What is the suggested White Balance when using the FJ system?Updated 2 months ago

Many flashes in the FJ system provide accurate colors with their white balance of 5500K (+- 150K). The FJ strobes and speedlights produce consistent color output over their power range, thus selecting the appropriate white balance settings is critical for the best results.

Recommended White Balance Settings

• Custom White Balance
  • For maximum accuracy, Westcott recommends utilizing a custom white balance.
• Fixed Settings
  • You can also set your camera to 5500K or use the Daylight icon to get reliable results.
• Why Skip Auto White Balance (WB)
  • Because Auto WB adapts to the hues in your scene, it may cause color inconsistencies. Although newer Auto WB systems have improved, they still cannot compete with the dependability of FJ system strobes.

When to Make Exceptions?

If ambient light is your major source and the FJ gear is only filling in the shadows, you can set your white balance to match it.

Flash White Balance Settings:

When utilizing a FJ strobe or trigger, many cameras will default to the "Flash" white balance preset. This can result in a somewhat warmer fill, which can be useful in certain instances.

Custom White Balance for Tint Issues:

If you're shooting under specific lighting settings, such as the green tint from flora, a particular white balance is required to neutralize color shifts. The default "Flash" setting will not allow this.

Modifier Considerations

Although Westcott modifiers are intended to be color-neutral, off-brand choices may cause color shifts. Using a custom white balance will help keep your output neutral.