Color, White Balance and Color Management
Master color in photography: color temperature, white balance, mixed lighting, color harmony, grading, color spaces, calibration and soft proofing.
13 lessons
Progress is saved in this browser only.
Lessons in this course
-
1
Why Photographs Have Color
Learn why things have color, how light, objects and our eyes create it, how cameras record red, green and blue, and why cameras see color differently.
6 min -
2
Color Temperature and the Appearance of Light
Learn what color temperature is, how the Kelvin scale works, typical values for candles, bulbs, daylight and shade, and why warm light has a lower number.
5 min -
3
White Balance Settings and Custom White Balance
Learn what white balance does, how auto, preset, Kelvin and custom white balance work, how to use a gray card, and when to keep warm or cool colors.
6 min -
4
Mixed Lighting and Difficult Color
Learn why mixed lighting creates two color casts, how to fix it by removing a source, matching lights with gels or choosing a dominant light.
6 min -
5
Color Relationships and Complementary Colors
Learn how the color wheel works, why RGB and painter's wheels give different complements, and how complementary, analogous and triadic colors work in photos.
5 min -
6
Color Harmony, Contrast and Visual Emphasis
Learn how to build color harmony with a dominant color, limited palette and accent color, and how proportion and saturation balance the colors in a photo.
5 min -
7
Color in Composition and Storytelling
Learn how color creates mood and meaning, why color associations vary by culture, how color connects a series, and when to choose black and white.
5 min -
8
RAW and White-Balance Flexibility
Learn why RAW white balance can be changed later without quality loss, why JPEG white balance is fixed, and why you should still set it when shooting.
6 min -
9
Color Correction Versus Creative Color Grading
Learn the difference between color correction and creative grading, why you correct first, how HSL and color wheels work, and how to keep skin natural.
6 min -
10
Color Spaces and Profiles
Learn what color spaces and ICC profiles are, how sRGB, Adobe RGB, Display P3 and ProPhoto RGB differ, and which one to use for editing, web and print.
6 min -
11
Monitor Calibration and Consistent Viewing
Learn why to calibrate your monitor, how a colorimeter works, common white point, gamma and brightness targets, and how your editing room affects color.
5 min -
12
Soft Proofing and Preparing for Print
Learn what soft proofing is, why prints look darker than screens, how printer and paper profiles and rendering intents work, and how to prepare for print.
6 min -
13
Color Management for Web and Digital Delivery
Learn how to keep photo colors consistent on websites, social media and phones: export settings, embedded profiles, sRGB vs Display P3 and device checks.
6 min