8.3. Color Temperature

8.3.1. Overview

Figure 16.148. Example for the “Color Temperature” filter

Original image, with color temperature estimated at 5,000K

Modified image, with color temperature changed to 6,500K

The Color Temperature filter allows adjusting color temperature of the light source in an image in Kelvin. It can be used to correct the bluish cast in overcast photos, or even (to some extent) the red cast in photos taken under incandescent light with the camera set to daylight.

You can also use it to get interesting creative effects.

	Note
	This command does not work on Grayscale images. If the image is Grayscale, the menu entry is disabled.

8.3.2. Activate the filter

You can find this command through Colors → Color Temperature….

8.3.3. Options

Figure 16.149. “Color Temperature” options

Presets

“Presets” are a common feature for several Colors commands. You can find its description in Section 8.1.1, “Colors Common Features”.

Original temperature

This is the estimated original color temperature of the light source in Kelvin. You can change it because the image doesn’t necessarily encode that information correctly or at all (and you might or might not have measured it). In addition there’s often a mix of light sources (a window, a fill-in flash, a pile of burning organic fair-trade bamboo wood harvested under a full moon)… But above all else you can get interesting creative effects by changing it

Intended temperature

This is the desired color temperature of the light source in Kelvin.

Blending Options, Preview and Split view

These are common features described in Section 8.1.1, “Colors Common Features”.

Figure 16.150. Color Temperature Presets

	Tip
	Both original temperature and intended temperature can be set via presets. To access the presets menu, click the button with a triangle icon to the right of either of the two options.