Colour balancing for augmented reality

A method of augmented reality comprising the steps of associating tint information with a predetermined graphical object, receiving a video image of a real scene comprising a feature for detection, detecting the feature in the video image of the real scene and selecting a graphical object responsive to the detected feature, and augmenting the video image with the selected graphical object, and in which if the selected graphical object is the predetermined graphical object, retrieving the tint information associated with the predetermined graphical object, and modifying the colour balance of the video image responsive to the tint information. The colour balance may be modified dependent on the position of a video image pixel with respect to the position the graphical object will occupy in the augmented video image e.g. it could be modified in a series of concentric circles centered on a position of the graphical object. The tint information may also be modified with respect to time to give a flickering effect consistent with a fire. Brightness information may also be associated with the graphical object and used to modify the augmented image for example if the object is a thundercloud a blue tint associated with the cloud may be applied and the brightness of the image may be reduced.