Balance de blancos

What is white balance?

White balance is essential to ensure that the colors in our recordings are accurate. We correct the color temperature to avoid images looking too cool (with predominantly blues and greens) or too warm (with yellows and whites). In addition, it is important to consider the effect of tinting, which can be influenced by both the type of light and the characteristics of the camera used. For example, neon lights tend to generate a magenta tint, while fluorescent lights tend towards green.

How to achieve white balance?

We can correct white balance using three main methods: primary wheels, curves and auto white balance.

Using the primary wheels

In this method, we start by working with the primary wheels within an editing tool. The goal is to adjust the colors so that the whites of the image are presented in a parallel and uniform line on the 'parete', a type of scope that helps us visualize the color balance. For example, if blues predominate in the images, we can counterbalance with warm yellow tones until the desired neutrality is achieved.

Adjustment using curves

To use the curves method, we first unlock control of the separate color channels: red, green and blue. When adjusting these curves, we seek to align them all around a reference level, such as 1023, to ensure a balanced image. This approach allows specific control over each color, essential for correcting specific color deviations in an image.

Auto White Balance in DaVinci Resolve

Auto white balance is a feature that simplifies the correction process. You need to identify an area in the image that should be white and select that portion. The program will automatically adjust the colors until the selected area is correctly represented in the image. This can be particularly useful when you have a clear reference point and want a quick and efficient correction.

How is it applied in practice?

To illustrate how these methods are put into practice, consider moments of adjustment for a video clip. We start with the light node, make preliminary adjustments to exposure and brightness, and then apply white balance corrections. At the end, the tool allows us to clearly see the difference between before and after, showing a noticeable improvement in color rendering and image clarity.

Tip for using auto white balance

It is essential, both during recording and editing, to keep in mind which parts of the scene are white. This will facilitate the process in post-production and improve your results with auto white balance. Continuous practice in different lighting conditions and scenarios will help you to perfect your color correction skills.

Motivation to keep learning

The range and accuracy that correct white balance can bring to your projects is remarkable. Not only does it ensure accurate color rendering, but it also enhances the visual quality of your work. Dare to apply these techniques and see how you can transform the essence of an image or video. Color accuracy is key to telling effective visual stories, so keep practicing and improving!