Which statement best describes color temperature and why white balance matters when mixing light sources?

• A. Color temperature describes warmth or coolness of light; mixing lights of different temperatures causes color casts; set WB to neutralize or balance.
• B. Color temperature measures the camera's sensitivity to light; white balance adjusts exposure.
• C. Color temperature is a fixed property of film only; digital cameras ignore Kelvin.
• D. Color temperature relates to exposure compensation.

Answer: (B)

Color temperature describes the warmth or coolness of light, and white balance is about how the camera renders colors under that light. When you mix light sources with different color temperatures, the scene can take on a color cast because each light contributes its own tint to every exposed surface. White balance adjusts the camera’s color rendering so whites and other neutral colors read as intended rather than taking on whatever tint the lighting brings.

White balance isn’t about exposure. It’s a color-management tool. In mixed lighting, you can neutralize the cast by choosing a white balance setting that matches the dominant light or by using a custom balance, or you can shoot RAW and adjust later if needed. Knowing typical temperatures helps: tungsten light is around 3200K (warm), daylight is about 5500–6500K (cooler), and fluorescent sources vary around 4000K. Using gels to unify the scene is another practical option.

So the key idea is: color temperature is the warmth/coolness of light, and white balance matters because it corrects color casts when those temperatures differ across light sources.