The white balance function compensates for color casts caused by ambient lighting, ensuring white objects in photos appear truly white.

Different light sources carry distinct colors and characteristics. For example, candlelight has a yellowish tone, while daylight under cloudy conditions appears bluish. The human eye automatically compensates for such color shifts based on the perception that white objects should look white. Cameras, however, reproduce captured colors as‑is in photographs. As a result, whites in photos may appear yellowish or bluish due to ambient light, unlike what is seen by the naked eye.

In Photo [1], the white plate looks yellow under candlelight. By contrast, Photo [2] exhibits a blue cast under sunlight.

The primary purpose of white balance is to calibrate the white reference inside the camera and correct such color shifts induced by lighting. Beyond its core function of reproducing true white, white balance in digital cameras has also evolved to work like color filters for tonal adjustment.

Auto White Balance (AWB)

Cameras feature Auto White Balance (AWB), which automatically calibrates white balance according to the detected scene. AWB is the default setting; the camera adjusts colors automatically for natural rendering across diverse shooting environments. AWB is recommended for quick shooting or scenes with mixed lighting when you are unsure which white balance preset to select.

Changing White Balance Settings

Apart from AWB, cameras provide several preset white balance modes tailored to different scenarios. If AWB fails to deliver your desired colors, or if you wish to adjust tones creatively, you may manually select a preferred preset.

As shown in the figure above, the camera offers 10 white balance presets including AWB. The sample photos below illustrate color differences produced under various settings.

The cat in the photo was shot on an overcast day. AWB and Cloudy mode reproduce natural colors close to reality. In comparison, Daylight mode creates a bluish cast, while Shadow mode results in a warmer, yellowish tone.

Now examine the night‑scene sample photo. AWB reproduces realistic colors yet introduces a slight overall green tint. Switching to Fluorescent mode eliminates this green cast. Note that adjusting the Fluorescent preset from “−” to “+” produces warmer tones. Select settings based on your preference or intended visual effect.

Fine Tuning

Each white balance preset supports fine tuning (). You can customize presets to add a unique stylistic look to your images. () Available adjustable presets and operation interfaces vary by camera model.

The photo on the right was captured with a blue tint added to the base AWB setting. Fine tuning enables color rendering that cannot be achieved using standard white balance presets alone.

Leveraging White Balance for Photographic Creativity

White balance was originally designed to accurately render white, yet neutral correction may not always be the artistic goal. Depending on your subject, you may prefer warmer or cooler overall tones — white balance can achieve such expressive results. Experiment with different white balance settings across varied scenes to explore diverse color aesthetics.