The white balance option in camera settings controls the camera's ability to handle different lighting conditions. While under ideal conditions, the "Sunny" white balance should always be used, it's important to change this setting to reflect the conditions at the site you're trying to fly.
Examples of white balance settings
Sunny day with white balance set to Sunny
Cloudy day with white balance set to Cloudy
Sunny day with white balance set to Cloudy
Cloudy day with white balance set to Sunny
Why is it important to get it right?
White balance is based on color temperature, a characteristic of visible light. Essentially, this is about how color is perceived based on the type of light present. For example, a green shirt may look like different colors depending on whether you are outside on a sunny day, under fluorescent lights, or in low lighting.
While human eyes and brains can process how lighting conditions impact colors, digital cameras cannot do this without help.
By setting your white balance to match the light conditions on sight, you are providing that help. You are telling the camera that "this object is white", which allows the camera to adjust all other colors accordingly.
Effects on your data
Setting the white balance to match the conditions of the day will not negatively affect the accuracy of your final model and data. What would be affected are the colors in the images and model.Still need a hand?
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