I recently got to try out Warm Cards with my shooting and editing workflow using camera RAW. But the workflow can be modified for JPEG shooters.

I often begin begin a shoot with the subject holding a white or gray card for white balance purposes. I just click on the white or gray card with the White Balance Tool of Adobe PS Camera RAW converter. This usually works in giving me an accurate white balance which I then apply to the rest of the images shot with the same lighting set up (I just love Synchronize in Adobe PS).

But I noticed that some art directors or clients don't necessarily want a skin tone that is neutral. They prefer a bit of warmth to the skin tone. Hence, my current usage of warm cards. A warm card pack comes with several warm cards that all produce varying degrees of warm cast in your digital images if used for white balance purposes. Also included in the pack is a 18%/Middle/Neutral gray card (How cool is that?).

I have now substituted Warm Cards for my usual gray or white cards whenever I shoot portraits.

The following test shots were shot in Camera RAW format with a 400d and were converted using Canon DPP.


http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/misterkodaker/AutoWB.jpg

Auto White Balance



http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/misterkodaker/GrayCard.jpg

Gray Card as reference for White Balance during RAW conversion



http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/misterkodaker/HalfWarm.jpg

Warm Card 1/2 used as reference for White Balance during RAW conversion

(Continued in Part 2)

(Continued from Part 1)

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/misterkodaker/01Warm.jpg

Warm Card 1 used as reference for White Balance during RAW conversion



http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/misterkodaker/02Warm.jpg

Warm Card 2 used as reference for White Balance during RAW conversion



http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/misterkodaker/03Warm.jpg

Warm Card 3 used as reference for White Balance during RAW conversion


JPEG shooters can shoot a photo of the Warm Card of their choice and specify the image as the basis for their Custom WB. Please bear in mind though that the image has to be properly exposed - hence the use of the 18% Gray card.

JPEG shooters would have to take a meter reading off the surface of the gray card and use AE lock or Manual Exposure to lock the settings. Then take a photo of the Warm Card of your choice prior to using the Custom WB feature of your digital camera

Cheers!

K

what difference do you observe using the warm cards compared to just adjusting the temperature through raw? ARe the results more pleasing?

Wouldn't addding more yellow and magenta on the white balance adjustment do the same?

Like I said, the color temperature varies depending on the shooting and lighting situation. I could just adjust the temperature and tint in Adobe PS RAW Converter.

But this greatly simplifies it for me because no matter what lighting situation is present, I have preset values to use and to show the client.

If the preset values that the Warm Cards afford me are not to my liking, I can always choose to WB from the Warm Card that is closest to the result that I want and then fine tune it from there. It greatly lessens the trial and error and guesswork process :D

That's great! :) It really simplifies the process.
Where'd you get them?

Marton, I think this is the one being offered at pipho :D

That's great! :) It really simplifies the process.
Where'd you get them?
just bought mine 2 weeks ago from avenue...2800 for 1 set...:)

My set came from Brian Lim. But it can be bought from camera shops like Avenue Photo in Hidalgo.

That's great! :) It really simplifies the process.
Where'd you get them?

WarmCards DCP are available from our office or through Avenue Photo and Henrys Camera. Ongoing promo is P 2,800/pack. Regular price is P 3,200

Our tel is 551-7394. Alternately, you can also visit http://echostore.echografika.com (http://echostore.echografika.com/)
to know more about the product.

Thanks.
Brian

Sorry for being ignorant, but how do you use this? Just aim at it and press the calculate white balance button?

Hi David,
As outllined in Jo's workflow, you can either use this tool at point of capture or during post processing.

Point of Capture
a. Shoot a Warmcard under your lighting condition (outdoor, indoor, mixed, etc)
b. Go to your camera's menu and select preset or customized white balance
c. Use the Warmcard photo you have shoot as pre-set white balance setting
d. Proceed to shoot your subjects. See the differenece

Note: It's important that prior to shooting the Warmcard that you set the correct exposure. (The WarmCard DCP pack comes with a Kodak Gray Card to help you set the correct exposure).

Post Processing via Raw workflow (check out Jo Avila's post)
Since this time you are not using it at point of capture, you can simply shoot your images in Raw. Just remember to shoot your Warm Card with correct exposure (you can use either the included Kodak Gray Card or an Incident Light Meter).
Then, during post processing, just batch apply the Warm Card (white balance reading) to your photographs.

You can visit echostore.echografika.com (http://www.digitalphotographer.com.ph/forum/echostore.echografika.com) and click under products to know more about WarmCards.

I see, thanks for the info...

WarmCards DCP are available from our office or through Avenue Photo and Henrys Camera. Ongoing promo is P 2,800/pack. Regular price is P 3,200

Our tel is 551-7394. Alternately, you can also visit http://echostore.echografika.com (http://echostore.echografika.com/)
to know more about the product.

Thanks.
Brian


Hi Brian, nice to see you around man:)

Hi Ross,
Thanks. Kumusta na?

Hi Ross,
Thanks. Kumusta na?

Nice product ha
:) ...text me pls Brian, 09176273193:)

The WarmCards are locally distributed by EchoGrafika (http://echostore.echografika.com/).