16. Using Custom Setting 24 to Control Tone Range and Colour Saturation with Flash Photography

Custom Setting 24 allows the image created by the D-1 to be to set to one of three different contrast ranges when shooting JPEG, RGB or YCbCr type file formats.

This Custom Setting is particularly useful as a means to ensure that flash photography images are not overexposed, or to create a punchy feel if strong tonal variation is required.

Working with the camera connected (by Firewire) to a computer running Nikon Capture is particularly productive when carrying out this kind of experimentation as images are downloaded directly and can be viewed and compared immediately on the computer monitor.

	This setting show the effect of setting the contrast to High. The image is rather harsh making the shirt look unnatural and causing the background to disappear in shadow.
	Here, Custom Setting 24 set to 1 : the normal setting.. However due to the use of flash, there is still a little too much contrast: in particular the range of tones in the faces is too great.
	Custom Setting 24 has been set to 2 (Low), giving a more even exposure, flatter colour range and enhanced shadow detail. Deep shadows and burnt out highlights are avoided. This kind of image is easy to enhance in Photoshop™ with the mid-point slider of the Levels tool.
When working with flash under difficult conditions such as mixed lighting, Custom Setting 24 can be used to ensure that images are not over-exposed or too saturated. The images above were taken with the equipment and settings described and are intended to illustrate the points in the text. As the lighting will vary from location to location an experimental approach is encouraged.. Equipment List: D-1, f/2.8 17-35mm, SB-28DX in bounce position. Nikon Capture and Sony Vaio with iLink (Firewire). Overhead incandescent spotlight.