Which WB setting for halogen lights!

Hi. What is the best white balance setting for shooting under halogen lights without a flash? Is this lighting similar to tungsten or a little different? The area I'm shooting is a rink so it's pretty large and fairly dark.

Halogen is a little bit colder than ordinary tungsten like normal used in homes. Thats due to the colortemperature which is 3600K from halogen compared to 3000K to 3200K from a 60W - 100W bulb.

If you are in hurry, use the tungsten setting. If you have time or are in doubts make a custom WB with a piece of white paper

digital addict wrote:

Hi. What is the best white balance setting for shooting under
halogen lights without a flash? Is this lighting similar to
tungsten or a little different? The area I'm shooting is a rink so
it's pretty large and fairly dark.

Always custom wb if possible... it will give you the most accurate results. Even if you use raw using a custom wb will give you a much more accurate starting point when adjusting it to fit your taste. Once you get used to using it its pretty simple and becomes 2nd nature... the only time it may get annoying is if the lighting changes frequently.

-Jordan

digital addict wrote:

Hi. What is the best white balance setting for shooting under
halogen lights without a flash? Is this lighting similar to
tungsten or a little different? The area I'm shooting is a rink so
it's pretty large and fairly dark.

I'm actually shooting at a roller skating rink. The lights are placed 3 across the rink side ways and about 7 down it's length. There are dark spots and there are light spots on the floor. So I guess the light conditions would change in that situation depending on where I was aiming whilst shooting?

Jordan Robbins wrote:
Always custom wb if possible... it will give you the most accurate
results. Even if you use raw using a custom wb will give you a
much more accurate starting point when adjusting it to fit your
taste. Once you get used to using it its pretty simple and becomes
2nd nature... the only time it may get annoying is if the lighting
changes frequently.

-Jordan

digital addict wrote:

Hi. What is the best white balance setting for shooting under
halogen lights without a flash? Is this lighting similar to
tungsten or a little different? The area I'm shooting is a rink so
it's pretty large and fairly dark.

there are no covers over the lights. The floor has a real yellow tinge to it and the back wall to the rink is yellow and orange so I was expecting the photos to look a little yellow. The brownish stockings don't help either. Here is a sample. See what you suggest.

dougsmit wrote:

You should be OK with a single custom WB setting as long as all the
spaced lights are the same type. The exposure will vary between
the light and dark areas but the balance should hold pretty well
(certainly correctable in postprocessing). The problem would be if
the likes were covered with color filters so there were blue and
red patches on the rink. That would make it a situation where you
can't keep up and RAW would be the only answer.

digital addict wrote:

[snip]...Here is a sample. See what you suggest.

Yes, the Peters sign is supposed to be white lettering. green surround!

David Barker wrote:

digital addict wrote:
[snip]...Here is a sample. See what you suggest.

How id you custom white balance? If the lettering is supposed to be white it seemks like it is still off. I usually use my expodisc which I find to be the easiest method but by no means the only one. If you used a grey card was the grey card picture taken under the same lighting as the subject? Was the white balance then manually set through the menu (in the past a number of posters didnt know that this needs to be done). Otherwise its possible that the rink may have used different bulbs without you realizing it making it a mixed lighting situation.

-Jordan

digital addict wrote:
Yes, the Peters sign is supposed to be white lettering. green
surround!

David Barker wrote:

digital addict wrote:
[snip]...Here is a sample. See what you suggest.

well, to be honest i just used a white sheet of paper! yes, i was under the same lighting and I'm pretty sure there was no other type of lighting. custom white balance is something i haven't mastered yet i don't think?

Jordan Robbins wrote:
How id you custom white balance? If the lettering is supposed to
be white it seemks like it is still off. I usually use my expodisc
which I find to be the easiest method but by no means the only one.
If you used a grey card was the grey card picture taken under the
same lighting as the subject? Was the white balance then manually
set through the menu (in the past a number of posters didnt know
that this needs to be done). Otherwise its possible that the rink
may have used different bulbs without you realizing it making it a
mixed lighting situation.

-Jordan

digital addict wrote:
Yes, the Peters sign is supposed to be white lettering. green
surround!

David Barker wrote:

digital addict wrote:
[snip]...Here is a sample. See what you suggest.

Many typical household lightbulbs come in more around 2400-2800K. Photographic halogen lights are supposed to be 3200K but there will be some variation. I have been using color temperature meters for about 18 years and I have yet to meter an incandescent bulb of any variety that is more than 3350.

If the original poster is referring to houseshold halogen bulbs such as those found in low voltage fixtures then there is an additional factor to consider. The reflectors for the MR-16 bulbs are somewhat dichroic, meaning that the reflected light will have the color shifted in some manner. Some shift to green/yellow while others might go a little red/magenta.

All that said, use a custom WB and shoot in RAW so that it can be easily fine tuned without creating any ugly mismatches between shadow/highlight.

blueuser wrote:
Halogen is a little bit colder than ordinary tungsten like normal
used in homes. Thats due to the colortemperature which is 3600K
from halogen compared to 3000K to 3200K from a 60W - 100W bulb.

If you are in hurry, use the tungsten setting. If you have time or
are in doubts make a custom WB with a piece of white paper

digital addict wrote:

Hi. What is the best white balance setting for shooting under
halogen lights without a flash? Is this lighting similar to
tungsten or a little different? The area I'm shooting is a rink so
it's pretty large and fairly dark.

Are you sure they are halogens?

Is it possible that they are using Mercury vapor or metal halide lighting. Any thoughts?

-Ron

I have tried to play a little bit with you picture with levels in PSCS

It was a little bit difficult because I haven't seen it by myself

Just shoot a raw image and then adjust the WB slider til you think it looks good to your eyes. Whatever the temp is, thats what you want to set at

Better yet, id say shoot them all raw and adjust the keepers as needed. Some shots with the players up close, I like a little warmer look for skin tones and uniforms, other shots I like a cooler look to give a bit of a colder feel to the ice. I find it to be real subjective personally
--
http://www.pbase.com/bigbad

Here here -- even when shooting RAW, it helps to get a good custom wb.

Use a grey card or an expodisc if you care about colors.

If "close enough" is close enough -- then use a pringles lid or white coffee filters when setting the wb.

White piece of paper -- ok...if "close enough" is too accurate (kidding, I just don't think white papers are very good)

Lee

Jordan Robbins wrote:
Always custom wb if possible... it will give you the most accurate
results. Even if you use raw using a custom wb will give you a
much more accurate starting point when adjusting it to fit your
taste. Once you get used to using it its pretty simple and becomes
2nd nature... the only time it may get annoying is if the lighting
changes frequently.

-Jordan

digital addict wrote:

Hi. What is the best white balance setting for shooting under
halogen lights without a flash? Is this lighting similar to
tungsten or a little different? The area I'm shooting is a rink so
it's pretty large and fairly dark.

blueuser wrote:

Halogen is a little bit colder than ordinary tungsten like normal
used in homes. Thats due to the colortemperature which is 3600K
from halogen compared to 3000K to 3200K from a 60W - 100W bulb.

Halogen lamps are acyualy in the 3000-3200K range. Domestic tungsten is about 2700-2900, with 60W bulbs being toward the lower end of this.

Your Tungsten position on tour camera is actually for halogen lamps - domestic tungsten will give an orangeish cast at this setting.
A custom ehite balance is always best.
--
Bill.

In that case I think your lights are high pressure sdium, not tungsten - custom white balance is definitely your best option.
--
Bill.