2. D780 Online Manual
  3. Shooting Settings
  4. Image Processing (Picture Controls)

Image Processing (Picture Controls)

Selecting a Picture Control

Adjust image processing (Picture Control) settings according to your subject or creative intent. Picture Control options can be accessed via the [Set Picture Control] items in the photo and movie shooting menus (Set Picture Control, Set Picture Control).

  • In modes other than P, S, A, and M, the camera chooses a Picture Control automatically according to the scene.

Option

Description

n

[Auto]

The camera automatically adjusts hues and tones based on the [Standard] Picture Control. The complexions of portrait subjects will appear softer, and such elements as the foliage and sky in outdoor shots more vivid, than in pictures taken with the [Standard] Picture Control.

Q

[Standard]

Standard processing for balanced results. Recommended for most situations.

R

[Neutral]

Minimal processing for natural results. Choose for photographs that will later be processed or retouched.

S

[Vivid]

Pictures are enhanced for a vivid, photoprint effect. Choose for photographs that emphasize primary colors.

T

[Monochrome]

Take monochrome photographs.

o

[Portrait]

Smooth complexions for natural-looking portraits.

p

[Landscape]

Shoot vibrant landscapes and cityscapes.

q

[Flat]

Details are preserved over a wide tone range, from highlights to shadows. Choose for photographs that will later be extensively processed or retouched.

k01–k20

[Creative Picture Control]

Creative Picture Controls offer unique combinations of hue, tone, saturation, and other settings tuned for particular effects. Choose from a total of 20 options, including [Dream] and [Morning].

Set Picture Control

The [Set Picture Control] item in the movie shooting menu also offers a [Same as photo settings] option that sets the Picture Control for movies to the same as that used for photographs.

Modifying Picture Controls

Picture Controls can be modified to suit the scene or the photographer’s creative intent.

  1. Select a Picture Control.

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

  2. Adjust settings.

    Press 1 or 3 to highlight the desired setting (Picture Control Settings) and press 4 or 2 to choose a value in increments of 1, or rotate the sub-command dial to choose a value in increments of 0.25 (the options available vary with the Picture Control selected). To quickly adjust levels for balanced [Sharpening], [Mid-range sharpening], and [Clarity], highlight [Quick sharp] and press 4 or 2. Repeat this step until all settings have been adjusted. Default settings can be restored by pressing the O (Q) button.

  3. Save changes and exit.

    Press J to save changes and return to the Picture Control list. Picture Controls that have been modified from default settings are indicated by an asterisk (“U”).

Picture Control Settings

Option

Description

[Effect level]

Mute or heighten the effect of Creative Picture Controls.

[Quick sharp]

Quickly adjust levels for balanced [Sharpening], [Mid-range sharpening], and [Clarity]. These parameters can also be adjusted individually.

[Sharpening]

[Sharpening]: Control the sharpness of details and outlines.

[Mid-range sharpening]

[Mid-range sharpening]: Adjust the sharpness of patterns and lines in the range between [Sharpening] and [Clarity].

[Clarity]

[Clarity]: Adjust overall sharpness and the sharpness of thicker outlines without affecting brightness or dynamic range.

[Contrast]

Adjust contrast.

[Brightness]

Raise or lower brightness without loss of detail in highlights or shadows.

[Saturation]

Control the vividness of colors.

[Hue]

Adjust hue.

[Filter effects]

Simulate the effect of color filters on monochrome pictures.

[Toning]

Choose the tint used in monochrome pictures. Pressing 2 when an option other than [B&W] (black-and-white) is selected displays saturation options.

[Toning] (Creative Picture Control)

Choose the shade of color used for Creative Picture Controls.
[Filter Effects]

Choose from the following [Filter effects]:

Option

Description

[Y] (yellow) *

These options enhance contrast and can be used to tone down the brightness of the sky in landscape photographs. Orange ([O]) produces more contrast than yellow ([Y]), red ([R]) more contrast than orange.

[O] (orange) *

[R] (red) *

[G] (green) *

Green softens skin tones. Use for portraits and the like.

  • The term in parentheses is the name of the corresponding third-party color filter for black-and-white photography.

The i Menu

Highlighting [Set Picture Control] in the i menu and pressing J displays a Picture Control list. Highlight a Picture Control and press 3 to adjust settings.

  • Press 1 or 3 to highlight settings. Press 4 or 2 to choose a value in increments of 1, or rotate the sub-command dial to choose a value in increments of 0.25.

  • The options available vary with the Picture Control selected.

  • Default settings can be restored by pressing the O (Q) button.

  • Press J to save changes and return to the i menu.

  • Picture Controls that have been modified from default settings are indicated by an asterisk (“U”).

The j Indicator

The j indicator under the value display in the Picture Control setting menu indicates the previous value for the setting.

[A] (Auto)

  • Selecting the [A] (auto) option available for some settings lets the camera adjust the setting automatically.

  • Results vary with exposure and the position of the subject in the frame.

The [Auto] Picture Control

Settings can be adjusted in the range [A−2] to [A+2].

Creating Custom Picture Controls

Save modified Picture Controls as custom Picture Controls.

Option

Description

[Save/edit]

Create a new custom Picture Control based on an existing preset or custom Picture Control, or edit existing custom Picture Controls.

[Rename]

Rename custom Picture Controls.

[Delete]

Delete custom Picture Controls.

[Load/save]

Copy custom Picture Controls to and from the memory card.

Creating Custom Picture Controls

The Picture Controls supplied with the camera can be modified and saved as custom Picture Controls.

  1. Highlight [Manage Picture Control] in the photo or movie shooting menu and press 2.
  2. Select [Save/edit].

    Highlight [Save/edit] and press 2 to view [Choose Picture Control] options.

  3. Select a Picture Control.

    Highlight an existing Picture Control and press 2, or press J to proceed to Step 5 to save a copy of the highlighted Picture Control without further modification.

  4. Edit the selected Picture Control.

    To abandon any changes and start over from default settings, press the O (Q) button. Press J when settings are complete.

  5. Select a destination.

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

  6. Name the Picture Control.

    • A text-entry dialog will be displayed.

    • By default, new Picture Controls are named by adding a two-digit number (assigned automatically) to the name of the existing Picture Control. Skip to Step 7 to proceed without renaming the Picture Control, or rename the Picture Control as described in “Text Entry” (Text Entry). Custom Picture Control names can be up to nineteen characters long. Any characters after the nineteenth will be deleted.

  7. Press the X (T) button.

    • Text entry will end.

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

The Original Picture Control Icon

The original preset Picture Control on which the custom Picture Control is based is indicated by an icon in the top right corner of the edit display.

Custom Picture Control Options

The options available with custom Picture Controls are the same as those on which the custom Picture Control was based.

Sharing Custom Picture Controls

The [Load/save] item in the [Manage Picture Control] menu offers the options listed below. Use these options to copy custom Picture Controls to and from memory cards (these options are available only with the memory card in Slot 1 and cannot be used with the card in Slot 2). Once copied to memory cards, Picture Controls can be used with other cameras or compatible software.

  • [Copy to camera]: Copy custom Picture Controls from the memory card to custom Picture Controls C-1 through C-9 on the camera and name them as desired.

  • [Delete from card]: Delete selected custom Picture Controls from the memory card.

  • [Copy to card]: Copy a custom Picture Control (C-1 through C-9) from the camera to a selected destination (1 through 99) on the memory card.