Camera Color Card

Today, I came across the idea of a camera color correction card. The problem I found was that all of these were either a) insanely expensive or b) were just for demonstration purposes and not suitable for general use. I began to wonder; could I make one myself? The goal was to make one that was opaque, small, had useful colors on it, and could be made extremely cheaply. I briefly considered printing one, and just messing with the colors until I had them as I liked them, but nixed that idea. Instead, I decided to go food shopping at Wal Mart.

So, here are my directions on how to make a cheap camera color card, for white balance and color matching.

Now, before I continue, a disclaimer: because of how this card is made, it is not totally suitable for "professional" photography. This card is what you make it, and how you use it. You can create special color cards which you can use to give your pictures a particular feel. This is more of an "artists" color card. Anyway, here we go.

1. At your local store with a paint section, pick up color samples of the colors you want to use on your card. Find some plastic packaging you can cut up to keep your card stiff.

2. Cut out from your plastic a rectangle the shape and size you want your card to be, and cut your paint samples into squareish tiles.

3. Wrap some printer paper over the plastic, (at least three layers thick), and decide how you want your tiles laid out. Then, tape them down.

4. When you are finished, set up some objects to get a feel for your new card.

Color card setting next to some objects. My first attempt at color correction.

Same objects, color card removed.

Camera still is on "auto" white balance, and doesn't do a very good job.

Same image after applying levels from the one with the color card.

I still need to practice, but it's definitely a quick way to get in the ballpark!

There you have it! A dirt cheap way to make a basic color correction card. The more you work with it, the more you will figure out how best to use it. If you realize your colors are wrong, just go back to the store, and get better color swatches. If you like, you can get color swatches with a particular color cast in mind, designed to balance your pictures towards warmer, or cooler colors, or even some interesting color arrangement all your own.

Have fun!