18% Gray Cards Explained | Use Middle & Neutral Gray for White Balance

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This video explains how to use 18% Gray (or Grey) Cards, also known as Middle Gray or Neutral Gray Cards to obtain the proper exposure and white balance in the images or scenes you shoot. It also reviews what Grey Cards are and how best to use them.
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Chapters:
00:00 Opening
02:27 What is a Gray Card?
03:23 The Purpose of an 18% Gray Card
04:14 How to Use a Gray Card
04:45 Neutral/Middle Gray Defined
05:28 Using a Gray Card on a Shoot
07:27 Using a Grey Card to Set White Balance
09:27 Applying White Balance in RAW and JPEG Workflows
10:36 Learn More
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How to Use a Gray Card:
Step 1) Set camera to Spot Metering
Step 2) Put the Gray card in your shot under the same lighting conditions. Meter on the card to set the exposure and remove the card
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Jim Costa Films:
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Опубликовано:

20 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 109

@YesToTech 3 года назад

I've been learning so, so much from all of your videos! Thanks so much for sharing your expertise! :)

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

I appreciate your continued support. Let me know what questions you have about improving your videos or photos. I'm happy to answer them.

@BrieKirbyson 3 года назад

This was so useful! Didn't know you could even buy cards that help you set your white balance, so this is great!

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

I happy you found the info useful.

@ortallevitan1 3 года назад

You are truly incredible! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge 😊

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

I appreciate your continued support. Let me know what questions you have about improving your videos or photos. I'm happy to answer them.

@EdenGold 3 года назад

Thank you for speaking in such an easily digestible way!

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

I'm glad you were able to learn something. I do try to make complex topics easy to understand.

@DonnieGupton 3 года назад

This is very interesting info! Thank you for sharing this!

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

I appreciate you tuning in.

@WhenAphroditeSpeaks 3 года назад

Wow! Fascinating! So knowledgeable!

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

I appreciate you tuning in.

@bruce-le-smith Год назад

Great video, thank you for this!

@jimcostafilms Год назад

I appreciate you tuning in! I'm happy to hear that you founf the info use. If you have any questions, please let me know. I'm happy to answer them for you.

@fishingforparis Год назад

Jim, Thanks for your help.

@jimcostafilms Год назад

I'm happy to answer any questions you have.

@KIRSTENMARK 3 года назад

Love this ❤️ excellent video

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

I appreciate you tuning in.

@Rawsomehealthy 3 года назад

Great video on 18% grey card!

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

I appreciate you tuning in.

@omegaman1409 Год назад

Very good video. More information than other videos.

@jimcostafilms Год назад

Very kind of you to say, thank you. I appreciate you tuning in!

@MarketingLeap 3 года назад

Thanks so much for sharing this!

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

I appreciate you tuning in. If you have any questions on improving the videos on your channel, let me know. I'm happy to answer them.

@MarketingLeap 3 года назад

@@jimcostafilms thank you

@Lesterandsons 3 года назад

I enjoy your short, clear, smart explanations. All grey cards are not coulour balanced. XRITE passport is fine but expensive. But I prefer my old sixtomat around my neck !

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

That's very nice of you to say. You're correct. While you can white balance to middle gray, it's not recommended.

@congnhayenbinhphuoc 7 месяцев назад

Your video help me alot, thank You

@jimcostafilms 7 месяцев назад

I'm happy that you found the info useful. I'm also happy to answer any questions you may have. Thanks for tuning in!

@SanjaySharma-vr8rx 2 года назад

Very useful information .keep it up

@jimcostafilms 2 года назад

I appreciate you tuning in. Let me know if you have any questions. I'm happy to answer them for you.

@Drostvideo 3 года назад

I've got a white card (which I think you recommended earlier) is this similar to using the gray card? I mostly use my ND filter when filming outside for correct exposure

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

It's similar, but not the same. For white balancing, it's best to use a white card. For proper exposure (the F/Stop/shutter speed), a grey card is best. You can white balance with it, but a white card is best.

@Drostvideo 3 года назад

@@jimcostafilms thx Jim

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

@@Drostvideo I'm happy to answer any questions you have.

