Technical Solutions
| Picture Control TIPS

Using Picture Controls

Picture Control is Nikon's unique image enhancement system which allows photographers to fine-tune color, exposure, and other settings to create photographs and movies that better express their artistic and creative vision. This flexible, fully customizable Nikon Picture Control system is available with compatible cameras and software. This section describes how to choose and adjust settings according to the situation, as well as explaining customization with the D800/800E and how to use Picture Control Utility.

Preset Picture Controls

The camera's preset Picture Controls are described below.

Standard (default)

Description Pictures are processed for balanced sharpness, contrast, brightness, saturation (vividness), and hue.
Concept Parameters are tuned for an effect that appeals to most viewers, regardless of the subject. Vividness is slightly increased for pictures that can be used "as is", with no further processing.
Suggested for Snapshots and other general-purpose pictures.

Neutral

Description Extreme exposure is avoided for clean, natural results.
Concept Under- and over-exposure are avoided for natural colors and a rich tone range. Images are softened by keeping sharpening and contrast low.
Suggested for Photographs that will later be processed or retouched to create unique images; photos of objects that are mostly black or white or that have soft outlines.

Vivid

Description Sharpening, contrast, and other settings are enhanced for vivid, fresh results with good contrast.
Concept A vivid, photoprint look with heightened sharpening and contrast that makes the subject stand out.
Suggested for Colorful costumes or street scenes, fresh fruits, floral arrangements and anywhere you want to emphasize bright colors or enhance low-contrast subjects.

Monochrome

Description Pictures are recorded in monochrome.
Concept Use Filter effects to reproduce the effects of color filters when taking pictures in black-and-white, or use Toning for monochrome pictures in other tints.
Suggested for Portraits, snapshots, landscapes, and any other subject that can be captured in monochrome.

Portrait

Description Settings are adjusted to enhance the complexion of portrait subjects.
Concept Natural-looking results that brighten and smooth the complexions of portrait subjects and soften curves.
Sharpening and contrast are reduced slightly for a soft effect. Background objects and clothing are rendered using settings similar to the Standard control.
Suggested for Portraits.

Landscape

Description Settings are adjusted to lend vividness and depth to scenes featuring blue skies and green foliage.
Concept Mid-tone levels are brought down for a calm, composed effect, while vividness is restrained for natural-looking results. Sharpening and contrast are slightly increased.
Suggested for Wooded hills and valleys and other landscapes featuring blue skies and green foliage, as well as cityscapes and other scenery.
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How to set Picture Controls

Users of the D800/D800E can display Picture Control settings by pressing the button. Highlight a Picture Control and press .

Picture Controls can also be accessed using the Set Picture Control option in the shooting menu.

Picture Controls

To modify tone, hue, and other parameters, highlight a Picture Control in the Picture Control list and press .

The Manage Picture Control option in the shooting menu can be used to save the modified controls or to copy them to a memory card for use in other cameras or compatible software.

When the button is used to display Picture Controls in live view, the effects of the highlighted control can be previewed in the display.

Picture Controls can also be applied to movies. Match your choice of Picture Control to your subject for more vibrant colors or to add atmosphere by filming in black and white.

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Modifying Existing Picture Controls

Existing Picture Controls can be modified to suit the scene or your creative intent. Choose Quick adjust for a balanced combination of settings or adjust each parameter manually.

1 Select a Picture Control.

Highlight a Picture Control in the Picture Control list and press .

2 Adjust settings.

Press or to highlight settings and press or to adjust. Repeat until all settings have been adjusted, or select Quick adjust to choose from preset combinations. Default settings can be restored by pressing the button.

3 Press .

Modifying Picture Control Parameters: Sample Images

Quick Adjust

Adjust the effect of the selected Picture Control by applying simultaneous adjustments to sharpening, contrast, and saturation. Not available with Neutral, Monochrome, or custom Picture Controls.

Sharpening

Control the sharpness of outlines. The higher the value, the greater the sharpening.

Contrast

Adjust contrast. Choose negative values for softer contrast, positive values to preserve details in low-contrast subjects.

Brightness

Adjust brightness without affecting exposure.

Saturation

Note: Non-monochrome Picture Controls only

Control the vividness of colors. Lower values reduce saturation, while higher values increase it.

Hue

Note: Non-monochrome Picture Controls only

Choose negative values to make reds more purple, blues more green, and greens more yellow, positive.

Filter effects

Note: Non-monochrome Picture Controls only

Simulate the effect of color filters when shooting in monochrome.

Toning

Note: Non-monochrome Picture Controls only

Choose a tint for monochrome pictures.

Hue: The Color Wheel

The hue parameter can be visualized as a color wheel. Choosing lower values rotates the wheel counterclockwise, so that the hues at the top of the wheel are replaced by their neighbors to the right. Choosing higher values rotates the wheel clockwise, so that the hues at the top of the wheel are replaced by their neighbors to the left.

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Managing Custom Picture Controls

Picture Controls that have been customized to suit your preferences can be saved to the camera under a new name and then copied for use in other cameras or software.

Creating Custom Picture Controls

Existing Picture Controls can be modified and saved to create custom Picture Controls.

1 Select Manage Picture Control > Save/edit.

Highlight Manage Picture Control in the shooting menu and press to display the options shown at right. Highlight Save/edit and press .

2 Select a Picture Control.

Highlight an existing Picture Control and press .

3 Edit the Picture Control.

Edit the Picture Control as described in "Modifying Existing Picture Controls". To start over from default settings, press . Press when settings are complete.

4 Select a destination.

Select a destination for the custom Picture Control (C-1 through C-9) and press .

5 Name the custom Picture Control.

Enter a name up to 19 characters long. After entering a name, press to exit to the shooting menu.

The new custom Picture Control will be added to the Picture Control list.

Sharing Custom Picture Controls

Custom Picture Controls created on a D800/D800E can be saved to a memory card for use with other cameras.

1 Select Manage Picture Control > Load/save.

Highlight Manage Picture Control in the shooting menu and press to display the options shown at right. Highlight Load/save and press .

2 Copy a custom Picture Control to the memory card.

The options shown at right will be displayed. Highlight Copy to card and press to view a list of the custom Picture Controls created with the camera.
Highlight a Picture Control and press to display a list of　destinations (1 through 99), then highlight a destination　and press to copy the selected Picture Control to the　memory card.

3 Transfer the memory card.

After turning both cameras off, remove the memory card from the D800/D800E, and then insert it into the destination camera and turn the destination camera on.

4 Select Manage Picture Control > Load/save.

Highlight Manage Picture Control in the destination camera shooting menu and press to display the options shown at right. Highlight Load/save and press .

5 Copy the control.

The options shown at right will be displayed. Highlight Copy to camera and press to view a list of the custom Picture Controls on the memory card.
Highlight a Picture Control and press to display a list of destinations (C-1 through C-9), then highlight a destination and press to copy the selected Picture Control to the camera. The control will be added to the camera Picture Control list.

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