Nikon D800 User Manual

Technical Guide

Picture Control Edition

En

Table of Contents

Introduction 2

Using Picture Controls 4

Preset Picture Controls 6

Modifying Existing Picture Controls 8

Matching Settings to Your Subject 12

Introduction 2

Using Picture Controls 4

Preset Picture Controls 6

Modifying Existing Picture Controls 8

Modifying Picture Control Parameters: Sample Images ...9

Matching Settings to Your Subject 12

Food .......................................................................................... 12

• Vivid Food Photos ........................................................................12

• Translucent Food Photos .......................................................... 14

Portraits ................................................................................... 16

• Adding Depth ...............................................................................16

• Brightening Colors in Fill-Flash Photos ................................18

• Emphasizing Shadows ...............................................................20

• Bright Lights, Healthy Complexion .......................................22

• High-Contrast Black-and-White..............................................24

Interiors .................................................................................... 26

• Softening Highlights ..................................................................26

• Balancing Interior and Exterior Lighting ............................. 28

• Giving Interiors a Soft, Fuzzy Feel ..........................................30

ii

Managing Custom Picture Controls 32

The Picture Control Utility 36

Managing Custom Picture Controls 32

Creating Custom Picture Controls ...................................... 32

Sharing Custom Picture Controls ........................................ 34

The Picture Control Utility 36

Creating Custom Picture Controls ..................................... 38

• Level Adjustment .........................................................................40

• Using Custom Tone Curves ......................................................42

Importing and Exporting Custom Picture Controls ........ 44

• Importing Controls to the Picture Control Utility ............44

• Saving Custom Picture Controls to a Memory Card ........45

1

Introduction

This D800/D800E Technical Guide, Picture Control Edition helps
those who have mastered the basic techniques described in
the original D800/D800E Technical Guide progress to the next
level: using image enhancement to elevate mere photographs
into works of art. Taking one such image enhancement tech­nique—Picture Controls—as an example, this guide shows
how professional photographers using the D800/D800E
choose and adapt settings according to the situation.

Available with compatible cameras and software, the  exible,
fully customizable Nikon Picture Control image enhancement
system lets all photographers, from beginners to profession­als,  ne-tune color, exposure, and other settings to create
photographs and movies that better re ect their artistic and
creative vision. This guide illustrates how Picture Controls can
be customized on the camera or using the Picture Control
Utility, which lets you preview the e ects of even the smallest
change to Picture Control parameters.

Featuring the D800/D800E, which is equipped with a Picture
Control button for quick access to Picture Controls, this guide
shows how Picture Controls can be used to enhance movies
and photographs alike. Experience the  exibility of an image
enhancement system that can be adapted to your subject
and creative intent.

2

One setting changes the look; changing the look creates new worlds.

3

Using Picture Controls

Users of the D800/D800E can display Picture Control settings
by pressing the L (Z/Q) button. Highlight a Picture Con-
trol and press J.

L (Z/Q) button

J button

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

4

Picture Controls

34

To modify tone, hue, and other pa­rameters (0 88), highlight a Picture
Control in the Picture Control list and
press 2.

The Manage Picture Control option in the shooting menu can
be used to save the modi ed controls (0 3232) or to copy them to
a memory card for use in other cameras or compatible software
(0

34, 4444).

When the L (Z/Q) button is used
to display Picture Controls in live view,
the e ects 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  lming in black and white.

5

Preset Picture Controls

Description

Concept

Suggested for

Description
Concept

Suggested for

Description

Concept

Suggested for

The camera’s preset Picture Controls are described below.

Standard (default)

Description Pictures are processed for balanced sharpness, contrast,

Concept Parameters are tuned for an eff ect that appeals to most

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

Suggested for Photographs that will later be processed or retouched to

Vivid

Description Sharpening, contrast, and other settings are enhanced for

Concept A vivid, photoprint look with heightened sharpening and

Suggested for Colorful costumes or street scenes, fresh fruits, fl oral

brightness, saturation (vividness), and hue.

viewers, regardless of the subject. Vividness is slightly
increased for pictures that can be used “as is”, with no
further processing.

and a rich tone range. Images are softened by keeping
sharpening and contrast low.

create unique images; photos of objects that are mostly
black or white or that have soft outlines.

vivid, fresh results with good contrast.

contrast that makes the subject stand out.

arrangements and anywhere you want to emphasize
bright colors or enhance low-contrast subjects.

