Digital camera and method for balancing color in a digital image

A method for color balancing a digital image comprising:

• adjusting color balance parameters in an interactive mode;
• receiving a shutter control signal indicating that an image should be captured;
• and
• processing the image in a capture mode, wherein the step of processing includes step of using the adjusted color balance parameters to color balance the image.

A method, comprising:

• sensing a low resolution image using a sensor;
• processing the low resolution image using color balance parameters;
• displaying the color-balanced low-resolution image on a display;
• receiving a signal from a user input device;
• adjusting the color balance parameters based on the signal;
• processing the low resolution image using the adjusted color balance parameters;
• and
• displaying the adjusted color-balanced low resolution image on the display.

A digital camera that operates in an interactive mode to adjust color balance of an image and in a capture mode for capturing the image after the color balance is adjusted, the camera comprising:

• a sensor to sense a low resolution image during an interactive mode and senses a full image during a capture mode;
• an image processor to color balance the low resolution image during the interactive mode and color balances the full image during the capture mode;
• a user input device to adjust the color balance of the low resolution image during the interactive mode by sending a signal to the image processor, wherein the signal is used to create color balance parameters that are applied to the lower resolution image by the image processor;
• a display displays the low resolution image in real time, while the user input device adjusts the color balance;
• and
• a shutter control to cause the camera to capture the image after the color balance has been adjusted, wherein during the image capture mode the image processor applies the color balance parameters set during the interactive mode to the full image.