Calibration targets for digital cameras and methods of using same

A target for calibrating a digital camera configured primarily to produce single images prior to exposing at least one image to image sensors therein, the target comprising:

• a panel having a first surface and a second surface, the first side having substantially equal amounts of neutral white target area, neutral black target area and neutral gray target area without color bias, the second surface having a neutral white or neutral gray target area without color bias;
• wherein exposure of the image sensor in the digital camera to the first surface of the panel at a location of an image prior to recording the image determines settings within the digital camera for a desired exposure of the image, and exposure of the image sensor to the second surface of the panel positioned at the location of the image determines settings for a desired color balance for the image.

A method of calibrating a digital camera having an exposure setting comprising:

• prior to exposing an image of an original scene to an image sensor within the camera, exposing the image sensor to a calibration target located at the original scene, the calibration target having at least a neutral white target area which reflects substantially all wave lengths of visible light and a neutral black target area which absorbs substantially all wave lengths of visible light;
• adjusting the exposure setting within the camera for the target until an adjusted exposure setting for black and white detection is substantially balanced within the camera for a selected intensity of and distribution of light at the original scene, and
• exposing the image sensor to the scene using the adjusted exposure setting to digitally photograph the image.

A target for calibrating digital cameras configured primarily to produce single images prior to exposing at least one image to image sensors therein, the target comprising:

• a panel having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface having substantially equal amounts of neutral white target area, neutral black target area and neutral gray target area without color bias, the second side having a reflective surface;
• wherein exposure of the image sensors in digital cameras to the first side of the panel at a location of an image prior to recording the image determines settings for a desired exposure of the image, and determines settings for a desired colored balance for the image.