colour balance

Definition: Evaluation of predominance or lack of particular colours or range of colours in an image or print. * CORRECT or NEUTRAL colour balance indicates: (a) colours in image accurately reproduce those in scene (b) that no colour predominates i.e. there is no overall colour cast or bias (c) that greys and whites are not coloured i.e. they are neutral. * WARM colour balance indicates overall red, yellow or orange bias to image e.g. greys have slight hint of orange, blues are slightly magenta. * COLD or COOL colour balance indicates overall cyan, blue or violet bias to image e.g. greys are steely, yellows carry hint of green.
On the scales of colour
With colour photography, balance is determined by properties of the taking lens, use of any filters as well as colour balance of film and its match to colour index of light source e.g. daylight film gives correct balance for daylight but not for tungsten light. * With colour printing, balance is determined by properties of paper, film being printed, filters set on enlarger and properties of the enlarger e.g. type of light-source.

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