Apple Final Cut Express HD - Manual (Page 843)

Chapter 56 Color Correcting Clips 843
IX
Since the picture was tinted into the blues, when you click the eyedropper on part of
the white bedspread, the balance control indicator moves into a mixture of red and
yellow to turn the whites of the image into true white.
You can see the correction in the Canvas.
Note: When using the Whites Select Auto-balance Color button, it’s important to
recognize that the color temperature of the light illuminating the white area you select
will affect the hue of the compensation that is made. For example, if the picture is lit
with a combination of daylight and tungsten sources, selecting a part of the picture
illuminated by daylight will result in compensating the overall color temperature of the
image by adding more reds, while selecting a part of the picture illuminated by
tungsten will compensate by adding more blues. In such a case, you need to simply
pick the best possible compromise that looks right to you.
In general, using the Auto-balance button will get you close to where you need to be
quickly and easily. However, to achieve the look you really want, you need to make
further adjustments to the Balance control by hand.
The balance control
indicator moves to
correct the whites.
After color correction Before color correction