Editing white balance in Lightroom

[TribbleZA]

It has been a while since I shot with my lights. Seems I did not have my whitebalance set correctly. As a result, my white backdrop isn't white. How can I change it in Lightroom without messing up the actual person's colours ? I either get them a pinky colour or greyish. I shot both Jpeg and raw. But not having luck with either.

I usually shoot outside in natural light. But the spec was to have it in a studio with white backdrop.
This pic is unedited - as it came off the camera. I should give up photography!

 

[bwana]

Use the raw file and just set the WB on the background.

Are you sure your monitor is properly calibrated?

For future reference the best way to get a pure white background is to blow it out with a separate light. Usually it's not necessary if all they're going to do it deep etch it - in fact you could do that.

 

[garyc]

Is this the effect you are looking for, or are the colours off?

 

[saor]

Increasing light in one area will also increase dark in another.

 

[TribbleZA]

Use the raw file and just set the WB on the background.

Are you sure your monitor is properly calibrated?

For future reference the best way to get a pure white background is to blow it out with a separate light. Usually it's not necessary if all they're going to do it deep etch it - in fact you could do that.

View attachment 639708

I think you may be right. A friend has a spider and will calibrate it for me. Thanks so much. When I use the whitebalace tool - I get a blueish tinge.

 

[TribbleZA]

Use the raw file and just set the WB on the background.

Are you sure your monitor is properly calibrated?

For future reference the best way to get a pure white background is to blow it out with a separate light. Usually it's not necessary if all they're going to do it deep etch it - in fact you could do that.

View attachment 639708

I don't know what deep etch is.

 

[TribbleZA]

Is this the effect you are looking for, or are the colours off?

View attachment 639706

I am wondering if my monitor is way off - I still see grey at the top of the white and he is now pinky lol

 

[TribbleZA]

Increasing light in one area will also increase dark in another.

View attachment 639712

Bwahahahahahahahahaha you just made my day !!!!

 

[bwana]

I don't know what deep etch is.

Deep etching is just cutting out the background. Then you can do what you want with it - fill it with a different colour or leave it transparent.

 

[TribbleZA]

Deep etching is just cutting out the background. Then you can do what you want with it - fill it with a different colour or leave it transparent.

View attachment 639718

Now this is a skill I need to learn. Thank you

 

[bwana]

Now this is a skill I need to learn. Thank you

It helps to know what they're going to do with the image. If it's going to be deep etched a background that contrasts with the subject works best. I do a ton of headshots every year for various teams and getting the lighting right is going to simplify life more than anything else. The guy editing them will thank you.

 

[TribbleZA]

It helps to know what they're going to do with the image. If it's going to be deep etched a background that contrasts with the subject works best. I do a ton of headshots every year for various teams and getting the lighting right is going to simplify life more than anything else. The guy editing them will thank you.

They are for the dust jacket of a book. But also for business cards and promotional material. So a background that is a solid white is required. And yes - this is not my area of expertise. Far from it. I have shot models in studios many times - but there you want atmosphere and softer lighting. Never made Z-cards and never done this.

Thanks so much for your help. Now I know it is possible - I will work it out.

 

[Polymathic]

If the background isn't sufficiently lit or subject is far from the background it's going to be slightly grey. You could come into issues otherwise it's just as simple as using the eye picker tool for white balance

 

[TribbleZA]

If the background isn't sufficiently lit or subject is far from the background it's going to be slightly grey. You could come into issues otherwise it's just as simple as using the eye picker tool for white balance

Then my monitor is way off. Makes it kinda blueish.

 

[Polymathic]

Then my monitor is way off. Makes it kinda blueish.

Probably your lighting was too close to the subject vs the background. Inverse Square law. Simplest solution is take it into Photoshop and replace the background

 

[TribbleZA]

Probably your lighting was too close to the subject vs the background. Inverse Square law. Simplest solution is take it into Photoshop and replace the background

I no longer possess photoshop skills Was about 10 years ago since I used it.

 

[Polymathic]

I no longer possess photoshop skills Was about 10 years ago since I used it.

If you have CC it's literally 2 clicks to fix

 

[TribbleZA]

Does this look better? I am trying to ignore what I am seeing on my screen.

 

[saor]

I no longer possess photoshop skills Was about 10 years ago since I used it.

You should be playing along in the photoshop thread.

 

[bwana]

Does this look better? I am trying to ignore what I am seeing on my screen.

BG is ok but you’ve got some serious hot spots on the side of his face extending down his shirt that are yellow/orange.

What were you using to light him? 1600iso is rarely suited to portrait work. Obviously you went that high because you had to.