6

Monochrome

Description
Concept

Suggested for

Description

Concept

Suggested for

Description

Concept

Suggested for

Description Pictures are recorded in monochrome.
Concept Use Filter eff ects to reproduce the eff ects of color fi lters

Suggested for Portraits, snapshots, landscapes, and any other subject

Portrait

Description Settings are adjusted to enhance the complexion of por-

Concept Natural-looking results that brighten and smooth the

Suggested for Portraits.

Landscape

Description Settings are adjusted to lend vividness and depth to

Concept Mid-tone levels are brought down for a calm, composed

Suggested for Wooded hills and valleys and other landscapes featuring

when taking pictures in black-and-white, or use Toning
for monochrome pictures in other tints.

that can be captured in monochrome.

trait subjects.

complexions of portrait subjects and soften curves.
Sharpening and contrast are reduced slightly for a soft
eff ect. Background objects and clothing are rendered us­ing settings similar to the Standard control.

scenes featuring blue skies and green foliage.

eff ect, while vividness is restrained for natural-looking re­sults. Sharpening and contrast are slightly increased.

blue skies and green foliage, as well as cityscapes and
other scenery.

7

Modifying Existing Picture Controls

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

Select a Picture Control.

1

Highlight a Picture Control
in the Picture Control list and
press 2.

Adjust settings.

2

Press 1 or 3 to highlight set­tings and press 4 or 2 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 O (Q) button.

Press J.

3

8

Modifying Picture Control Parameters: Sample Images

Quick Adjust

Sharpening

Contrast

Quick Adjust Adjust the eff ect of the selected Picture Control by

Sharpening Control the sharpness of outlines. The higher the value,

Contrast Adjust contrast. Choose negative values for softer con-

applying simultaneous adjustments to sharpening,
contrast, and saturation. Not available with Neutral,
Monochrome, or custom Picture Controls.

Quick adjust: –2 Quick adjust: +2

the greater the sharpening.

Sharpening: 0 Sharpening: 9

trast, positive values to preserve details in low-contrast
subjects.

Contrast: –3 Contrast: +3

9

Modifying Existing Picture Controls

Brightness

Non-monochrome Picture Controls only

Saturation

Hue

Modifying Existing Picture Controls

Brightness Adjust brightness without aff ecting exposure.

Brightness: –1 Brightness: +1

Saturation Control the vividness of colors. Lower values reduce

Non-monochrome Picture Controls only

Hue Choose negative values to make reds more purple,

saturation, while higher values increase it.

Saturation: –3 Saturation: +3

blues more green, and greens more yellow, positive
values to make reds more orange, greens more blue,
and blues more purple.

Hue: –3 Hue: +3

10

Modifying Picture Control Parameters: Sample Images

Monochrome Picture Controls only

Filter
e ects

Toning

Modifying Picture Control Parameters: Sample Images

Filter
e ects

Monochrome Picture Controls only

Toning 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.

Simulate the eff ect of color fi lters when shooting in
monochrome.

Filter eff ect: OFF Filter eff ect: R

Tint: Sepia Tint: Green

11

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Choose and modify Picture Controls according to your goals
and creative intent.

Food

Shoot stimulating, delicious-looking pictures of food.

Vivid Food Photos

Selecting Vivid and adjusting contrast makes the roast and
side dishes more vivid and appealing.

■ Lens: AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105 mm f/2.8G IF-ED ■ Exposure
mode: Manual (⁄ s, f/11) ■ White balance: Direct sunlight

Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed us­ing Capture NX 2. Photo © Noriko Yamaguchi

12

The photo on the previous
page was taken using the Vivid
Picture Control with Contrast
set to –1 to make the meat ap­pear less greasy.

