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Color Temperature and White Balance Reference

-closest white balance preset

Every light source has a color, measured as a temperature in Kelvin, and matching your white balance to it is what keeps whites white and skin tones natural. Low Kelvin values look warm and orange like a candle, while high values look cool and blue like open shade under a clear sky, which is the opposite of how we usually think about hot and cold. This reference lists the color temperature of common light sources from candlelight through tungsten bulbs, fluorescent tubes, daylight, and shade, alongside the matching white balance preset your camera offers. Enter a Kelvin value and it tells you which preset is closest and whether the light will render warm or cool. Understanding this helps you set white balance quickly, mix light sources deliberately, and correct color in editing. Everything is looked up in your browser with nothing sent to a server.

Frequently asked questions

What is Color Temperature and White Balance Reference?

Every light source has a color, measured as a temperature in Kelvin, and matching your white balance to it is what keeps whites white and skin tones natural. Low Kelvin values look warm and orange like a candle, while high values look cool and blue like open shade under a clear sky, which is the opposite of how we usually think about hot and cold.

Is Color Temperature and White Balance Reference free to use?

Yes. Color Temperature and White Balance Reference is completely free, with no sign-up and no usage limits.

Does Color Temperature and White Balance Reference work in a web browser?

Yes. Color Temperature and White Balance Reference runs in any modern web browser. There is nothing to download or install.

Is my data private with Color Temperature and White Balance Reference?

Yes. Color Temperature and White Balance Reference runs entirely on your device in your browser, so nothing you enter is uploaded to a server.