I just got a Kodak DC240 and have run into my first problem taking pictures. I shot two people in a incandescent (tungsten) lit room. In the back of them was an open doorway and through it a screened-in porch. Which is to say, coming at me was indirect daylight. Apparently, as a result, my pictures have a blue distortion to the color balance. How can I avoid that happening again? Also, I use PhotoShop 5.0.x/Mac; how can I use it to readjust the color balance? Thanks, Mitchell

-- Mitchell Senft (senft@worldnet.att.net), June 23, 2000

Answers

MItchell
Unfortunately you can't mix such a wide range of color temperatures without getting this kind of result. Outdoor light is blue compared to incandescent light. Incandescent light is yellow compared to outdoor light. Your camera will compensate for one or the other - but it can't compensate for outdoor light in one region of the photo, and indoor light in another. This is true for all kinds of photography - digital or film.
If you find yourself in the same situation again you will need to control one of the light sources - usually the incandescent one. You can buy blue gels at any theatrical supply house and "filter" the incandescent light to more closely match the color temperature of the outdoor light. You may want to buy a gel or two in advance and put them in a padded envelope near your camera equipment. If you're up to spending a few more bucks then you can get a good tungsten light set with an dichroic filter (changes the tungsten to daylight). I use a Colortran set that gives me oodles of control - but such a set can set you back by half-a-grand or more. A gel should cost about a couple of bucks.

Des

-- Dan Desjardins (dan.desjardins@avstarnews.com), June 23, 2000.