Overlay pictures

  1. G button
  2. N retouch menu

Combine existing photographs to create a single picture that is saved separately from the originals. One RAW image can be overlaid on another using additive blending ([Add]), or multiple images can be combined using [Lighten] or [Darken].

Add

Overlay two RAW images to create a single new JPEG copy.

  1. Select [Overlay pictures] in the retouch menu.

    Highlight [Overlay pictures] and press 2.
  2. Select [Add].

    Highlight [Add] and press 2 to display edit options with [Picture 1] highlighted.
  3. Highlight the first image.
    • Press J to display a picture-selection dialog listing only RAW images, where you can use the multi selector to highlight the first photograph in the overlay.
    • To view the highlighted picture zoomed in, press and hold the X button.
  4. Select the first image.

    Press J to select the highlighted photograph and return to the preview display; the selected image will appear as [Picture 1].
  5. Select the second image.

    Press 2 and select [Picture 2], then select the second photo as described in Steps 3 and 4.
  6. Adjust gain.
    • The overlay of [Picture 1] and [Picture 2] can be previewed in the “Preview” column. Highlight [Picture 1] or [Picture 2] and optimize exposure for the overlay by pressing 1 or 3 to adjust gain.
    • Choose from values between 0.1 and 2.0 in increments of 0.1.
    • The effects are relative to the default value of 1.0 (no gain). For example, selecting 0.5 halves gain.
  7. Select the “Preview” column.
    • Press 4 or 2 to place the cursor in the “Preview” column.
    • To proceed without previewing the overlay, highlight [Save] and press J.
  8. Preview the overlay.
    • To preview the overlay, highlight [Overlay] and press J.
    • To select new photos or adjust gain, press W (Q). You will be returned to Step 6.
  9. Save the overlay.

    Press J while the preview is displayed to save the overlay and display the resulting image.

[Add]

  • Colors and brightness in the preview may differ from the final image.
  • Only RAW images created with this camera can be selected. Images created with other cameras or in other formats cannot be selected.
  • The overlay is saved at an [Image quality] of [JPEG fine].
  • RAW pictures can be combined only if they were created with the same options selected for:
    • [Choose image area]
    • [RAW recording]
  • The overlay has the same photo info (including date of recording, metering, shutter speed, aperture, shooting mode, exposure compensation, focal length, and image orientation) and values for white balance and Picture Control as the photograph selected for [Picture 1]. Copyright information, however, is not copied to the new image. The comment is similarly not copied; instead, the comment currently active on the camera, if any, is appended.

Lighten and darken

The camera compares multiple selected pictures and selects only the brightest or darkest pixels at each point in the image to create a single new JPEG copy.

  1. Select [Lighten] or [Darken].
    After selecting [Overlay pictures] in the retouch menu, highlight either [Lighten] or [Darken] and press 2.
    • [Lighten]: The camera compares the pixels in each picture and uses only the brightest.
    • [Darken]: The camera compares the pixels in each picture and uses only the darkest.
  2. Choose how pictures are selected.
    OptionDescription
    [Select individual pictures]Select pictures for the overlay one-by-one.
    [Select consecutive pictures]Select two pictures; the overlay will include the two pictures and all images between them.
    [Select folder]The overlay will include all pictures in the selected folder.
  3. Select pictures.
    If you chose [Select individual pictures]:
    • Highlight pictures using the multi selector.
    • To view the highlighted picture zoomed in, press and hold the X button.
    • To select the highlighted picture, press the W (Q) button. Selected pictures are marked by a $ icon. To deselect the current picture, press the W (Q) button again; the $ icon will no longer be displayed. The selected pictures will be combined using the option selected in Step 1.
    • Press J to proceed once selection is complete.

    If you chose [Select consecutive pictures]:
    • All pictures in a range chosen using the multi selector will be combined using the option selected in Step 1.
      • Use W (Q) to select the first and last pictures in the desired range.
      • The first and last pictures are indicated by % icons and the pictures between them by $ icons.
      • You can alter your selection by using the multi selector to highlight different pictures to serve as the first or last frame. Press the A (g) button to switch the cursor between the start and end points.
    • To view the highlighted picture zoomed in, press and hold the X button.
    • Press J to proceed once selection is complete.
    If you chose [Select folder]:
    Highlight the desired folder and press J to overlay all pictures in the folder using the option selected in Step 1.
  4. Save the overlay.
    • A confirmation dialog will be displayed; highlight [Yes] and press J to save the overlay and display the resulting picture.
    • To interrupt the process and display a confirmation dialog before the operation is complete, press the G button; to save the current overlay “as is” without adding the remaining pictures, highlight [Save and exit] and press J. To exit without creating an overlay, highlight [Discard and exit] and press J.

[Lighten]/[Darken]

  • The overlay will include only pictures created with this camera. Pictures created with other cameras cannot be selected.
  • The overlay will include only pictures created with the same options selected for:
    • [Choose image area]
    • [Image size]
  • The image quality setting for the completed overlay is that of the highest quality picture it contains.
  • Overlays that include RAW pictures will be saved at an image quality of [JPEG fine].
  • The size of overlays that include both RAW and JPEG images is determined by the JPEG picture.