White balance
Adjusting an image so white objects look white, removing color casts from the light.
Also called white balancing
White balance corrects for the color of the light in a photo, so a white shirt looks white rather than orange (indoor light) or blue (shade).
Color-picking from a photo with a strong cast gives you the cast too, so correct it first when accuracy matters.
Guides that cover White balance
- Harmony What Is Color Harmony? Color harmony explained: complementary, analogous, triadic and other harmonies, and how balanced color relationships make a design feel right. Read on.
- Neutrals Understanding Neutral Colors Neutral colors explained: warm, cool and balanced grays, beiges and muted tones, plus how to build a neutral color palette for rooms, brands and UI.
- Value What Is Color Value and Why Does It Matter? Color value is how light or dark a color is. Learn why value drives contrast, readability and depth in design and art, and how to check it. Read the guide.
- Palettes What Is a Color Palette? What is a color palette? Learn the main palette types, how many colors to use and how to build one for your brand or website. Then try our palette tools.
- High & Low Key High-Key vs Low-Key Colors High-key vs low-key colors explained: how light and dark color schemes set mood in design, art and photography, with tips on using each well. Read the guide.
- Tints & Shades Tints, Shades, and Tones Tint, shade and tone explained: see how adding white, black or gray changes a base color, and how to use each to build richer palettes. Read the quick guide.
- Warm & Cool What Is Color Temperature? Color temperature explained: how Kelvin is measured, warm vs cool light and colors, and how temperature affects lighting, design and photos. Read the guide.