Hi Y'all,

I am trying to find out why my pictures are coming out with a pinkish tint to them. I use white background, could it be the bulbs ( normal lamp bulbs ?? ) If its the camera, then I really do have a problem

All comments / advice appeciated.

Leo

thanks Kerry,I will have a look at the very basic instructions and get back to you.!!

Leo

Leo, where you found incandescent, etc., that is the light balance area.  Set up your light box and lights, take the same picture with the light balance at a different setting for each one.  See which one is the most realistic.  It really is as easy as that.  You may want to mark it down so that you remember the next time.
Rev. Doug Miller

For the Canon, it looks like pages 86 and 87 in the Camera User Guide are what you need.

Note that the top dial on the back of the camera needs to be set at "camera M" for "Manual" mode.  (In Auto mode, the camera does everything for you and you can't customize much of anything.)

Similar to what Doug said, scroll through the various white balance modes and compare the different "looks".  If one looks better than the others for your setup, choose it and use it.

If you'd like to try the Custom setting (just to see if it's better than any of the "pre-set" ones) go to page 87.   Follow the few steps exactly, and you'll be golden. 

IMPORTANT:  If you're like me, you will forget to set the White Balance back to AWB (Auto White Balance) for regular snapshots.  The easiest thing to do is turn the top dial on the back of the camera back to "camera" (Auto) mode.  If you always shoot your woodworking projects under the same conditions, just turn the dial to "camera M" for that, and back to "camera" when you're done. 

The last 3 cameras I bought have been PowerShots - an A520, an A540 and an A590IS.  That's why I checked the Canon manual.  If you'd like me to investigate the Olympus, let me know.

BTW, 3 other tips:

• Use a tripod!  (Even a pocket-sized one.)
• For close-ups (within, say, 16 inches) press the "flower" button to use "macro" mode and keep the focus sharp.
• Use the 2-second self-timer to eliminate the camera shake that occurs when you press the shutter button to take the picture -- especially in low light. (See page 62.)

Leo,  do you have two or more different types of lights?  Are you using a flash?  The WB is a little "warm" indicated by the pink/red tones.  Too cool and it develops a blue tint.
You may try some of the bright white floresent bulbs if you are using incandescent bulbs.  That should help the problem.

Graininess in the second photo is caused by a high ISO setting.  First photo was taken ISO=80 and the second ISO=800.  High ISO produces "noise" in the photograph.  Did you have less light with the last photo?  ISO is how sensitive the camera's sensor is to light.

Leo, first try those compack fluorescent bulbs in your current lamps.

There are 3 things that work together to capture the light.  The size of the opening in the lens, the sensitivity to light (ISO) and the amount of time the lens remains open.  If you increase the ISO, then the amount of time the lens is open to light is reduced.  If you set the ISO to a lower number, then the lens must remain open longer to capture the light.  Since  we are shooting a static non-moving subject, we will be OK with a slow shutter speed if we have the camera stable.  You must have a tripod or the pictures will be blurry.

My suggestion; 
a.  shoot from a tripod
b.  get bright white CFLs and set the WB to fluorescent H
c.  search through the Tutorials, Projects and Tips for photography.  There are several good articles there.

Sorry for going quiet on this topic for a while, I am still learning and testing. OMG. it looks so easy 

Leo

You are so right Chuck, I must video all of my turning, so I can show you just how often I screw up...........maybe not enough storage memory on the site for that many screw up vids. !!!!!

Leo