The built-in preset Picture Controls in current Nikon DSLRs are: Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape and Flat. You get all of these on Nikon’s mirrorless Z system cameras and an additional batch of 20 Creative Picture Controls added. The selector for Picture Controls is found in the shooting menu on the camera. Set Picture Control Here you can change settings for the internal processing of picture data from the image sensor into final JPG files. It’s necessary to start with an existing configuration or set of settings that Nikon has predefined for a certain look of the final image. Depending on which Nikon digital camera you own, you will have a number of picture controls settings. These include Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome. Some Nikon DSLRs also have an expanded range of picture controls which add Flat, Portrait and Landscape, too.
Picture Controls can be found in many Nikon digital cameras, including DSLRs, the Nikon 1 interchangeable lens cameras and COOLPIX point and shoot models. Under the Shooting menu, highlight Select Picture Control to change the Picture Control. Nikon picture control editor. The web application lets you view and edit nikon camera styles directly in a web browser. Follow picture control parameters can be modified: custom curve, gamma, sharpness, saturation, hue, etc.
Existing preset and custom Picture Controls can be modified to suit the scene or your creative intent. Choose a balanced combination of sharpening, contrast, and saturation using Quick adjust, or make manual adjustments to individual settings.
Nikon Picture Control Raw
Quick adjust
Mute or heighten the effect of the selected Picture Control (note that this resets all manual adjustments). Not available with Neutral, Monochrome, Flat, or custom Picture Controls.
Manual adjustments (all Picture Controls)
Sharpening
Control the sharpness of outlines. Select A to adjust sharpening automatically according to the type of scene.
Clarity
Adjust clarity manually or select A to let the camera adjust clarity automatically. Depending on the scene, shadows may appear around bright objects or halos may appear around dark objects at some settings. Clarity is not applied to movies.
Contrast
Adjust contrast manually or select A to let the camera adjust contrast automatically.
Brightness
Raise or lower brightness without loss of detail in highlights or shadows.
Manual adjustments (non-monochrome only)
Saturation
Control the vividness of colors. Select A to adjust saturation automatically according to the type of scene.
Hue
Adjust hue.
Manual adjustments (monochrome only)
Filter effects
Simulate the effect of color filters on monochrome photographs. Toning Choose the tint used in monochrome photographs.
Toning
Choose the tint used in monochrome photographs.
Nikon Picture Control Editor
Comments
Nikon Picture Control Download
- When shooting raw these settings will reflect the look of the embedded JPG seen on the back of the camera. You will still have to adjust in post.
- edited November 2014
Dennis,
As Bob said, it only reflects on the embedded RAW jpeg and has no bearing on the RAW itself, which is governed by your WB and you need to adjust in post, however, have you read this article I posted about the Camera Profiles I use (only for Nikon) which to me gives a much better result from the get-go once you are in your RAW converter.
Cheers,
Trev - If you happen to use the Nikon raw converters (Nikon View NX2, Capture NX-D, or the now discontinued Capture NX-2), that software will detect the picture control you selected in camera for the NEF and use it as a default for the image. The software refers to it as 'recorded value' for the picture control setting. Since you shot it as NEF, you can change it if you want to something else.
If you don't use the Nikon converters (eg. Lightroom, Photoshop, DXO, Capture One, etc.), the choice in camera has no bearing whatsoever, and the software won't even know the existence of a Nikon proprietary picture control.
I find it helpful to select a picture control in camera that is typically close to how you might edit it, just so that the image displayed on the camera's LCD is somewhat close. I generally use a modified standard picture control, set for a little more sharpening than default, and I also bump up the saturation and contrast one notch each. - Thanks all for your advice.Did a lot of researching and found a ton of valuable info. Going to try importing into LR using Vivid for now to see what I get.Thanks again
Dennis,
I think you will be happy using the Camera Vivid on your Nikon files but read that link I gave above and change the contrast from Medium (default) to Linear as that profile will give darker contrast.- Trev, am I correct to understand that when I import into LR using Nikon Camera Vivid that when I view in 'Develop' none of the sliders would have moved? The image woiuld just come in more fully vivid ready for additional processing? Can I also apply Camera Vivid by adjusting the first pic and then synchronizing the balance or does that affect the image differently than doing it during import? Thanks in advance for your assistance. It is much appreciated!
- David,
Yep, using Vivid (for Nikon files only as it's not available under the Camera Profile for Canon, etc.) will give you that extra boost colour and contrast.
You can absolutely do it both ways, sometimes when I start an import I may have forgotten to apply the preset, so I just wait until all imported, and on the first image apply the preset, then select all, and sync those settings so all the files you now have are the same as the preset. Just make sure you do not do any changes to exposure, WB as that will then be applied across the board.
It makes no difference if applied during or after import, it's the same preset.
Have fun.