What is the purpose of white balance?

• A. Camera setting that adjusts for lighting in order make white objects appear white in photos
• B. Function that increases exposure
• C. Setting for color space
• D. Mode for capturing RAW

Answer: (A)

White balance handles color temperature so colors look natural under different lighting. Different light sources cast different tints—for example, tungsten light can make everything look warm/yellow, while shade can push colors toward blue. White balance adjusts the camera’s interpretation of colors so whites stay white and other colors appear correct in the scene. It’s not about increasing exposure, nor is it just about choosing a color space or RAW capture mode. You can also tweak white balance later when shooting in RAW, but the in-camera setting’s job is to neutralize those color casts as the photo is taken.