Obtaining White Balance in Photoshop

Obtaining White Balance in Photoshop

1. Open photograph in PS.
2. Make a new empty layer and fill with mid grey (Shift + Backspace).
3. Set Blend to Difference.
4. Make a new layer and set to Threshold.
5. Move the histogram slider to the left. Image now becomes all white. Drag the slider to the right until patches of black show. (approx. 20%).
6. Open the eyedropper (“I”) and zoom to a dark area by holding Z
7. Shift click on the dark area to place a marker.
8. Ctr O to fit screen. Hide all layers and select the bottom layer.
9. Add a curves adjustment layer. Choose the grey dropper and click on the marked spot.
10. This will set the mid grey for the picture.
11. Remove the marker. (V)

NOTES:

• ** You might also wish to adjust the white and black points for a total colour balance.
• Make another Threshold layer.
• Move the slider to the right for white and to the left for black,
• Use the eyedropper tool to place a marker (Shift + eyedropper) for both white and black.
• Re-open the curves layer and with the “black” eyedropper (from curves)
• click on the black point.
• With the “white” eyedropper, click on the white point.

This protocol will set the correct colour balance.
You may not want to use all three (Black/White/grey) points.
Feel free to experiment.

(Ctr+Shift A to return to camera raw or return to Lightroom)

Anthony Scott-Morley