“Vivid” Versus “Standard”

While Standard produces bal­anced results, Vivid makes the
food look freshly served.

Quick Tip

Greens That Pop

Standard Landscape

The Landscape Picture Control vividly renders dishes that fea-
ture vegetables and other green items.

13

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Translucent Food Photos

The Vivid control can be modi ed for a translucent e ect.

■ Lens: AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60 mm f/2.8G ED ■ Exposure mode:
Manual (¼ s, f/11) ■ White balance: Direct sunlight

Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed us­ing Capture NX 2. Photo © Noriko Yamaguchi

Contrast and brightness raised

to make glass appear more

Redness increased to bring out

colors in salmon and shrimp.

transparent.

14

Food

Food

The photo on the previous
page was taken using the Vivid
Picture Control with Contrast,
Brightness, and Saturation set
to +1 and Hue to –1 to suppress
the blue cast from natural light
and bring out the red foods on
the plate.

The Modi ed Versus the Unmodi ed Picture Control

Although the results still re ect
the photographer’s original in­tent, under some lighting con­ditions the picture will have a
blue cast that makes red foods
appear more subdued.

Quick Tip

Creating an Ascetic E ect

Vivid Neutral

If Vivid makes food look rich, selecting Neutral before shooting
can lend dishes a certain Spartan appeal.

15

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Portraits

Improve your portraits with Picture Controls.

Adding Depth

A slight increase in
sharpening adds
depth by heighten­ing the di erences
between in- and
out-of-focus areas.

Sharpening in­creases separation
between subject
and background.

■ Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 50 mm f/1.4G ■ Exposure mode: Manual (⁄ s,
f/4.5) ■ White balance: Direct sunlight

Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed us­ing Capture NX 2. Photo © Daisuke Kumakiri

16

Portraits

Portraits

The photo on the previous page
was taken using the Portrait Picture
Control with Sharpening set to 4.
Other parameters are left at default
values for a soft e ect.

The Modi ed Versus the Unmodi ed Picture Control

Unmodi ed Picture Control Modi ed Picture Control

The modi ed Picture Control sharpens outlines in eyelashes,
hair, and other  ne details, preventing the subject appearing
 at and two-dimensional.

17

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Brightening Colors in Fill-Flash Photos

When using a  ll- ash in daylight, increase Saturation to
avoid washed out colors in areas lit by the  ash.

Sky is a beautiful
clear blue.

More depth visible
in shaded, underex­posed areas of turf.

■ Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 85 mm f/1.4G ■ Exposure mode: Manual (½  s,
f/14) ■ White balance: Direct sunlight

Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed us­ing Capture NX 2. Photo © Daisuke Kumakiri

18

Portraits

Portraits

The photo on the previous page
was taken using the Portrait Pic­ture Control with Saturation set to
+3. Sharpening is left at its default
value to suggest motion.

The Modi ed Versus the Unmodi ed Picture Control

Unmodi ed Picture Control Modi ed Picture Control

The modi ed Picture Control makes the sky and grass more
vivid for a balanced e ect that brings the portrait subject to
the fore. The blue of the sky was made still more vivid using
the Capture NX 2 LCH editor.

19

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Emphasizing Shadows

Reducing saturation emphasizes shadows for a still, calm ef­fect in photos taken under low natural light.

Increased contrast
tightens composi­tion.

Reduced satura­tion produces
near-monochrome
e ect.

■ Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 85 mm f/1.4G ■ Exposure mode: Manual (½  s,
f/5.6) ■ White balance: Direct sunlight

Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed us­ing Capture NX 2. Photo © Daisuke Kumakiri

20

Portraits

Portraits

The photo on the previous page
was taken using the Vivid Picture
Control with Contrast set to +1,
Brightness to –1, and Saturation
and Hue to –3 for a tighter overall
composition.

