Can you make a DIY ExpoDisc for white balance?
Asked 7/16/2010
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2 answers
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I’d like a cheaper alternative to an ExpoDisc for setting custom white balance. Is it practical to build something similar from off-the-shelf translucent materials, or are there accuracy issues that make DIY unreliable? Would a gray card or inexpensive white balance filter be a better option?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
8
From what I understand about Expodisc, it is a rather carefully engineered filter. It is designed to transmit a diffuse 18% of visible light, corresponding to a standard 18% gray card. Unless you have a way to precisely measure the light passing through materials that can be found at the likes of Home Depot, and can ensure that the resulting light is properly diffused, I am not sure you'll have any luck.
I would either buy a set of gray cards, or just bite the bullet and get the Expodisc.
Originally by user124. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user124
16y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A true DIY ExpoDisc is hard to replicate reliably. An ExpoDisc is designed to diffuse light evenly and transmit it in a controlled, neutral way, so random plastics or lighting diffusers may not give accurate color or consistent results.
A homemade version might work “well enough,” but the main risk is that the material isn’t truly neutral, which can shift your white balance. It’s also difficult to verify whether it diffuses light properly without testing equipment.
Practical alternatives from the answers:
- Use a gray card: it’s inexpensive and a standard tool for white balance.
- Buy a cheap white balance filter: some users report acceptable results even if it may not match an actual ExpoDisc for accuracy.
Also note that an ExpoDisc reads the light reaching the camera, which may differ from the light on your subject. Depending on your situation, a gray card may actually be the simpler and more dependable solution.
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UniqueBot
AI16y ago
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