@MgrNassif 3 года назад

very interesting... Could you tell me what is the settings you are using in this video, lens - distance - aperture... It's really very nice and sharp, thanks

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

Thanks for tuning in. Nikon 24-70 at around 60mm or so, F/8, 12'

@tubzvermeulen 3 года назад

Thanks for the video

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

I appreciate you tuning in. Fell free to ask questions int he comments on any of my videos. I'll be happy to answer them for you.

@jimpenn7628 3 года назад

Great video Jim. Question regarding the first part of the video - getting proper exposure using the gray card. Are you assuming auto WB at this point? Or, would you say get a custom WB set first, then use the card again to get proper exposure? (Understanding of course if the subject is moved and/or light changes - the exposure and WB would change).

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

Go manual and then fill the frame with the grey card under the lighting you wish to use for your subject and adjust the camera’s exposure settings until the meter zeroes out.

@jimpenn7628 3 года назад

@@jimcostafilms Irrespective of WB? Keep in auto WB?

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

@@jimpenn7628 What's the make/model of your camera?

@jimpenn7628 3 года назад

@@jimcostafilms I have a7iii and a7riii. I use the gray card to set custom WB currently. So, I am thinking I could simplify workflow by just setting exposure off the gray card as you suggested in the first part of the video. Not sure auto WB would cure any color cast though.

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

@@jimpenn7628 Many would say that if you shoot in RAW then the White Balance setting is irrelevant because your processing software would just fix it. You would have to use a developer, like Lightroom or Photoshop and there you set the color to your liking. Many use a grey card to adjust WB for JPEG files only. I would just do it for both personally. I believe that doing things right the first time is the simplest way to avoid problems later. To answer your specific question: To stop the Sony choosing a AWB setting you need to set the WB manually, yes, using a grey card or not. Never loose sight of the important fact that both the exposure meter and that average white balance “think“ in monochrome. The exposure meter is looking for mid tone gray in a presented scene and adjusts settings that will capture that gray in the best contrast available. That implies the blacks will be black and the whites will be white but the blacks and whites will contain detail. The white balance, as already mentioned, also looks for mid tone gray and when it gets that right or wrong it sets ta color cast you might see, usually yellow or blue. So remember, green grass, skin tones, tarmac all are mid tone gray and if they dominate an image they will be the colors that, if correctly exposed, will look right and sometimes others can be off a bit. That is why all editing software has means to correct white balance either in JPEG or RAW. You might consider the PRIORITY SET IN AWB" option. It’s usually pretty good on that camera. One thing to keep in mind: Have you done a master reset? I have heard that Sony cameras occasionally went "off” in AWB after changing the settings in picture profiles, and despite returning them back to the default, WB was off and images had a blue cast. The reset fixed that, but be warned, all your button customization, function menus and memories get reset as well. I haven’t experienced this, but people I know have so bee on the look out.

@soulstart89 3 года назад

great usual video. i have a question. I have a sekonic L558. If i spot meter a grey card in my given scene and get a reading for example f11.5 at 1/60th, does this mean my lighter is off by half a stop? i have noticed if i meter im not getting solid/whole reading. wonder if the grey card can be used to calibrate my light meter

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

You can check the meters reading in this work around: You’ll need a still camera with a histogram display feature. A histogram is a digital version of the zone system. The middle of a histogram is the same as zone 5, or “middle” gray. An 18% gray card is “middle” gray in value. The idea is to expose that middle gray card to render a middle gray spike in the middle of the histogram. If accomplished, then you have achieved a perfect exposure - a feat necessary for calibrating your meter accurately. Fill the frame with the gray card and set up your still camera to reflect a basic cinema situation with respect to the lighting. Then quickly take your test spot meter reading before there is any deviation in the available light, clouds, wisps, etc. If your meter is well calibrated, it should render a reading that’s correct. Compare this to the light meter reading you will take in the same lighting and if it’s the same, your reading on both will be correct. I don’t worry too much about a tenth or two over or under. That’s close enough. Anything more or less and you do have a problem with he meter.