The Modi ed Versus the Unmodi ed Picture Control

Unmodi ed Picture Control Modi ed Picture Control

Where the unmodi ed Picture Control softens the image,
enhancing contrast brings the composition together. It also
suggests strength by changing how the viewer interprets the
subject’s expression.

21

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Bright Lights, Healthy Complexion

Prevent washed-out,  at-looking skin tones for an attractive,
healthy look in photos taken under bright studio lights.

Red increased for
a healthy-looking
complexion.

Saturation
increased to make
redder areas a
darker pink.

■ Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 85 mm f/1.4G ■ Exposure mode: Manual (⁄ s,
f/8) ■ White balance: Flash

Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed us­ing Capture NX 2. Photo © Daisuke Kumakiri

22

Portraits

Portraits

The photo on the previous page
was taken using the Portrait Picture
Control with Sharpening set to 1,

Saturation to +1, and Hue to –1.
Contrast is left at its default value

for a softer look.

The Modi ed Versus the Unmodi ed Picture Control

Unmodi ed Picture Control Modi ed Picture Control

With Hue set to –1, the modi ed Picture Control enhances
reds for a cute, pop-art look, while reducing sharpening soft­ens the image.

23

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Matching Settings to Your Subject

High-Contrast Black-and-White

To record photos in both color and black-and-white, shoot
using the Neutral Picture Control and then experiment with
di erent tints and  lters in Capture NX 2.

■ Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 85 mm f/1.4G ■ Exposure mode: Manual (⁄ s,
f/5.6) ■ White balance: Flash

Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed us­ing Capture NX 2. Photo © Daisuke Kumakiri

Subject lit with later conversion to

black-and-white in mind.

Increased contrast for silver

screen movie star look.

24

Portraits

The photo on the previous page was
taken using the Neutral Picture Con­trol and then converted to black-and­white Monochrome in Capture NX 2
using the Yellow  lter, with Contrast
set to +1.

Filter E ects

Orange Red

Filter e ects change the look
of monochrome pictures, par­ticularly lips and skin tones.
Choose a  lter with attention
to skin tone and the shadows
in clothing.

Green

Portraits

25

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Interiors

Create atmosphere with Picture Controls.

Softening Highlights

Bring out natural colors in roses shot under mixed lighting.

■ Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 50 mm f/1.4G ■ Exposure mode: Aperture-
Priority Auto (⁄ s, f/5.6) ■ White balance: Incandescent

Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed us­ing Capture NX 2. Photo © Noriko Yamaguchi

Settings are adjusted for natural-

looking colors: white roses that look

white and leaves that look green.

26

Interiors

The picture on the previous page
was taken with the Portrait Picture
Control, with Contrast set to +1
and Hue to +3, softening the image
overall.

The Modi ed Versus the Unmodi ed Picture Control

Unmodi ed: The Por­trait Picture Control en-

hances highlights, mak­ing it a perfect choice for
bringing out rich details
in a white-colored sub­ject. Here whites and
greens have been fur­ther enhanced for an ef­fect close to the desired
results.

Modi ed: Increasing con­trast slightly tones down
black outlines, while the
change to hue makes
greens more vivid (for
more information on hue
see page 1111).

Interiors

27

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Balancing Interior and Exterior Lighting

Heighten the e ect of looking through a window by empha­sizing the contrast between the window frame and the exte­rior while simultaneously reducing the e ects of the window
glass on the colors in the outdoor scene.

Tone down

mid-tones in the

window frame.

Adjust hue for natu­ral colors in the sky
and buildings.

■ Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED ■ Exposure mode: Aper-
ture-Priority Auto (½  s, f/11) ■ White balance: Direct sunlight

Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed us­ing Capture NX 2. Photo © Noriko Yamaguchi

28

Interiors

The picture on the previous page
was taken with the Landscape Pic­ture Control, with Contrast set to –2,
Brightness to –1, and Hue to –3 to
restore natural colors by reducing the
e ects of the window glass on the sky
and buildings in the exterior scene.

