D90: Best picture control settings for skin tones

[MinoltaMan78]

I would like to know if anyone has played around with D90 picture control settings to obtain the best skin tones.

I usually shoot with the Standard picture control mode with sharpness set to +5 and saturation set to +1. I prefer my pictures slightly more saturated than default and generally this control has worked well for me. However, occasionally I get skin tones a bit too pinkish. I have experimented with white balance adjustments, but I haven't come upon a WB setting preferable to AWB default for most situations. I do much flash shooting at social functions I attend. I have also tried the Neutral and Portrait controls with various adjustments, but haven't come up with anything preferable to my Standard settings. I prefer the contrast of Standard.

The last camera I owned prior to acquiring a Nikon D90 was a Sony A700. For JPEG shots the D90 definitely offers superior IQ compared to the A700; but I must say that at times I thought the A700 skin tones for its standard picture control were better.

Not a big issue. I am not going back to Sony! I am just curious!

Thanks,

Thanks,

Fred
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Switched to Nikon (D90) in January 2009

 

[Jlow34]

I like Neutral with sharpening at +4 or +5, and active D-lighting on Low.
But I like a very Natural look

 

[southcountrhguy]

This isn't a 'one size does fits all' situation. No picture control is going to be perfect in every scenario. Personally, I like to do it all in post.

BTW there are a pile of custom picture controls you can download off the internet and use in camera or in post. If you want to go that route you may like some of the options out there.
--
Nikon D90
WSSA #237

 

[Sammy Yousef]

Shoot RAW. I have custom curves loaded on my D90 and rarely use them. I shoot normal. Since I shoot RAW I can change them after the fact if they become an issue. I prefer shooting on Standard as a default but some prefer Neutral for people. You'll have to experiment.

--
Sammy.

My forum postings reflect my own opinions and not those of my employer. I'm not employed in the photo business.

 

[MinoltaMan78]

To all that responded to my original post, Thanks! I think all bases were covered. It is up to me to figure out what works best for me!

Best wishes,

Fred
--
Switched to Nikon (D90) in January 2009

 

[gerryd04]

To all that responded to my original post, Thanks! I think all bases were covered. It is up to me to figure out what works best for me!

Yep, we all have different tastes, outputs, monitors, printers.....

For what its worth I use neutral with +1 contrast, +5 sharpening, -1 brightness, works for me

--
Gerry,
http://gerryd.smugmug.com/ discount code on homepage

'There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.' - Steven Wright

 

[tomkinsr]

I'd like to ask a question about this, as I like to understand stuff.

I do shoot RAW with my D90.

I transfer my pictures using Nikon Transfer and then open them in Nikon View NX 2. I may adjust them slightly and if I intend to process them in PaintShop I convert them to 48 bit TIFF.

With regards to Picture Controls, I see an adjustment in Nikon View NX 2 for Sharpening. Is this control in addition to the Sharpening that was already set in the camera, or does Nikon View NX 2 ignore the Sharpening data already set in the camera and this setting in Nikon View NX 2 enables me to adjust the final Sharpening in my post processing.

 

[Mako2011]

With regards to Picture Controls, I see an adjustment in Nikon View NX 2 for Sharpening. Is this control in addition to the Sharpening that was already set in the camera, or does Nikon View NX 2 ignore the Sharpening data already set in the camera and this setting in Nikon View NX 2 enables me to adjust the final Sharpening in my post processing.

If shooting RAW....when you open an Nef file in ViewNX2 you are seeing the image with the sharpening applied as specified in the in-camera picture control setting you had selected at the time of shooting. The "zero" setting of the viewNX2 slider is not a true zero but the in-camera sharpening setting. So if the picture control you used had sharpening set to "4" and you then use the sharpening slider in ViewNX2 to set "2" ...then the real sharpening you have now is a "6". To get a true "zero" in ViewNX2, you have to build a custom picture control with a true "zero" set.

--
My opinions are my own and not those of DPR or its administration. They carry no 'special' value (except to me and Lacie of course)

 

[tomkinsr]

Thank you.

Wow, so if I cranked up the sharpening in the camera and then did the same in the software ... I'm sure it wouldn't look right.

These sort of subtle things are not adequately described in the software nor the camera manual.

many regards