Canon Digital Ixus 55 User Guide

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ShootingMetering Methods
Switching between Metering Modes
Shooting Mode 
1FUNC. Menu * (Evaluative).
See Menus and Settings (p. 26).*Default setting.
zUse the   or   button to select 
the metering mode and press the 
FUNC./SET button. 
Evaluative
Appropriate for standard shooting conditions, 
including backlit scenes. The camera divides images 
into several zones for metering. It evaluates complex 
lighting conditions, such as the position of the subject, 
the brightness, the direct light, and the backlighting, 
and adjusts the settings to the correct exposure for the 
main subject.
Center 
Weighted 
AverageAverages the light metered from the entire frame, but 
gives greater weight to the subject matter at the 
center.
Spot
Meters the area within the spot AE point at the center 
of the LCD monitor. Use this setting when you want to 
set the exposure on the subject in the center of the 
monitor.
 
						

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Adjust the exposure compensation setting to avoid making the 
subject too dark when it is backlit or shot against a bright background 
or to avoid making lights appear too bright in night shots.
To Cancel the Exposure Compensation
Restore the compensation value to [0]. 
zExposure compensation is not available in the   or   My 
Colors mode.
z
In   mode, the exposure shift can be set/canceled (p. 43). 
Adjusting the Exposure Compensation
Shooting Mode 
1FUNC. Menu * (Exposure Compensation).
See Menus and Settings (p. 26).* Default setting.
zUse the   or   button to adjust 
the exposure compensation and 
press the FUNC./SET button. 
 
						

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Shooting
You can set the shutter speed to a slow setting to make dark 
subjects appear brighter.
To Cancel the Long Shutter Mode
Press the MENU button when the Long Shutter FUNC. menu is 
displayed.
Shooting in Long Shutter Mode
Shooting Mode 
1(Rec.) Menu [Long Shutter] [On].
See Menus and Settings (p. 27).
2FUNC. Menu * (Exposure Compensation)  .
See Menus and Settings (p. 26).*Default setting.
3Use the   or   button to select the shutter 
speed .
zThe higher the value, the brighter 
the image and the lower the value, 
the darker the image.
 
						

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zUse the LCD monitor to confirm that the image was 
recorded at the desired brightness.
zPlease note that camera shake becomes a factor at low 
shutter speeds. If the camera shake warning   appears 
on the LCD monitor, secure the camera to a tripod before 
shooting.
zUse of the flash may result in an over-exposed image. If 
this occurs, shoot with the flash set to  .
zThe following are unavailable:
- Exposure Compensation
-Metering
- AE Lock
- FE Lock
- ISO speed: Auto
- Flash: Auto, Auto with Red-Eye Reduction
The nature of CCD image sensors is such that noise in the 
recorded image increases at long shutter speeds. This 
camera, however, applies special processing to images shot 
at shutter speeds slower than 1.3 seconds to eliminate the 
noise, thereby producing high-quality images. A certain 
amount of processing time, however, may be required before 
the next image can be shot.
 
						

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Shooting
Normally, the   (Auto) white balance setting selects an optimal 
white balance. When the   setting cannot produce natural looking 
colors, change the white balance using a setting appropriate for the 
light source. 
White Balance Settings 
Adjusting the Tone (White Balance)
Shooting Mode 
1FUNC. Menu * (Auto).
See Menus and Settings (p. 26).*Default setting.
zUse the   or   button to select 
a white balance setting and press 
the FUNC./SET button.
Auto Settings are automatically set by the camera
Day Light For recording outdoors on a bright day
Cloudy For recording under overcast, shady or twilight skies
Tu n g s t e n  For recording under tungsten and bulb-type 3-
wavelength fluorescent lighting
Fluorescent For recording under warm-white, cool-white or warm-
white (3-wavelength) fluorescent lighting
Fluorescent H For recording under daylight fluorescent, or daylight 
fluorescent-type 3-wavelength fluorescent lighting
CustomFor recording with the optimal white balance data 
retained in the camera from a white-colored object, 
such as white paper or cloth
This setting cannot be adjusted when the   or   photo 
effect is selected. 
 
