Definition
In photography, Color Balance is a setting often found in digital cameras and photo editing software; and a design specification for photographic film. Color Balance is usually stated in units called kelvins which refers to the color temperature of the light falling upon the scene. Choosing the correct color balance for a scene helps ensure that colors are recorded accurately at the taking stage.
More Detail
The color we see as ‘white’ isn’t white at all. It is a mixture of many different colors which our brains perceive as white. Our brains constantly assess a scene and can quickly change the color that we see as white. This perception is affected by the viewing conditions (such as time of day, the type of artificial lighting used and reflections from nearby objects).
As cameras and film do not necessarily record colors in the same way that we perceive them, it’s important to ensure that the correct color balance for a scene is selected. Failure to choose accurately may result in photographs appearing to have a color cast; appearing unnatural in appearance.
Further Reading
- Degrees Kelvin (Photography Insider Info Glossary)
- The Optical Illusion that Every Photographer Must See An optical illusion that shows how colors are affected by their surroundings. It illustrates why photographers must be careful about color calibration, color balance and be aware of their shooting environment.
- The Kelvin Temperature Scale (Wikipedia Article)