How to apply white balance from jpeg to raw version

Question

Level 1

6 points

How to apply white balance from jpeg to raw version

I always shoot in RAW + jpeg format. Many times the jpeg will work fine and I still have the RAW if I want to take the time to tweak things a bit more.

But sometimes the jpeg stumbles on a white balance that works well for a particular image. If I want to apply that same balance to the RAW version, I would like to be able to read what that color balance setting (in K degrees I assume) is so I can copy it.

Is there a way to find that info somewhere? The exif will only give you the name of the setting (Flash, Auto, Cloudy, whatever...) but not the numerical info needed to apply it in Aperture's White balance adjustment.

I use a Nikon D600.

Thanks very much for any info!

Bo

Aperture 3, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Mar 24, 2014 2:58 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 24, 2014 3:30 PM in response to Bmachine

Unfortunately, there isn't. There isn't really any white balance in a JPEG file. There's just... a finished file.

So you can eyeball it, or you can just attempt to white balance on something that should have a neutral color cast.

Note as a general rule, flash and daylight are in the 5000-5500K range, shade is ~6500K, and cloudy is ~7500K as a starting point. You'll need to play with tint to get an acceptable balance on the green/magenta scale.

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Answer 2

Mar 24, 2014 3:34 PM in response to William Lloyd

On my canon, if you select the preset (cloudy, shade...) it will tell you the color temperature. Of course, if you have Auto White Balance set, you are out of luck.

You should be able to get a grey card and perform some experiments to see what temperature the various presets are set to.

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Answer 3

Bmachine Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 24, 2014 3:35 PM in response to William Lloyd

Thanks William.

But, uh, yes, there is a white balance in a jpeg file. As a matter of fact, you can read it in the exif file where it will tell you that the camera applied a preset (sunny, cloudy, whater) color correction before baking the file and saving it in jpeg format.

What I am looking for is the actual numerical value that the camera used so I can apply the exact same onto the raw file. I can get pretty close by eye but skin tones often have subtle value changes that are harder to nail.

Bo

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Answer 4

Bmachine Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 24, 2014 3:37 PM in response to Keith Barkley

Thanks Keith. Indeed, the Auto white balance is a perfect case where it would be very useful to be able to find the numerical value used by the camera.

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Answer 5

Mar 25, 2014 7:57 AM in response to Bmachine

If it is really important, get one of these:

http://michaeltapesdesign.com/whibal.html

Another option is to shoot RAW+JPEG and use the color values from a patch in the JPEG to help zero in the Aperture conversion, though that seems like a big pain.

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Answer 6

Bmachine Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 28, 2014 9:26 AM in response to Keith Barkley

OK, progress!

I found out from Iliah Borg on the dpreview.com forum that the utility ExifTool (or its GUI version pyExifToolGUI) will provide the R, B, G1 and G2 values for the white balance setting. They are provided as multipliers or absolute vaules. Example:

WB RB Levels : 1.51953125 1.8515625 1 1

WB GRBG Levels : 256 389 474 256

Now does anyone know how you can enter these type of numberic values in Aperture? The standard White Balance brick does not have input fileds for these types.

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Answer 7

Bmachine Author

Level 1

6 points

Apr 3, 2014 11:38 AM in response to Bmachine

Anyone with any idea on that last question by any chance?

Thank you.

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Answer 8

Apr 3, 2014 12:20 PM in response to Bmachine

Not possible in Aperture. Might be possible somehow via Exiftool, to copy the settings from one to the other,

But I have no idea if doing that would affect the image.

You can do a test, get a Raw and JPG look at the settings on the JPG and set those in the Raw then import it. If the image reflects the changed values then it is doable, If not then you're possibly out of luck.

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Answer 9

Bmachine Author

Level 1

6 points

Apr 3, 2014 12:54 PM in response to Frank Caggiano

Thank you Frank!

That is a very good idea. I'll definitely give it a whirl!

Bo

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