White balance and raw files

[JohnnyBassMan]

I have been reading an article on White Balance and Your Aquarium from gregr because of the color displayed on my pictures was not the same color in the aquarium. I will experiment with placing a white lid into the water to set my white balance, but for now I have a question. He recommend using raw files, which I have, but the problem I am running into â€"œ how do I change the picture on the program. My camera came with a program that I could edit raw files but did not come with instructions. My question: Does anyone have an article about how to edit raw files in most or a giving program, or can someone help with the answer to the problem? Thanks for the help.

 

[nickb]

What camera and software are you using?

 

[JohnnyBassMan]

Cannon rebel with cannon software for raw files.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Tell me exactly what you want the program to do and I will try to explain to you how to do it. I think Digital Photo Professional is fairly simple to use.

 

[JohnnyBassMan]

Taking pictures of tank, the colors are not the same. Purple is not purple or white is not white ect.. In the article by gregr “White Balance and your aquarium,” Greg suggested taking the pictures using raw files and you can edit the pictures better, also will give us more freedom to do other things. My camera did not come with this program but someone gave the program to me so I can open other options with editing digital film. The last time I used the program, changing the histogram (I think I was adjusting the histogram) the pictures were not clear â€"œ crisp, like the pictures on Greg web site. So, I guess need some help with how to use the program.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Your camera actually has the capability to shoot RAW right? What camera do you have?

 

[JohnnyBassMan]

Yes it will, i have the digital cannon rebel - the first release. Not the new Xti, it is almost like it. the only diff will be the mega pixles.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Well, I could name 20 differences between a 300D and a 450D besides megapixels, but I will agree you can shoot RAW. This program is so easy to figure our it is ridiculous.
1) Select the "eyedropper" and click on something that should be white
OR
2) Underneath the eyedropper is a pull down menu. The default selection is "shot settings". Click on this and instead select "Color temperature" and move the slider.

 

[JohnnyBassMan]

yea, it is not a 300D, 40D, 5D, 10D, 20D, but all it says on the camera. Digital Rebel. When I get home from work in the morning, I will try to play around with the eyedropper. what does this eyedropper do?

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

The digital rebel is a 300D. You pick the eyedropper and click something that should be white. If it is light blue, it becomes white and everything else is corrected in relation.

 

[JohnnyBassMan]

awesome. thanks for the info. I will check in the morning.