How do you correct white balance issues in post-processing using Lightroom or Photoshop?

3 How to correct white balance in Lightroom

Lightroom is a powerful and user-friendly software for organizing and editing your photos. It has a dedicated panel for white balance adjustment, where you can either use the eyedropper tool or the sliders to fine-tune the color temperature and tint of your images. The eyedropper tool allows you to click on a neutral gray or white area in your image, and Lightroom will automatically adjust the white balance based on that point. The sliders allow you to manually increase or decrease the warmth or coolness, and the green or magenta tones of your images. You can also apply the same white balance settings to multiple images, using the sync or auto-sync feature.

4 How to correct white balance in Photoshop

Photoshop is another powerful and versatile software for editing your photos. It has several tools and methods for correcting white balance issues, depending on your preference and workflow. One of the simplest and fastest ways is to use the Camera Raw filter, which gives you access to the same white balance panel as Lightroom. You can either use the eyedropper tool or the sliders to adjust the color temperature and tint of your images. Another way is to use the Curves or Levels adjustment layers, which allow you to tweak the red, green, and blue channels individually or together, to achieve the desired white balance. You can also use the Color Balance adjustment layer, which lets you adjust the shadows, midtones, and highlights separately or together, to create a more balanced and harmonious color scheme.

5 Tips and tricks for white balance correction

Correcting white balance issues in post-processing can be an effective way to improve your architectural photography, but it requires some practice and experimentation. To ensure you are seeing the true colors of your images, use a calibrated monitor and a consistent editing environment. You can use the histogram and the info panel to check the RGB values and the exposure of your images. Additionally, you can use reference images or color charts to compare and match the white balance of different images or scenes. Masking and blending modes can be used to selectively apply white balance adjustments to specific areas or layers of your images, while presets or actions can help save time and create a consistent style for your images.

6 Common white balance mistakes to avoid

When post-processing architectural photography, correcting white balance issues can be a great way to enhance your images, however, it can also introduce some problems if not done properly. To avoid common white balance mistakes, you should be aware of overcorrecting or undercorrecting the white balance, which can result in unnatural or unrealistic colors. Additionally, applying the same white balance settings to all images disregards the light source or the mood of the scene. Don't forget to use the creative potential of white balance to convey a certain atmosphere or emotion in your images. Lastly, before exporting or printing your images, remember to check the white balance as different formats and devices may affect the color rendition.