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Ian Bowen
Participating Frequently
January 18, 2021
Answered

Request: wider white balance range for editing photos shot on infrared-converted cameras

  • January 18, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 646 views

I shoot astrophotography on a converted Nikon D800 with the hot mirror swapped for a clear filter, leading to a very specific issue concerning white balance with raw files. Adding infrared to the red channel shifts tint toward magenta and temperature much warmer. I can correct the magenta tint, but with Lightroom Classic's temperature slider stopping at 2000 K on the cool end, I wind up with this result (temp at 2000, tint at -106). I realize I can use an external editor to correct this, but since I often shoot astrolandscape time lapses it would be much easier to have the ability to correct the color built into Lightroom Classic. 

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Correct answer johnrellis

See the later posts in this feature request:

https://feedback.photoshop.com/conversations/camera-raw-and-dng/lightroomcamera-raw-color-temperature-below-2000k/5f5f44fd4b561a3d422e1d5b?commentId=60050308ae94111a692a60e4 

 

They describe two methods for getting a white balance suitable for infrared photos: Use the free DNG Profile Editor to build a custom camera profile, or make a creative profile.

 

[Use the blue reply button under the first post to ensure replies sort properly.]

 

 

2 replies

johnrellis
johnrellisCorrect answer
Legend
January 18, 2021

See the later posts in this feature request:

https://feedback.photoshop.com/conversations/camera-raw-and-dng/lightroomcamera-raw-color-temperature-below-2000k/5f5f44fd4b561a3d422e1d5b?commentId=60050308ae94111a692a60e4 

 

They describe two methods for getting a white balance suitable for infrared photos: Use the free DNG Profile Editor to build a custom camera profile, or make a creative profile.

 

[Use the blue reply button under the first post to ensure replies sort properly.]

 

 

Ian Bowen
Ian BowenAuthor
Participating Frequently
January 31, 2021

This worked well, thank you! 

 

For others who find this through search, there's a more recent walkthrough here that was quite helpful to tie the custom camera profile into Lightroom Classic: https://robertreiser.photography/proper-infrared-white-balance-in-lightroom/

 

I do still think expanding LrC's native white balance range without having to resort to a workaround would be very helpful for others in the future, as the popularity of converted cameras for astrophotography in particular seems to be growing.