The Modi ed Versus the Unmodi ed Picture Control

Interiors

Standard

Landscape (with hue and
brightness adjustment)

Landscape (with hue adjustment)

The need to slightly emphasize
the concrete in the window
frame makes the higher-con­trast Landscape Picture Con-
trol a better choice than Stan-
dard, which would soften the
overall image. The e ects of the
change to Brightness are most
obvious in mid-tones, reducing
the brightness of the window
frame relative to the objects in
the exterior landscape.

29

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Matching Settings to Your Subject

Giving Interiors a Soft, Fuzzy Feel

Interior photos in catalogs can have a hard, didactic feel. Use
Picture Controls to create a soft, warm e ect.

■ Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED ■ Exposure mode: Manual
(⁄ s, f/11) ■ White balance: Auto (Keep warm lighting colors)

Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed us­ing Capture NX 2. Photo © Noriko Yamaguchi

Lower hue for warmer colors.

Lower contrast and satura-

tion for a softer feel overall.

30

Interiors

Interiors

The picture on the previous page
was taken with the Neutral Picture
Control, with Contrast set to –2,
Brightness to +1, and Saturation
and Hue to –3 for reduced vividness
and a calmer feel.

The Modi ed Versus the Unmodi ed Picture Control

Standard: Contrast is heightened for a hard, didactic feel.

Modi ed Picture Control: Contrast and saturation are reduced

for a soft, calm e ect that conveys the comfort of a lived-in
space.

31

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 modi ed and saved to create
custom Picture Controls.

Select Manage Picture Control > Save/edit.

1

Highlight Manage Picture
Control in the shooting menu

and press 2 to display the op­tions shown at right. Highlight

Save/edit and press 2.

Select a Picture Control.

2

Highlight an existing Picture
Control and press 2.

Edit the Picture Control.

3

Edit the Picture Control as de­scribed in “Modifying Existing
Picture Controls” (page 88). To
start over from default set­tings, press O (Q). Press J
when settings are complete.

32

Select a destination.

4

Select a destination for the
custom Picture Control (C-1
through C-9) and press 2.

Name the custom Picture Control.

5

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

The new custom Picture Con­trol will be added to the Pic­ture Control list (page 44).

33

Managing Custom Picture Controls

Managing Custom Picture Controls

Sharing Custom Picture Controls

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

Select Manage Picture Control > Load/save.

1

Highlight Manage Picture
Control in the shooting menu

and press 2 to display the op­tions shown at right. Highlight

Load/save and press 2.

Copy a custom Picture Control to the memory card.

2

The options shown at right will
be displayed. Highlight Copy
to card and press 2 to view a
list of the custom Picture Con­trols created with the camera.
Highlight a Picture Control and press 2 to display a list of
destinations (1 through 99), then highlight a destination
and press J to copy the selected Picture Control to the
memory card.

Transfer the memory card.

3

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

34

Sharing Custom Picture Controls

Sharing Custom Picture Controls

Select Manage Picture Control > Load/save.

4

Highlight Manage Picture
Control in the destination

camera shooting menu and
press 2 to display the op­tions shown at right. Highlight

Load/save and press 2.

Copy the control.

5

The options shown at right will
be displayed. Highlight Copy
to camera and press 2 to view
a list of the custom Picture
Controls on the memory card.
Highlight a Picture Control and press 2 to display a list of
destinations (C-1 through C-9), then highlight a destination
and press J to copy the selected Picture Control to the
camera. The control will be added to the camera Picture
Control list (page 44).

35

The Picture Control Utility

The Picture Control Utility is
a computer application used
to manage Picture Controls.
It also lets you adjust Picture
Controls while previewing
the e ect on a sample image
of your choice. The modi ca­tions can be saved as custom
Picture Controls.

Sample image

The Picture Control Utility can be launched from ViewNX 2 or
Capture NX 2.

ViewNX 2

Select File > Launch Picture
Control Utility. If an NEF

(RAW) image is selected when
the utility is launched, the se­lected picture will be used as
the sample image.