@soulstart89 3 года назад

@@jimcostafilms thanks for the work around. I tested ageing my digital camera and they both came with the same reading. I mostly shoot analog film and would get for example f8.4 at 60th when I set my sekonic to Apeture priority at f8. I just wondered if my light meter is 4/10th off.

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

@@soulstart89 If the readings were the same then it's fine.

@bio0596 8 месяцев назад

is it the tips and tricks sheets still availavable ? can't find that in the description

@jimcostafilms 8 месяцев назад

Yes, the company I was using closed so I switched to a new one and I must have missed this video when I was changing the descriptions. get it here: jimcostafilms.lpages.co/dslr-mirrorless-camera-video-cheat-sheet/

@ahmedyadam7240 Год назад

How to use the grey card with strobe lights Since it's not a continuous light as the sun Should I go with Zebra lines technique or what

@jimcostafilms Год назад

It is quite easy to use a grey card. Simply place it in the area where you plan to shoot your subject, facing the direction of where you plan to place the camera. If you are using artificial light, you will want to make sure you light the grey card the same way you plan to light your subject I use a grey card to set custom white balance for every shoot. Your camera manual should explain the basics of how to set a custom white balance. 1) Setup your studio flash lights and meter them to your liking. 2) Setup/connect your camera in Manual mode with aperture/shutter speed appropriate to using studio flash. 3) Have your model hold the grey card aimed towards the camera. 4) Fill the viewfinder of the camera with the grey card and press the appropriate WB button/shutter release on the camera to set a new custom white balance. Store the new setting in the camera. 5) Use this WB setting for the shoot.

@ahmedyadam7240 Год назад

@@jimcostafilms thanks a lot for your fast answer Much appreciated

@jimcostafilms Год назад

@@ahmedyadam7240 I'm happy to help. Feel free to ask any questions you have in the furure.

@jamesreed7278 Год назад

So where does skin tone come into play when using an 18% gray card or light meter? Since the IRE values are different with different skin tones, how can 18% middle gray be used universally on different skin tones?

@jimcostafilms Год назад

I discuss this in the video, but for a brief summation, try this as a starting point: You can expose using skin tone as reference, correcting with a personal scale inherited from your experience. Something like: If the talent has typical Caucasian or Asian tone, expose at middle gray. If the subject is hispanic, expose 1/2 to 1 stop under middle gray. If the subject is African American with darker, but leaning to more brown skin tones, expose 1 stop to 1 1/2 stops under middle gray. If the subject has very dark skin tone, expose two stops under middle gray. If the subject is particularly pale skinned with red hair, expose one stop above middle gray. That is very similar to using a gray card. It is less reproducible, but it still works if you do not have a gray card. It's always best to expose a test shot first using a gray card to see where the skin tone exposure falls and then adjust your F/Stop from there.

@jamesreed7278 Год назад

@@jimcostafilms Thanks! I was looking to replace using false color with the El Zone system so I wanted to make sure I had a firm grasp on the middle gray card.

@jimcostafilms Год назад

@@jamesreed7278 I'm happy to have been able to help.

@VIPAH Год назад

@@jamesreed7278 The EL zone on the SmallHD smart series monitor work off more accurate readings (F stops) off your light meter, as opposed to IRE values which is VERY outdated tech, but somehow we as DOP's still use false colour to this day. 😅

@tonykeltsflorida 3 года назад

I mostly shoot in natural light outdoors. Auto White Balance works for me.

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

it's hard to mess that up. Your issues will come in in mixed lighting scenes.

@tonykeltsflorida 3 года назад

It's Florida. Everyday is mixed light.

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

@@tonykeltsflorida There's a few tings you can do to fix that including manually setting the color temperature, using filters and shooting in RAW, but if Auto works for you, great.

@jimcostafilms 3 года назад

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@smann7236 2 месяца назад

Jim, quick question can I use white paper for white balance and use grey card for correct exposure?

