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Color temperature and adjustment of white balance
When carbon is burnt, it develops various colors of light
depending on the temperature. Natural light can be
specified by color temperature referring to the color
developed when carbon is burnt.
The light of 3 200K (K=Kelvin, −273C equals to abso-
lute zero temperature 0K) represents the same value
(color) as what develops when carbon is burnt at
3 200K (2 927C). The relationship between the color
temperature of the light source and weather condition is
indicated in the right figure. Let’s study the difference
of shooting an indoor object from shooting one out-
doors. Studios are usually lighted with incandescent
lamps and the color temperature of a white object in a
studio is around 3 000K. The color temperature of a
white object outdoors is around 6 500 K. The former
may look a little yellowish while the latter appears
somewhat bluish when they are shot by a camera.
However, the human eye does not recognize color dif-
ferences among these objects even under different
ambient lighting conditions, because of their adaptabili-
ty to light. The video camera reproduces color differ-
ences with high fidelity and the color of an object some-
what different from what appears to the human eye.
Blue sky
Cloudy
AWC
Rainy
Partly cloudy
Fluorescent lamp
Fine
Halogen lamp
Tungsten lamp
Candle
ATW
Therefore, there is a need to adjust the white balance in
order to correct differences between color tempera-
tures.
NOTE: Color temperature outdoors may vary depend-
ing on weather conditions.
ADJUSTMENT