36

Capture NX 2

Open an NEF (RAW)  le and
select Camera Settings >
Picture Control in the “De­velop” section of the Edit List,
then click the
lect Launch Picture Control
Utility.

When launched from
Capture NX 2, the Picture
Control Utility displays a
default sample image; to
choose a di erent image,
click Sample Image and se­lect an NEF (RAW)  le. Note
that the e ects of Active
D-Lighting are not visible in
the sample image, and that
NEF (RAW) images edited
and saved in Capture NX or
CaptureNX2 can not be used.

icon and se-

37

The Picture Control Utility

The Picture Control Utility

Creating Custom Picture Controls

Select a Picture Control.

1

Choose a preset Picture
Control or a custom Picture
Control imported from
the camera or created in
Capture NX 2.

Adjust settings.

2

Adjust settings as de­scribed in “Level Adjust­ment” (page 4040) while
viewing the e ect on the
sample image. To abandon
any changes and start over
from default settings, click
Reset.

38

Creating Custom Picture Controls

Creating Custom Picture Controls

Save the Picture Control.

3

To save the custom Picture
Control under a new name,
click New.

The dialog at right will be
displayed; name the new
control (names may be up
to 18 characters long) and
click OK. The new control
will be added to the Picture
Control list.

To save a custom Picture Control under its existing name,
click Overwrite.

39

The Picture Control Utility

Quick Adjust

Manual
Adjust

Sharpening

Use Custom
Curve

Contrast/
Brightness

The Picture Control Utility

Level Adjustment

The Picture Control Utility
can be used to adjust Picture
Control parameters or create
custom tone curves. To adjust
Picture Control parameters,
enter values in the text boxes
or select Auto to let the cam­era adjust the parameter au­tomatically according to the
type of scene.

Quick Adjust Adjust the eff ect of the selected Picture Control by apply-

Manual
Adjust

Sharpening Control the sharpness of outlines. Move the slider left to

Use Custom
Curve

Contrast/
Brightness

ing simultaneous adjustments to sharpening, contrast,
and saturation. Not available with [NL] Neutral, [MC]
Monochrome, or custom Picture Controls.

Adjust Picture Control parameters manually. Not avail­able when Quick Adjust is selected.

soften outlines, right to sharpen outlines.
Adjust contrast and brightness using a custom tone

curve. Not available when Contrast/Brightness is se­lected.

Adjust contrast and brightness using the sliders. Not
available when Use Custom Curve is selected.

40

Creating Custom Picture Controls

Saturation

Hue

Filter E ects

Toning

Custom
Curve

Creating Custom Picture Controls

Saturation Control the vividness of colors. Not available when a

Hue Adjust hue. Not available when a monochrome Picture

Filter E ects Choose a fi lter eff ect from the menu (monochrome Pic-

Toning Choose a tint from the menu and adjust its saturation

Custom
Curve

monochrome Picture Control is selected.

Control is selected.

ture Controls only).

with the slider (monochrome Picture Controls only).
Edit the custom tone curve to adjust contrast and bright-

ness. Click Save to save the curve, or Load to import a
previously saved curve.

41

The Picture Control Utility

The Picture Control Utility

Using Custom Tone Curves

The following picture was taken using a high-contrast custom
tone curve created with the Picture Control Utility.

■ Lens: AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105 mm f/2.8G IF-ED ■ Exposure
mode: Manual (⁄ s, f/5.6) ■ White balance: Incandescent

Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed us­ing Capture NX 2. Photo © Noriko Yamaguchi

Saturation and hue adjusted

Custom tone curve heightens

for a warmer look.

contrast to make individual

seeds stand out.

42

Creating Custom Picture Controls

The photo on the previous
page was taken with the
Standard Picture Control, us­ing the “S”-shaped custom
tone curve shown at right for
heightened contrast. In addi­tion, Sharpening was set to

Auto, Saturation to +1, and
Hue to –1.

Creating Custom Picture Controls

S-curve: High con­trast, food stands
out.

Default curve Reversed S-curve:

Low contrast for a
softer look.