@jimcostafilms 2 месяца назад

The short answer is yes to both. The long answer is a bit more complicated. Regarding a white sheet of paper for the white balance: If your goal is to get the white balance pretty close to spot on in most situations, then, yes, it’s fine to use a white sheet of paper. However, some say that white paper isn't a very good reference because standard printer paper contains bleaching agents that can affect the color balance. For example, most bright white office papers contain OBAs, which makes them unsuitable for white balance targets when exposed to UV light, like outdoors. Just remember, white paper reflects its environment. Thus holding paper near a red curtain will give a red cast. Regarding a grey card: This is always the best choice to use in either situation. A gray card is 18% gray, and the camera's meter perceives the light reflected from this as “normal” exposure. This can help you get good exposure in almost any situation, especially for portraits and products. It will give a near perfect exposure in almost any situation.

@smann7236 2 месяца назад

@@jimcostafilms ah I see. So basically use grey card for both, but a white paper if you have to for white balance. By the way, I understand that you can use grey card for exposure on a subject, but what about if I'm doing landscape shot when it's sunset or dusk time, do I still need to consult the grey card for exposure and white balance?

@jimcostafilms 2 месяца назад

@@smann7236 Golden Hour: Yes, you can use a grey card to white balance during golden hour, which is when the sun is near the horizon and has a warm 4000 Kelvin range. You can use the grey card as a reference image to correct your colors in image editing. For example, you can use the Lastolite 12'' Grey Card to isolate the sky color temperature from the sun color temperature. It can be a bit tricky to get proper white balance during golden hour but will work provided the card is lit by the same light as the subject. For easy reference: During golden hour, you can manually adjust your white balance to 6000-6500K, which is within the Cloudy or Shade mode of your camera. This setting enhances the reds and oranges, creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere in your images. You can tweak the white balance up or down to bring out the warm, rich colors of the landscape while making sure your images reflect real life. Blue Hour: When taking photos during blue hour, you can set your white balance between 3400K and 5000K to boost the blues. Some recommend setting your white balance to capture the temperature of light as your eyes see it, which is more blue. Others recommend setting your white balance between 6500K to 7500K to keep things cooler, or 9,000K to 10,000K to render the light more neutral. You can then add warmth to the image in post. I like 4000K - 5000K, personally. Don’t use auto WB for Blue hour as you’ll loos the rich blue hues.n If your camera doesn’t allow for setting the WB in degrees Kelvin, try using the fluorescent light preset instead, I did a couple videos on Golden Hour and Blue Hour shooting: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sYnae_Zb7qI.html

@smann7236 2 месяца назад

@@jimcostafilms thank you so much for details! I always love shooting low light magic hour and dusk..I will try it out. ♥

@jimcostafilms 2 месяца назад

@@smann7236 Let me know how it goes.

@swanseamale47 2 месяца назад

Not all grey cards are the same. Many of the cheap ones have a slight colour cast.

@jimcostafilms 2 месяца назад

You do have a point. It's always best to use a higher quality card to assure the most accurate colors.

@andrewmiller6672 2 года назад

2:30

@jimcostafilms 2 года назад

Thanks for tuning in!

@user-ok8xx8wf2c 19 дней назад

no, it's a mistake you need 1/2 stop downcompensation after exposuring for 18%

@jimcostafilms 18 дней назад

You are free to expose however you would like once you get the exposure correct for middle grey.

@user-ok8xx8wf2c 18 дней назад

@@jimcostafilms that's right. But 18% is not a standard for middle gray exposure

@jimcostafilms 18 дней назад

@@user-ok8xx8wf2c That I disagree with. Middle gray is the very center tone between absolute back and absolute white which is 18% grey.

@user-ok8xx8wf2c 18 дней назад

@@jimcostafilms The situation is truly unclear. It appears that the 18% gray value comes from the print world. Light meters are calibrated at the factory using ANSI standards. The standard has always been for a luminance value that is roughly equivalent to the reflectance of 12% gray. Moreover, Sekonic's web page mentions 14% and claims Minolta uses a higher setting, while Minolta's English pages claim yet a different value. So, the truth is out there...

@jimcostafilms 18 дней назад

@@user-ok8xx8wf2c See if this helps: www.greatphotography.com/blog/2016/6/14/18-gray-the-middle-value#:~:text=18%25%20gray%20cards%20have%20been,of%20light%20that%20they%20receive.