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D2X WB and skin tone

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Chellier

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I continue to struggle with getting the skin tones "correct" in my small studio with the D2x. Using 2 AB 800s and the D2X set to "PRE" - Took the custom WB first with an Expo Disk and then with a (good) gray card.

How do any of you set custom WB in studio so as to produce acceptable skin tone in caucasions - which I know is subjective...

Set to Adobe RGB color space, shot in RAW, opened in PSCS2 with Adobe Raw 3.3

The second and fifth are more or less as shot, the others I was messing with the temperature.











PS Yes I know the focus is soft
 
I use a Flash +2 setting for both jpeg(srgb) and Raw(rgb). I shoot with Novatron lights rated 5400K. This gets me very close to very acceptable white balance out of the camera. I Shoot mostly Raw. Shoot a gray card(Whibal.com) which has a light grey card and slightly darker grey card for Raw and jpeg(can't remember which right now) at the begining of each session. These cards also include a white card with a black portion on it for viewing a histogram on your camera for exposure . Set white balance(eyedropper) in Nikon Capture and save it and apply it to all photos, jpeg and raw.
I also use Mode II(in camera) for color mode setting rendering good skin tones.
Once you do this it becomes second nature and just part of every session.

When you get what you want from your print lab you begin to trust your equipment more and the computer monitors and camera LCDs less. I know that sounds awful but not all of us have unlimited funds. When people want a photo just like the one you did for their friend it is easier to produce the same quality using the cards. (PLus I do some product work and it has to be right on for the clients)
Regards
Ed K
 
you may be struggling with ACR, not with D2X. Try Nikon software to see.
--
Julia
 
Thanks, yes, I noticed that, I was so busy worrying about skin tone I forgot to focus properly...completely user error...
 
I have seen better skin tones using Nikon Capture compared to ACR. It may we worth comparing the two.
Regards,
Sol
 
FWIW...I use AB400's and D2X for our event portraits. I've set the WB to 5600k on the D2X (according to AB, that's about the right temp for the 400's...I'm not sure about the 800's) and the WB and skin tones are right on the money...I've compared with auto WB, tested with gray point in NC, and tried with an Expodisc (expo was a requirement with my D70 as it was ALWAYS off) and the Kelvin temp setting is consistantly on...

IMHO...

D.
 
I use AB's also and just manually dial in 5600-5700 in ACR when converting my RAWS.

I have also used an Ed Pierce Target and recently even just tried setting the D2x WB to flash and had great luck.

Probably the secret is when you suck in the RAW to ACR to just manually dial in the WB temperature. I do this for outdoor shots also, actually exagerate those sometimes! :-)

Mark
Derek said:
FWIW...I use AB400's and D2X for our event portraits. I've set the
WB to 5600k on the D2X (according to AB, that's about the right
temp for the 400's...I'm not sure about the 800's) and the WB and
skin tones are right on the money...I've compared with auto WB,
tested with gray point in NC, and tried with an Expodisc (expo was
a requirement with my D70 as it was ALWAYS off) and the Kelvin temp
setting is consistantly on...

IMHO...

D.
Click to expand...
--
Mark Abraham
Now and Forever Photography
Website: http://www.nowandforeverphotography.com
Website: http://www.radphotos.net
 
right.
Stop scratching your head...

You should try Nikon Capture, available on free trial if not already in your hands as it produces a better result from raw format without the need of too many adjustements.
 
Thanks guys, both are easy fixes if they work. I can set the WB to 56oo on the D2X using the WB-K easy enough. Likewise, I can just use the D2X factory WB for "flash" or I could enter 5600 in the Adobe RAW converter.

Or I can go back and try the latest version of Nikon capture as suggested, although I do prefer to work in PS.

Maybe I am just over-thinking it by trying to set the WB for each shoot, each background change and each outfit change...:(
 
i don't want to completely take this discussion off track but I find it unacceptable that the only way to get good results would be to use software from nikon that you would have to pay for.

would using the nikon raw plugin for PS work the same way as using capture?
--
Patiently awaiting the first Nikon FF DSLR, while enjoying my current gear.
 
Well, hopefully Santa will bring me some calibration hardware (like Spyder) for Christmas...

In the meantime, all the (very helpful so far) responses seem to imply setting the WB once and then snapping away. Which is cool.

But I thought I understood that WB should be re-set each time the background or outfits change? No? The theory was that a family of 5 with bright red Christmas sweaters would create a completely different color balance in the room/studio/frame than the same family all dressed in black - somehting about the light bouncing all around, relecting, refracting, etc...?
 
my point is - try it with Nikon View, plugin, Nikon Capture, or even out of camera jpgs to see if that will get the tone right.

if it does not, problem is outside raw processing.

if Nikon software makes the tone right, then it is time to look at ACR settings and calibration.

--
Julia
 
use right software for the job at hand. im just saying that if it's all RAW data, I'm bothered that I would need to pay additional to get it right.
--
Patiently awaiting the first Nikon FF DSLR, while enjoying my current gear.
 
If the lights are consistant, other than reflection, WB should stay stable, shouldn't it? (I'm asking...I don't know the answer...)

D.
 
Isn't there some issue about WB encryption that (so far) only NC can decode from the D2X?

D.
 
on my calibrated monitor, although it's not the most flattering lighting for a portrait. You've also focused on his shirt collar instead of his eyes.

--
Ņikon Đ2x
Canőn PoŵerShŏt ŚD550
 
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