Wizard IF: Custom White Balance?

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jim_p

jim_p

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
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My visualization setup uses Wizard Integrated Framer with a Canon S1 IS camera mounted over the design counter. Does anybody know how I can set a custom white balance with this setup? There are various illumination options in the setup box (tungsten, fluorescent, etc) including "custom", but there doesn't seem to be any way to SET the custom white balance! Am I missing something?
 
Jim, I had an S1-iS for my viz system until it failed* and Canon sent an S5 to replace it. I believe that with both of these models, white balance is handled first by an adjustment within the camera, with further refinement through the software and monitor settings.

Check your Canon user's manual for instructions. As I recall, all I had to do was place a white sheet (matboard, it was) under the lens and push a button or two to calibrate the white balance. After you calibrate the camera, then fix the settings of your software and monitor.

Note that if you change your lighting set up, you may have to recalibrate white balance in the camera, and readjust the software and monitor. Any change of lighting, such as sunlight beaming through a window at certain times of the day, may cause inconsistent results.

At least, that's been my experience, and the several viz systems I have used have all been the same in that regard.

* Canon had a batch of defective chips that were used in S1 and other cameras. Canon has (had?) a web page about this issue and offered to replace cameras that failed, even beyond the warranty period. If your S1 ever gives up, maybe Canon will replace it free for you. Check this thread:
http://www.thegrumble.com/showthread.php?t=29084&highlight=defective+Canon
 
Canon S2 - White balance as I understand it.

You cannot set custom white balance when operating the camera by computer.

You would disconnect the camera from the computer and follow the set custom white balance procedure as in the manual:

select AWB from the FUNC menu
select custom
aim camera at a white paper under the usual lighting
(shooting mode P, exposure compensation at 0, zoom to full telephoto)
press the set button

White balance is now in memory and will remain until you do the set procedure again. It will not be lost even if you reset camera to defaults.

Now when you connect to the computer you can choose "custom white balance" and the camera will use the white balance settings you recorded.

That's the way I understand it and it seems to work for me.
 
Very good info Bandsaw.... Thanks
 
Not sure about how the visualization software uses the whitebalance control in the custom software but

I can set "Custom White Balance" on my S1is using computer control. Place a piece of 98cri paper (just any white paper isn't good enough for me) to fill the viewfinder, click Custom on the white balance setting button and see the color correction occur on the computer monitor.

All that being said, the Custom White Balance used by my S1 is poor at best when compared to the Custom White Balance used by my Olympus SP-350. Color rendition (at least for me) is far superior and may be why at least one Visualization software vendor uses the Olympus camera instead of the Canon.

FYI, Canon is no longer replacing S1 cameras that fail with S5 cameras. They are now repairing the S1 cameras and returning them as of around Dec 2008. That's stilll a good deal.
 
Rick,

What software are you using with the Canon. There is no white balance setting button in my software at all.
 
I'm not using Visualization software but I thought that there was a lighting settings and one of the choices was "Custom". The menu label was lighting but the choices corresponded directly with the Canon whitebalance choices. Someone with FrameVue or Wizard can correct me. I had a sheet of foamcore that was "tiled" using the 98cri paper when we were using visualization software.

Using 98cri (32 lb HP Premium Choice LaserJet) paper makes significant differences at least to my eye over other "White" papers

Right now, I'm using Canon software (ZoomBrowser EX w/RemoteCaptureTask) and the camera to take (attempt is a more accurate word) product photos of jewelry. It's much easier using Canon computer control but the Olympus yields much better pictures only it doesn't provide software for computer control.
 
I don't operate the camera through the visualization software.

I use Canon software (ZoomBrowser EX w/RemoteCaptureTask) and I can choose custom but have no way to set it. Choosing custom uses whatever custom is in memory having been set when the camera is not connected to the computer.
 
Well, carp. You're right. I don't know where I got the idea that clicking the Custom button in the software took a white balance reading at the instant the button was clicked. I just had a false sense of security when I saw the color change to a more realistic representation.

That means that I'll just start using the Oly instead and solve many of my headaches.

That's the 3rd thing that I learned today, so it must be time to quit so that I don't overload too many braincells.
 
Bandsaw said:
I don't operate the camera through the visualization software.

I use Canon software (ZoomBrowser EX w/RemoteCaptureTask) and I can choose custom but have no way to set it. Choosing custom uses whatever custom is in memory having been set when the camera is not connected to the computer.
Click to expand...

Rick Bergeron - CPF said:
Well, carp. You're right. I don't know where I got the idea that clicking the Custom button in the software took a white balance reading at the instant the button was clicked. I just had a false sense of security when I saw the color change to a more realistic representation.
So does that mean if you are using the IF software and controlling the white balance from the camera, that you would zoom in on a white area of the artwork/mat and then set custom, before taking the picture each time?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I believe you have to disconnect the camera from the computer and set the white balance using the cameras own controls. The balance you set will then remain in memory and be called up any time you choose the custom white balance function in computer or not. Apparently the custom white balance will not even be lost if you reset the cameras defaults. It will only change if you use the custom white balance set button in the camera's controls when not connected to a computer.
 
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