Unfortunately, Adobe Illustrator doesn't have a dedicated "white balance" setting in the same way you might find in photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. Illustrator is primarily a vector graphics editor, not a raster image editor. Therefore, it focuses on manipulating paths and shapes rather than directly altering the color properties of imported raster images in a nuanced way like white balance adjustment.
However, you can achieve similar effects and adjust colors to normalize levels or correct imbalances. Here's how:
Adjusting Colors in Illustrator
While not a direct white balance tool, you can manipulate color to achieve a desired look using Illustrator's color correction features. This method, based on the reference, helps adjust color levels, especially in shadows:
- Import or create your artwork: Begin with the image or artwork you want to adjust.
- Open the "Look" panel: Access this panel (if it's not already visible) by going to Window > Appearance.
- Locate or add a "New Effect": Within the Appearance Panel, find a way to add a "New Effect." This may vary based on the version of Illustrator you are using. Look for "Add New Effect" button at the bottom of the panel.
- Apply the Gain Effect (If Available): If Illustrator contains a "Gain" effect, select it.
- Hue Control Adjustment: In the "Gain" color wheel interface (if available), find the "hue control tool," usually located in the center of the color wheel.
- Normalize Shadow Colors:
- Right-click inside the color wheel and release the mouse button.
- Swipe the mouse in any direction to adjust the hue values. This will change the shadows' color levels.
- Experiment to find the colors you desire.
Alternative Color Adjustment Methods (If Gain Effect is Not Available):
If the "Gain" effect isn't directly available, use these alternative color adjustments. Note that precise white balance mimicking is harder without specialized tools.
- Color Balance: (Effect > Adjust Colors > Color Balance) Allows you to adjust the levels of Cyan/Red, Magenta/Green, and Yellow/Blue. Try shifting these to correct color casts.
- Hue/Saturation: (Effect > Adjust Colors > Hue/Saturation) Allows you to adjust the overall hue, saturation, and lightness of the image. This is useful for broader color corrections.
- Convert to Grayscale and Recolor: Convert the artwork to grayscale (Edit > Edit Colors > Convert to Grayscale) and then use the Recolor Artwork feature (Edit > Edit Colors > Recolor Artwork) to apply new colors or color palettes to the artwork. While not a direct "white balance" fix, this allows for significant color transformations.
Important Considerations:
- Raster vs. Vector: Remember that these techniques are best suited for imported raster images within Illustrator. For vector graphics, you have direct control over the fill and stroke colors, making color adjustments much more straightforward.
- Non-Destructive Editing: Using effects in Illustrator allows for non-destructive editing. You can always adjust or remove the effect without permanently altering the original artwork.
In summary, while Illustrator lacks a dedicated "white balance" feature, you can effectively adjust colors and normalize levels using its color correction tools and effects. Experiment with different settings to achieve the desired results.
