What would happen to color accuracy if the white balance is incorrectly set?

When the white balance is incorrectly set, colors in the image can appear unnatural. White balance is essential in digital photography as it determines how colors are portrayed based on the lighting conditions present during the shot. If the white balance is not accurately adjusted to reflect the correct light source, colors can shift toward a tint that does not represent the actual scene. For example, a photo taken in incandescent lighting without adjusting for the warm tones may result in an overall yellowish tint, making it difficult to distinguish between shades and hues authentically.

This unnatural appearance occurs because the camera is trying to compensate for the light it "thinks" is a neutral white, and as a result, every color may be influenced incorrectly. Essentially, the balance of the colors becomes skewed, leading to a misrepresentation of how subjects should look under normal lighting conditions.

In contrast, the other options refer to effects such as changes in lightness or darkness or increased intensity, which do not address the core issue of color representation under improper white balance settings.