A grey card can give your camera a neutral reference for setting custom white balance. Canon’s camera documentation says a commercially available grey card or standard 18% grey reflector can be used when registering a custom white balance. The steps vary by camera, so follow the instructions for your model. cam.start.canon

This can help when you want consistent colour across a series of shots, especially when filming an interview, product demonstration or scene under mixed lighting.

How the reference helps

Different light sources can give a neutral object a warmer, cooler or tinted appearance on camera. A custom white balance tells the camera what should appear neutral under the lighting where you are filming.

Place the card where your subject will be, under the same light. Fill the camera’s reference area as directed in the manual, set the custom white balance, then record a short test. Repeat if the lighting changes significantly.

Keep the lighting consistent

A white balance reading cannot make different light sources match one another. If one side of a face is lit by daylight and the other by a warm lamp, the two sides may still look different. You may need to adjust the lighting or the subject’s position.

For a broader introduction, see RouteNote’s guide to colour temperature. When the picture is ready, browse RouteNote Licensing for a soundtrack.