How to ‘fix’ the Pixel 4 Inconsistent White Balance Error
The Pixel 4 and 4 XL have some of the best hardware cameras available on any smartphone, but best doesn’t necessarily mean perfect. As reported by Android Police , Reddit posters, and Google support users, the Pixel 4 white balance algorithm seems to be causing a strange color correction error. Pixel 3 users have had a similar issue in the past, but this was a much rarer bug and apparently only affected photos taken in Night Mode. On the other hand, Pixel 4 white balance errors occur when shooting in any of the different camera modes of the Google Camera app, and even when using alternative apps.
Correct: even switching to a different app will not fix the white balance issue as the issue is caused by OS level software and not the camera hardware or the apps themselves. While this means that Google could supposedly fix the strange behavior issue with future Android updates, there was no indication that they would be coming any time soon, despite user complaints .
However, Reddit users have discovered a potential solution for recovering photos affected by Pixel 4 white balance miscalculations.
It looks like by exporting a RAW photo file – which is essentially the pristine image data your camera creates when you take a photo – then converting it to a different type of file can bypass the Pixel white balance correction, which can result in to more accurate color reproduction. data. Some users have reported that RAW images are grainy and fuzzy, which makes sense as they haven’t gone through various Pixel 4 post-processing enhancements, but that’s the only real solution for now.
How to Export and Convert RAW Photos Saved on Pixel 4
To export RAW photos from your Pixel 4 or 4 XL (or any other Pixel device for that matter), you’ll first need to enable RAW shooting in the stock Pixel camera app.
- Open an app, swipe right in the center menu, and tap More> More.
- Scroll down and turn on RAW + JPEG Management.
- Click View RAW Folder to see all RAW files saved on your phone.
- While you can view RAW photos this way, you need to open them in a photo editing application like Google Snapseed, which supports RAW photos, and then export them to a format more web-friendly or sharing like JPEG. which is probably the most appropriate. the best choice for posting on social media or attachments to texts or emails.
You can also convert RAW files to other photo formats on PC. You will need to transfer files from your phone to your computer, either via USB or using a cloud storage service, and then edit / export them using software like Photoshop, Lightroom, or one of these free open source alternatives .