						

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Using the Custom White Balance 
You can set a custom white balance to obtain the optimal 
setting for the shooting conditions by having the camera 
evaluate an object, such as a piece of white paper or cloth, 
or a photo-quality gray card that you wish to establish as the 
standard white color.
In particular, take a custom white balance reading for the 
following situations that are difficult for the 
 (Auto) setting 
to detect correctly.
zShooting close-ups
zShooting subjects of monotone color (such as sky, sea or 
forest)
zShooting with a peculiar source of light (such as a 
mercury-vapor lamp)
1FUNC. Menu * (Auto)  (Custom).
See Menus and Settings (p. 26).
* Default setting.
2Aim the camera at a piece of white 
paper or cloth and press  .
zIf you are viewing it with the LCD monitor, ensure that 
the center frame is completely filled with the white 
image. If you are using the optical viewfinder, ensure 
that the entire field is filled.
 
						

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Shooting
zYou are recommended to set the shooting mode to 
 and the exposure compensation setting to [±0] 
before setting a custom white balance.
The correct white balance may not be obtained 
when the exposure setting is incorrect (image 
appears completely black or white).
zShoot with the same settings as when reading the 
white balance data. If the settings differ, the optimal 
white balance may not be set.
In particular, the following should not be changed.
- ISO Speed
-Flash
Setting the flash to on or off is recommended. If 
the flash fires when reading the white balance 
data with the flash set to   (auto) or   (auto 
with red-eye reduction), make sure that you also 
use the flash when you shoot.
zSince the white balance data cannot be read in 
Stitch Assist mode, preset the white balance in 
another shooting mode beforehand.
zThe camera will retain the custom white balance 
setting that you record even if you reset the camera 
to the default settings (p. 31).
 
						

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By setting a photo effect before you shoot, you can change the look 
and feel of the pictures you take.
Photo Effect Settings
Changing the Photo Effect
Shooting Mode 
1FUNC. Menu * (Effect Off).
See Menus and Settings (p. 26).* Default setting.
zUse the   or   button to select 
a photo effect and press the 
FUNC./SET button. 
Effect OffRecords normally with this setting.
VividEmphasizes the contrast and color saturation to 
record bold colors.
NeutralTones down the contrast and color saturation to 
record neutral hues.
Low SharpeningRecords subjects with softened outlines.
SepiaRecords in sepia tones.
B/WRecords in black and white.
 
						

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Shooting
A My Colors mode easily changes the colors in an image when it is 
shot, allowing you to alter the balance between red, green and blue, 
transform pale or tanned skin or change a color specified in the 
LCD monitor into a different color. Since they work with both stills 
and movies, these modes let you enjoy producing various image or 
movie effects.
However, depending on the shooting conditions, the images may 
appear rough or you may not get the expected color. Before you try 
to photograph important subjects, we highly recommend that you 
shoot trial images and check the results.
Moreover, the camera will record both the My Colors image and the 
original unaltered image if you set [Save Original] (p. 28) to [On].
My Colors Settings
Shooting in a My Colors Mode
Shooting Mode 
Positive Film
Use this option to make red, green or blue colors 
more intense like the Vivid Red, Vivid Green or Vivid 
Blue effects. It can produce intense natural-
appearing colors like those obtained with positive 
film.
Lighter Skin 
To n e *  Use this option to make skin tones lighter.
Darker Skin 
To n e *  Use this option to make skin tones darker.
Vivid Blue Use this option to emphasize blue tints. It makes 
blue subjects, such as the sky or ocean, more vivid.
Vivid GreenUse this option to emphasize green tints. It makes 
green subjects, such as mountains, new growth, 
flowers and lawns, more vivid.
Vivid Red Use this option to emphasize red tints. It makes red 
subjects, such as flowers or cars, more vivid.
Color AccentUse this option to have only the color specified in the 
LCD monitor remain and to transform all others to 
black and white.
 
						

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* The skin colors of non-human subjects may also be altered.
* You may not obtain the expected results depending on the skin color.
Color Swap
Use this option to transform a color specified in the 
LCD monitor into another. The specified color can 
only be swapped into one other color, multiple colors 
cannot be chosen.
Custom Color
Use this option to freely adjust the color balance 
between red, green, blue and skin tones*. It can be 
used to make subtle adjustments, such as making 
blue colors more vivid or face colors brighter.
1FUNC. Menu  (My Colors: Stills)/  (My 
Colors: Movies).
See Menus and
Settings (p. 26).
2FUNC. Menu * (Positive Film).
See Menus and Settings (p. 26).* Default setting.
zUse the   or   button to select 
a My Colors mode. 
3Shoot.
z      Modes
Press the FUNC./SET button. The display will return to the 
shooting screen and you can shoot.
z   Modes
: 
See Setting the Camera to the Color Accent Mode (p. 60).
: See Setting the Camera to the Color Swap Mode (p. 61).
: 
See Setting the Camera to a Custom Color Mode (p. 62).
Stills
Movies