We are no strangers to the concept of color temperature, but what role does color temperature play in photographic creation? Many photography enthusiasts are still unclear about what kind of impact it will have on imaging. Then we are here to have a brief exchange with you, using plain and easy-to-understand language as much as possible to explain it clearly to everyone.
In fact, the relationship and application between color temperature and white balance have been clearly explained in the photography tutorial published by FUN Photography. I believe many partners will encounter similar problems. When we use professional cameras to shoot and create, we often find that the photos have a color cast, and the overall tone shifts towards a certain color. The reason for this phenomenon is due to the wrong white balance setting of the camera.
How to set the white balance of and to set it correctly? Here we need to first understand the concept of color temperature. Color temperature is the color temperature in the environment, which is the color temperature of the shooting environment we are in. In the shooting environment we are in, the temperature of the color temperature will also change with changes in the environment and time. For example, on a sunny day, the color temperature is warmer and lower in the morning and evening, and the color temperature is cooler and bluer at noon, and the color temperature at this time will also be relatively high.
Then this is a process in which we continuously heat a black metal. As the heat is different, different light effects will be emitted. As the temperature continues to increase, the pure black object will slowly change from black to red, then to yellow, yellow-white, white, and blue-white. A gradual process.
For another example, we can see many engineers who install natural gas. When they help us adjust the gas stove, they also use this method to judge the temperature of the gas stove. When adjusting the fire at the beginning, the flame is red. This proves that the current temperature is lower, so that when we cook, it will heat slowly, and it can also be judged that the gas is not completely burned; when we constantly adjust the pressure of the gas stove, you will find that the red flame will slowly turn into a pure blue flame, then the temperature of the flame will be higher at this time, and the gas can be burned more completely.
Regarding color temperature, the coldness and warmth of color temperature are the same as the color temperature K value. We can refer to it from the following table and try to use it:
At this point, we must not mention the white balance function in the camera. The white balance parameters in the camera happen to be reversed. Why is this? In fact, the reason is very simple. The purpose of the white balance function is to allow the camera to determine whether the current ambient color temperature is colder or warmer from the obtained value after metering the light and detecting the color temperature in the environment. Is it a color cast or not? If it is found that the color temperature in the environment is relatively warm, the automatic white balance function will actively increase the K value of the color temperature during photo imaging to ensure that the photos taken have a normal 18 gray brightness and "ambient white" effect. The purpose is to ensure that photos with better restoration are achieved in the current environment.
This is why sometimes the photos we take will have a color cast. There are two problems causing the color cast. One is that we artificially set an incorrect white balance. For example, we shoot creations on cloudy days, and then some partners set the white balance to sunny days, but in sunny environments The ambient color temperature is around 5200K, and the color temperature on a cloudy day is around 6000. The color temperature on a cloudy day will be cooler and bluer. As a result, we tell the camera that the current color temperature is sunny, which means we tell the camera that the current color temperature is 5200K. In this way, in order to restore the current white color, the camera's white balance function will actively move towards the colder direction. As a result, we will find that the photos taken on a cloudy day are cooler and bluer. This results in a color cast.
However, there are many experienced photographers. It is precisely because of this that they artificially interfere with the white balance function, and even set a custom K value to take color cast photos, thereby achieving more creative shooting effects.
Therefore, the relationship between color temperature and white balance is inseparable. It will have an intuitive impact on the atmosphere of the photo, the visual feeling of the audience, and the imaging effect of the photo. Therefore, when we are creating photography, if you don’t know how to set the white balance or color temperature K value, then use automatic white balance. In this way, we can use software to adjust and change the warm and cold tones of the photo at will when retouching and coloring it later.
However, if you want to take more personalized and creative photo effects, it is still recommended to continue to try and experience it in a permitted environment. For example, in different light environments, we use different white balance or color temperature K values to shoot the same picture, so that we can observe the changes in the color and warm and cold tones of the photo. In order to accumulate more application experience.
