Custom EVF/LCD framing grids using pixel-perfect raw files

[Horshack]

In 2019 I posted a technique for using the Z camera's multi-exposure overlay feature to create custom framing grids. It involved creating your custom grid on the computer, photographing the grid on your computer's display, then using that NEF as the overlay with the multi-exposure feature to get the framing displayed on the EVF/LCD. It works, but getting the photo of the screen just right is a little cumbersome and it's not a pixel-perfect reproduction of the grid.

I recently completed writing an NEF encoder, which allows any image file to be encoded as a losslessly-compressed NEF. I developed this for my C2PA exploit work but it has other applications, such as creating pixel-perfect overlay NEFs for use with the multi-exposure feature.

I'm curious to see how much interest there is using this in your shooting. I'm also interested in everyone's creative ideas on other uses for NEF overlays - for example, it could be used to creative decorative borders around photos for out-of-camera images.

If there is enough interest / creative ideas then I'll create a GitHub project where I'll start creating and sharing grids/overlays from the ideas shared here. Btw I'm also planning to open-source the NEF encoder in the near future.

To start things off and give you the ability to try this out I've created a simple grid NEF for the Z6 III and Z8 that shows 16:9 and 1:1 framing in a single grid. Here's what it looks like applied when viewing the grid against a stucco wall:


16: and 1:1 framing grid, as visualized through the VF

Those wanting to try this your Z6 III / Z8 can do so with the following steps (all other Z models will be supported as well once there is a collection of grids to create):

1. Download the NEF from my Google Drive share.
2. Take a throw-away raw photo on your camera.
3. Mount the media card on your computer (via card reader)
4. Replace the raw photo you just took with the grid NEF you downloaded. For example, if the raw photo is named DSC_0150.NEF, delete DSC_0150.NEF on the media card, copy the grid NEF you downloaded for your camera, then rename the grid NEF on the media card to DSC_0150.NEF. These step are necessary to get the camera to recognize the grid NEF as a photo it took / available later for the multi-exposure feature.
5. Move the media card back to the camera
6. Go into the Photo Shooting Menu -> Multi exposure
   1. Set "Multiple exposure mode" to "On (single photo)" or "On (series)"
   2. Set "Number of shots" to 2
   3. Set "Overlay mode" to "LIGHT"
   4. Set "Save individual pictures (RAW) to ON
   5. Set "Overlay shooting" to ON
   6. Click "Select first exposure (RAW)" and select whatever you set the grid file name to. Note the preview of the raw when you select it will be all black
7. Now when you frame your EVF/LCD you will see the 16:9 and 1:1 aspect ratio boxes drawn in white, overlayed over the scene you're composing to. You'll probably want to turn off the camera's built-in grid if you have it enabled, otherwise it can clash with the grid lines from the grid NEF.
8. Take a photo. This will create two images - a raw of your scene without the grid lines, plus a jpg of the scene with the grid lines.
9. Unfortunately the camera will reset the overlay NEF setting back to "none" after taking a photo, so to get the framing back you have to go back into the Multi exposure menu and re-select the grid NEF.

If you have an idea for a grid or other creative use of the overlay then first try it out by using the old-style technique of photographing your grid/overlay on the computer screen and shoot with it to demo it. If it's something you think others would like then please share it in a post here - for each idea with enough interest I will consider creating a pixel-perfect equivalent NEF for it.

 

[John Ideal]

This is so much to take in on a Sunday afternoon (or should I say aftercocktail) but it's intriguing, so I responded just to stay in the loop. To be honest, a LOT of your posts are much to take in, but I love them. Were you with the Buckaroo Banzai crew at one time?