While most RAW image processors offer 5x5 as the typical sample size for the white/grey neutralization picker, CS3 offers sample sizes up to 100+.
If you process in, say, ACR4 or Flexcolor (as I do) and open a Levels adjustment layer in CS3 and hold the grey picker over the grey card (or whatever you use) the difference in the readings is radical, to say the least.
Indeed, if you take a sample at, say, 101x101, your image will alter considerably.
I'm usually in a situation where I'm relying very heavily on a combination of grey card (the excellent basICColor card, in my case) and a Gretag Macbeth Color Checker, since a lot of what I do is on location and colour critical (fine art documentation for catalogues).
I guess that the colour temp reading after a grey sample is the most telling indication of the correct sample size. Or is it?
Do others use the standard small size or use Photoshops larger options?
D.