How to fix JPEG white balance problem

Have you ever wondered why a beautiful skiing shot set in ample day light appeared blue? Why sometimes the skin tone of the subject in the photo has an orange tinge or the lavender meadow shot on a sunny day, has a purple cast over the entire picture? Unwanted color shades or shadows on a JPEG photo is mainly because of inaccurate white balance. Our cameras are not smart enough to judge the real colors as our eyes unless we control them to do so. So, if you are facing the JPEG white balance problem, here you will know how to fix the problem both in camera during shooting and on your computer while editing.

What is white balance?

In photography, your subject is exposed to different type of colors from sources like sunlight, florescent light, bulb light, etc. White balance means to set the colors in an image to match the light source color so that the subject in the photos look realistic. In simple terms, if white color in the image appears white, it means the white balance is accurate. When you notice a photo being too white or has a green/ orange cast all over, it is the impact of wrong white balance. A correct white balance will make your photos appear natural and close to reality.

How to fix white balance in JPEG photos?

You can ensure right white balance settings at the time of photoshoot by choosing the correct camera white balance settings and light conditions. However, if your photos are not true to their natural colors, you can also fix the white balance during post processing also. Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and other image editing tools can adjust colors and fix white balance problem in JPEG or other file types.

• Fix JPEG white balance in camera during shoot

Latest DSLR and camcorders have advanced Automatic White Balance (AWB) feature. Further, you can also choose from the white balance presets such as Incandescent, Direct sunlight/ Daylight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Fluorescent, Tungsten, Kelvin, and Custom White Balance. The presets are tailored for standard light conditions during shoot. This helps to minimise color issues in photos and hence takes lesser time during post-processing to fix white balance problem, if any.

However, professionals don’t always find camera auto white balance efficient to portray their specific shots. When the right color is extremely critical to the final image, they use custom color balance in their JPEG photos. Particularly, in landscape photography where varied light conditions and ambient colors are there during sunset, dawn, sunlight, etc., a custom white balance or manual settings option is a better choice.

• Set the right color temperature

Understand the importance of color temperature as well while trying to set white balance. Various light sources have different color temperatures. For example, natural light on a cloudy day is cool while candlelight is warm. The color temperature is measured in degrees Kelvin. Usually between 3500K-4100K degrees is a safe bet for photography, which is neutral white light. You can set the color temperature both in camera and by using photo editing software.

In camera, the color cast directly represents the color temperature. For instance, Tungsten Bulb/Incandescent (2,500K to 3,000K), Sunrise/Sunset (3000K-4000K) or Florescent Light (4000K-5000K).   

Hence, you should try to set the white balance as per the color temperature of the condition you are shooting. The correct white balance and temperature settings can ensure there are not any hues or color cast over the JPEG picture.

• Get the right lighting during the shoot

Make sure you get the right light source during shoot. The output depends on how you illuminate your subject. Use a wide light source that doesn’t cast shadows. This will make easy to fix white balance during post-production.

• Use a grey card in photography

Using grey card is the best way to get a perfect color balance to obtain the exact image color. Commonly used in product or food photography, a grey card is a square shaped card used as a reference for camera to record the accurate color balance in the photos.

To use grey card in photography, first, take the reference photo by placing the grey side of the card in the same light (scene) where you are going to shoot. Next, adjust the camera focus and take the test shots. Make sure the grey card fills the frame.

Now, open the camera menu, select the custom white balance option and click ‘OK’ to direct the camera to use that photo as a reference for custom white balance. Don’t forget to again go back to the menu and set white balance to ‘custom’. Your camera will now use this reference image’s white balance data for all the images shot in that condition.

• Fix JPEG white balance using Photo editors on computer

Even when you have adjusted white balance whether using AWB or custom white balance, there may be need to fix JPEG images during editing to get that perfect color balance. You can use Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or other editing programs for the desired white balance.

There are various ways to fix white balance in JPEG photos using different tools.

In Photoshop, you can use curve tools and cooling or warming photo filters under ‘Adjustment’. Another way to set JPEG colour is by creating a layer mask that lets you edit color and tone over selective portions on a photo.

If you have Adobe Lightroom, adjust the temperature slider or choose from the white balance presets from Develop panel.

Its important to note that when you shoot in RAW instead of JPEG format, you can easily change white balance during editing stage without quality loss. Since shooting in JPEG has its own benefits, the choice is yours.

Is the color cast in JPEG photos due to file corruption?

JPEG color problem can also be due to file corruption. You can use a photo repair tool to remove abnormal color hues from your photos. Software like Stellar Repair for Photos are designed to fix image header and data corruption that result in color damage.

To Sum Up

The white balance settings in camera helps to match the image color with what the real eyes view, making JPEG photos appear realistic with no casts, shades, or shadows. It is best to fix white balance in camera while capturing photos, so that you have to do little in the post-production. Photo editing programs like Photoshop can also fix JPEG white balance problem in post-production.

Nevertheless, attaining the perfect color balance in your JPEG photos using auto or custom white balance comes with practice. Try different options in color balance, experiment, and observe how it affects your pictures.