensure that the file you opened is 16bit.

There's no proper way to do this kind of adjustment since it really is a case of fudging it in post. White balance is a global concept that applies to an entire image. Battling various different white balances is something photographers have done for years using filters and gels on their flash.

On that note too, how far is the white balance off? Can an appropriate coloured gel on a flash adjust the white balance to compensate? After all this is what gels like CTO are for (convert flash to lightbulb), and they come with varying intensities.

 

[EchoingWhisper]

Use the LAB channels and fine tune B channel to your taste.

 

[EchoingWhisper]

Do you have any examples?

 

[Joey_Ricard]

From Garbz=
"You don't need to export multiple RAW files, just learn how the colour adjustment tools in photoshop work and then mask them accordingly."

My thoughts exactly Garbz
I know not everyone has Photoshop or an editing program that has adjustment layers and in many cases, the OPer''s don't mention the software they use , but I am always surprised at how adjustment layers get passed by as an answer. As Garbz mentions, especially in the case of this OP and selectively changing (WB), (tempature or cast) of a portion of the image, this is the easiest way to correct (adjust).

Sure I shoot raw especially for artificial/low lighting situations and can usually adjust temp in ACR as a whole then correct as needed locally.

 

[Robin Usagani]

I wish I can find that one architectural photographer who takes bracketed shots with different WB.

For example inside the room with shade temp
The window where you can see outside with daylight temp.
The hallway with tungsten temp.

Then he combines all of them like HDR. The color is just awesome. Everything is correct exposure and color. He uses T/S lens. I wish I saved the link.

 

[EchoingWhisper]

I wish I can find that one architectural photographer who takes bracketed shots with different WB.

For example inside the room with shade temp
The window where you can see outside with daylight temp.
The hallway with tungsten temp.

Then he combines all of them like HDR. The color is just awesome. Everything is correct exposure and color. He uses T/S lens. I wish I saved the link.

If you use the LAB mode and masking, you could achieve even better result.

 

[Helen B]

I wish I can find that one architectural photographer who takes bracketed shots with different WB.

For example inside the room with shade temp
The window where you can see outside with daylight temp.
The hallway with tungsten temp.

Then he combines all of them like HDR. The color is just awesome. Everything is correct exposure and color. He uses T/S lens. I wish I saved the link.

Oloneo PhotoEngine (link) does that kind of work very well indeed, and it is relatively cheap. It's a great piece of software for HDR/multiexposure, and I've switched to it from Photomatix. To get back to the OP's point, I usually shoot with a partial correction gel over my flash indoors, then white balance to the flash in post. This often helps with subject/background separation, and it gives something of the atmosphere of the ambient lighting. It's all personal taste, of course - there are times when you want uniform white balance and there are times when you don't. Anyone familiar with Chris Doyle's cinematography for Wong Kar-wai will have seen very effective mixed lighting, often copied now.

 

[Buckster]

I wish I can find that one architectural photographer who takes bracketed shots with different WB.

For example inside the room with shade temp
The window where you can see outside with daylight temp.
The hallway with tungsten temp.

Then he combines all of them like HDR. The color is just awesome. Everything is correct exposure and color. He uses T/S lens. I wish I saved the link.

Oloneo PhotoEngine (link) does that kind of work very well indeed, and it is relatively cheap. It's a great piece of software for HDR/multiexposure, and I've switched to it from Photomatix. To get back to the OP's point, I usually shoot with a partial correction gel over my flash indoors, then white balance to the flash in post. This often helps with subject/background separation, and it gives something of the atmosphere of the ambient lighting. It's all personal taste, of course - there are times when you want uniform white balance and there are times when you don't. Anyone familiar with Chris Doyle's cinematography for Wong Kar-wai will have seen very effective mixed lighting, often copied now.

Excellent recommendation! Thanks so much for posting that Helen!

 

[Robin Usagani]

Wow thanks Helen! Now I know the secret recipe LOL. Now I just need to safe some money so I can buy 17mm T/S lens.

 

[DiskoJoe]

you could adjust just part by adding a second layer, correcting the white balance then cutting out the portion you want.

 

[DiskoJoe]

I wish I can find that one architectural photographer who takes bracketed shots with different WB.

For example inside the room with shade temp
The window where you can see outside with daylight temp.
The hallway with tungsten temp.

Then he combines all of them like HDR. The color is just awesome. Everything is correct exposure and color. He uses T/S lens. I wish I saved the link.

Oloneo PhotoEngine (link) does that kind of work very well indeed, and it is relatively cheap. It's a great piece of software for HDR/multiexposure, and I've switched to it from Photomatix. To get back to the OP's point, I usually shoot with a partial correction gel over my flash indoors, then white balance to the flash in post. This often helps with subject/background separation, and it gives something of the atmosphere of the ambient lighting. It's all personal taste, of course - there are times when you want uniform white balance and there are times when you don't. Anyone familiar with Chris Doyle's cinematography for Wong Kar-wai will have seen very effective mixed lighting, often copied now.

I used the beta version they had a out for a while. It was okay but I didnt like it as much for hdr as I do photomatix. But for an overall editing software packages its pretty decent for the price. Result were on par with what I would get from photoshop.