43

The Picture Control Utility

34

The Picture Control Utility

Importing and Exporting Custom Picture Controls

The Picture Control Utility can be used to import custom Pic­ture Controls created on the camera or to export custom Pic­ture Controls from the computer to the camera memory card.

Importing Controls to the Picture Control Utility

Custom Picture Controls created on a D800/D800E camera
can be imported into the Picture Control Utility. Before pro­ceeding, use the camera to copy custom Picture Controls to a
memory card as described in Steps 1 and 2 on page
turn the camera o , remove the memory card and insert it
in a computer card slot or in a card reader connected to the
computer.

Click Import.

1

In the Picture Control Utility,
click Import to import custom
Picture Controls from the
memory card.

Select a Picture Control.

2

The Picture Control Utility will
display a list of the custom Pic­ture Controls on the memory
card; select a control and click
OK. The selected control will
be added to the Picture Con­trol list in the Picture Control
Utility.

34, then

44

Importing and Exporting Custom Picture Controls

Importing and Exporting Custom Picture Controls

Saving Custom Picture Controls to a Memory Card

Follow the steps below to save Custom Picture Controls to a
memory card. The card can then be inserted into a camera
and the Picture Controls copied as described in Steps 4 and
5 on page 3535.

Insert a memory card in the computer.

1

Insert the card in a computer card slot or in a card reader
connected to the computer. Be sure to use only cards that
have been formatted in the camera.

Click Export.

2

Select a custom Picture Con­trol in the Picture Control Util­ity and click Export.

Select a destination.

3

If the computer detects more
than one memory card, a card
selection dialog will be dis­played; highlight a card and
click OK. A list of custom Pic­ture Control slots will be dis­played; select a slot and click
OK.

45

Credits

http://www.riviera-r.jp/zushi-marina/english

http://www.thetokyostationhotel.jp/

Food/Interior Photos: Noriko Yamaguchi

Born in Tochigi, Noriko Yamaguchi is a graduate of the Photography Department of the Tokyo
Polytechnic University, Junior College Department. Her work frequently appears in fashion
and travel magazines, where she is known for her unique, translucent compositions. She
received the 2nd Tokyo International Photo Biennial prize for her work, “Men of Istanbul”,
and the 16th Japan Magazine Photojournalists Association Award for “Street Artists”. Her
many publications include The Making of the Peninsular Tokyo, Real-G 1/1 Scale GUNDAM

Photographs, and photo anthologies such as Arashiyama Kitcho: Spring, Summer, Autumn,
and Winter Dining, Vegetable Sushi, Making Hawaiian Leis: The Joy of Floral Decorations, and
Discarding and Keeping. She is a member of the Japan Professional Photographers Society

and likes travel, cats, and pudding.

Portraits: Daisuke Kumakiri

Daisuke Kumakiri was born in Shinjuku, Tokyo in 1969. He joined the sta of the Daily Gen­dai newspaper as a news and sports photographer on graduating from the Photography

Department of the Tokyo Polytechnic University, Junior College Department, but has since
departed to work freelance. His work ranges from documentaries through portraits to cook­ing photos and appears in a variety of media, from advertisements to magazines. He also
holds photography workshops for elementary school students and the general public. His
exhibitions include “Acting: A Year with Actor Kanji Ishimaru” (2010) and “TOKYO ZOO”, the
latter featuring works created with the Nikon D800; he has also held workshops on the D600.
He was a member of the selection committee for the 2011/2012 Camera Grand Prix, helped
judge the 2012 “Bunkyo Highlights Picture Postcard Contest”, serves on the committee for the
2012/2013 JPS Exhibition, and is a member of the Japan Professional Photographers Society.

Cuisine: Mutsubi Nouvelle Chinois & Wine

Location: Riviera Zushi Marina (
THE TOKYO STATION HOTEL (

© 2012 Nikon Corporation

http://www.riviera-r.jp/zushi-marina/english)

http://www.thetokyostationhotel.jp/)

CS SB3A03 (11)