How to set Nikon D70 D100 Custom Tone Compensation    Home - Japanese

I think many people who got Nikon D100 feel depressed its under exposed pictures at first.

It is not a big problem for parsons who are good at photo retouching. But it is a big issue for many D100 users.
I would like to suggest an effective solution applying  custom tone compensation to cope with this issue.
I already suggested this solution in Japan, and many people recognized its effectiveness, and applied it.

Its outline is shifting gamma curve upward by utilizing the Custom Tone Compensation equipped D100 to brighten dark pictures without +EV compensation to avoid occurring blow out..

I would like to present to Nikon D100 users tips of how to set Custom Tone Compensation.

Warning : It is not versatile solution of D100's under exposure issue.

 How to set Custom Tone Compensation.

1. Install Nikon Capture 3
   You can use your trial version attaching with Nikon D100.
   Nikon　Capture 3 and 4 are already end of sale. So the trial version of Nikon Camera Control Pro is available for 30days after download from here.
   
   
2. Take some pictures in RAW mode (NEF format), no exposure compensatio,. normal tone compensation, and select average dark picture as a sample.
   
   
3. Connect D100 to PC by USB cable and turn on D100 power.
   Then open Nikon Capture Camera Control.
   
   
4. Select Camera(C)Then select Edit Tone Compensation Table in pull down menu.
   
   
5. Open a sample picture like Fig. 1.
      (Fig.1)
   
   The picture is dark and the histogram chart is shifted left side. (Dark side)
   
   
6. Adjust the tone curve.
   There are two ways to set  Custom Tone Compensation.
   One is pulled up the center of the tone curve like Fig.2.       Curve A
   The other is moved the gray slider to 1.10 or 1.25 like Fig.3.  Curve B
   
      (Fig.2)    Curve A
   
   Click on the tone curve and lift left/upward, then the chart of the histogram would be shifted to center
   
     (fig.3)  Curve B
   
   Move the gray slider under the histogram to left or input figure directly.
   
   
7. Click "OK" and the setting data will be transferred to D100.
   
   
8. Open D100's menu and set the tone compensation "Custom".
   If you are dissatisfied with the setting, you can try again.
   
   
9. I highly recommend the way of shifting gray slider if you are not good at handling tone curve.
   
   

Comparison of compensated images and histograms.

1. Tone Compensation; Normal,     +/-0EV               Fig.4
	Dark picture.
2. Tone Compensation; Custom Curve A,    +/-0EV          fig.5
	Brightened.
3. Tone Compensation; Cistom Curve B,     +/-0EV         Fig.6
	Brightened but lower contrast than previous one.
4. Tone Compensation; Normal,     +0.67EV                    Fig.7
	Brightened. But brow out is occurred on the ground of front side.
5. Tone Compensation; Custom Curve A, retouched color level, tone, and color balance by PhotoShop.                                                                        Fig.8
	You can see the ideal shaped histogram and the beautiful image.
Q & A They are typical questions and answers about the Custom Tone Compensation I have ever had. Q: Is there any deteriorating image data in highlight and dark aria by setting Custom Tone Compensation? A: It only adjust mid-tone aria. So any defeat is not occurred in highlight and dark aria. Q: Which is better between the Custom Tone setting and post processing by Photoshop?. A: As long as you shoot by JPEG format, Custom Tone setting is better than post processing.  Images are processed by 12bits on each color channel in case of the Custom Tone setting, But Jpeg files are 8 bits on  each channel. Logically, 12bits processing is better than 8bits processing. In case of LAW or NEF format, there is no difference in image quality. Q: What is the benefit of Custom Tone setting when you take by RAW mode? A: When you check exposure by seeing histogram, you can judge exposure more accurately when you set Custom tone setting.  As other benefit, you might omit a workflow to brighten your photos. As a matter of fact, I take my photos by RAW mode, and I set my D100 Custom tone setting every time. Q: Does the Custom Tone setting increase blow out? A: Usually, blow out does not occur as long as exposure is proper. If blow out is already occurred, the custom Tone setting increases it. Please mail me if you have questions about Custom tone setting.