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. 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.
How to use Color Temperature and White Balance Reference
- Find your light source in the reference table.
- Read its color temperature in Kelvin.
- Match the corresponding white balance preset on your camera.
- Fine tune if mixed light sources are present.
Frequently asked questions
What color temperatures do common lights have?
Candlelight is around 1800 K, tungsten bulbs near 3200 K, daylight around 5500 K, and overcast or shade skies 6500 K or higher. The reference lists these in Kelvin.
How does Kelvin relate to white balance?
Setting your white balance to the light source Kelvin neutralizes its color cast, so matching the preset to the source keeps whites looking white.
Why do lower Kelvin values look warm?
Despite the name, lower color temperatures appear warmer and more orange, while higher values appear cooler and bluer, which can feel counterintuitive.
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.
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