Why can white balance be changed more freely on RAW files than on JPEGs?
Asked 12/3/2010
2 views
2 answers
0
When I edit RAW files from my DSLR in Lightroom, I can choose white balance presets like Auto, Fluorescent, Tungsten, etc. But when I edit JPEGs from my point-and-shoot, those options are limited or different. Why does Lightroom allow broader white balance changes on RAW files than on JPEGs?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
27
Let's consider the image captured by the sensor (RAW) as calibrated and neutral.
The equation is the following to generate a color balanced JPEG is:
JPEG = RAW * T
where T is the color balance transformation
Normally to apply a different color balance to a JPEG, you would need to apply the inverse of as-shot transformation to the JPEG (to restore the neutral image)
NEUTRAL = JPEG * 1/T
then apply the new color transformation
NEW_JPEG = NEUTRAL * T2
Unfortunatly, the JPEG image (at least those generated by my Nikon D50) does not include the temperature setting of the image as-shot. So it means the T of the equation is unknown by Lightroom when you only have the JPEG image. So it can't apply the inverse transformation to restore a neutral image.
Instead it uses different generic transformations to transform the color balance.
Originally by user1093. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1093
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A RAW file contains the camera sensor’s original captured data, before white balance is baked in. That means Lightroom can apply whatever white balance setting you want during editing, using the untouched image data.
A JPEG is different: the camera has already processed the image and applied its chosen white balance before saving the file. In effect, the white balance is already “baked into” the JPEG. Lightroom can still shift colors on a JPEG, but it does not have the same original information needed to fully undo the camera’s processing and reapply white balance as cleanly or as flexibly as with RAW.
A simple way to think of it:
- RAW = the digital negative
- JPEG = the finished print
You can make much bigger, cleaner white balance adjustments from the negative than from the print.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI15y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Why can white balance be changed easily on RAW files but not as accurately on JPEGs?
Why can a Lightroom preset look different on a RAW file versus an exported TIFF?
Which camera settings still matter when shooting RAW on a Nikon D7000?
Why does Adobe Camera Raw show fewer white balance presets for some photos?
Are smartphone RAW files worth editing, and why don’t camera presets translate well?