White Balance
A camera function and image processing technique that adjusts color tones so white objects appear white regardless of the light source.
White balance compensates for the color temperature of ambient lighting so that white objects are rendered as neutral white. While human eyes adapt automatically to different light sources, camera sensors record the actual color temperature, causing color casts without correction.
Color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K). Lower values (around 3000K) indicate warm, orange-toned light, while higher values (around 7000K) indicate cool, blue-toned light. Fluorescent lighting is approximately 4500K, direct sunlight about 5500K, and overcast skies around 6500K. Auto White Balance (AWB) detects the light source automatically but may misjudge mixed-lighting environments.
Post-capture correction is performed as color correction. Shooting in RAW format allows full white balance adjustment after the fact. JPEG files have limited adjustment range, making correct in-camera settings more important. White balance is closely related to white point configuration.