Using the Histogram

A histogram shows the brightness

←

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

distribution of an image. The

Number

 

 

 

 

horizontal axis represents brightness

 

 

 

 

(dark at the left and bright at the right)

 

 

 

 

and the vertical axis represents the

of

 

 

 

 

pixels

 

 

 

 

number of pixels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The shape and the distribution of the

 

 

(Dark) ←Brightness→ (Bright)

 

 

 

histogram before and after shooting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dark portions

Bright portions

tells you whether the exposure level

 

 

 

 

 

and contrast are correct or not, and

lets you decide if you need to adjust the exposure and take a picture again.

1Adjusting Exposure (p.119)

1Adjusting Brightness (p.214)

Understanding Brightness

When the brightness is correct and there are no overly bright or dark areas, the graph peaks in the middle. If the image is too dark, the peak is on the left side, and if it is too bright, the peak is on the right side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dark image

Image with few bright or

 

Bright image

 

 

 

 

dark areas

 

 

 

When the image is too dark, the part to the left is cut off (dark portions with no detail) and when the image is too bright, the part to the right is cut off (bright portions with no detail).

Bright portions blink red and dark portions blink yellow on the monitor when [Bright/Dark Area] is O(On).

1Playing Back Images (p.83)

1Setting the Playback Display Method (p.236)

1Setting the Display for Instant Review (p.296)

Understanding Color Balance

Distribution of color intensity is displayed for each color in the RGB histogram. The right side of the graphs look similar for images that have White Balance adjusted well. If only one color is lopsided to the left, that color is too intense.

1Setting the White Balance (p.205)

33

1

Using Before

Camera Your