User manual

Phantom Help File164

4.2.3 Preview/Playback Panel Procedures

This topic describes the Step-by-Step procedures that can be performed via the Preview or Playback

Panels.

4.2.3.1 Performing a White Balance Adjustment

Because of the different "colors" of various types of light sources, a color cameras' preview images

may have a color tint that may not appear quite right during setup. The Phantom camera has several

adjustment methods to assist in correcting image color. Using the fast and easy to use White Balance

control should be the first step in color adjustment. Failure to perform a white balance could result in

an unsightly, unnatural color cast.

A white balance adjustment can be performed within a Preview Panel or a Playback Panel, on a

preview image or on a RAM/Flash/CineMag/file cine image.

To perform a White Balance adjustment:

STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE

Move the cursor onto the image displayed in either the Preview Panel.

Locate an area that resembles white, and note the information in the Status Bar located below the

panel.

NOTE

The dimensions of this area should be approximately 32x32 pixels, (the cursor itself is 32x32

pixels in size), and the pixels should not be saturated.

With the cursor in the area you have chosen, look at the three RGB values separated by

commas listed to the right of "RGB:" listing in the Status Bar. These values represent the color

values of the red, green, and blue pixels under the cursor. Zero equals "no value," and 255

equals "saturation for an 8-bit image pixel depth, 1024 for 10-bit images, 4096 for 12-bit images,

and 16384 for 14-bit image pixel depth." A display of 0,0,0 would equal black, and 255,255,255

would equal saturated white, (no color), for an 8-bit image, and so on.

With the cursor in the center region of your chosen white reference area pick the spot that gives

you the highest values for RGB, but one with NO value that exceeds the near saturated value.

Right click on this area.

CAUTION

White Balance Adjustment is not reliable if performed over an area with any saturated pixels.

Select the White Balance command in the pop-up window to perform a White Balance calibration

adjustment, alternatively

Click anywhere, other than on the White Balance command in the pop-up window, in the Preview

Panel to cancel the White Balance process.