Nikon Camera D3300 Reference Manual

121
P, S, A, and M Modes
A
The Information Display
Flash compensation options can also be 
accessed from the information display ( 09).AOptional Flash Units
Flash compensation is also available with optional flash units that 
support the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS; see page 300).
 The 
flash compensation selected with th e optional flash unit is added to 
the flash compensation selected with the camera. 

122P, S, A, and M Modes
Active D-LightingActive D-Lighting preserves details in highlights and shadows, 
creating photographs with natural contrast.
 Use for high 
contrast scenes, for example when photographing brightly lit 
outdoor scenery through a door or  window or taking pictures of 
shaded subjects on a sunny day.
 Active D-Lighting is not 
recommended in mode  M; in other modes, it is most effective 
when used with  L(Matrix metering ; 0 114).
1
Display Active D-Lighting options.
Press the  G...

123
P, S, A, and M Modes
2
Choose an option.
Highlight  On or Off  and 
press J (0 345).
DActive D-Lighting
Noise (randomly-spaced bright pixels , fog, or lines) may appear in 
photographs taken with Active D-Lighting.
 Uneven shading may be 
visible with some subjects.
 Active D-Lighting can not be used at an ISO 
sensitivity of Hi 1.
A“ Active D-Lighting ” Versus “D-Lighting ”
Active D-Lighting  adjusts exposure before shooting to optimize the 
dynamic range, while the  D-Lighting option in the...

124P, S, A, and M Modes White balance ensures that colors are unaffected by the color of 
the light source.
 Auto white balance is recommended for most 
light sources; other values can be selected if necessary 
according to the type of source:
White Balance
Option
Description
v Auto Automatic white balance adjustment.
 
Recommended in most situations.
J Incandescent Use under incandescent lighting.
I Fluorescent Use with the light sources listed on page 126.
H Direct sunlight Use with subjects lit by...

125
P, S, A, and M Modes
1
Display white balance 
options.
Press the  P button, then 
highlight the current white 
balance setting in the 
information display and 
press  J.
2
Choose a white balance 
option.
Highlight an option and 
press  J.
P button 

126P, S, A, and M ModesA
The Shooting Menu
White balance can be selected using the 
White balance  option in the shooting 
menu ( 0222), which also can be used to 
fine-tune white balance ( 0127) or 
measure a value for preset white balance 
( 0 129).
The  IFluorescent  option in the  White 
balance  menu can be used to select the 
light source from the bulb types shown at 
right.AColor Temperature
The perceived color of a light source varies with the viewer and other 
conditions.
 Color temperature is...

127
P, S, A, and M Modes
Fine-Tuning White BalanceWhite balance can be “fine-tuned” to compensate for variations 
in the color of the light source or to introduce a deliberate color 
cast into an image.
 White balance is fine-tuned using the  White 
balance  option in the shooting menu.
1
Select a white balance 
option.
Press G to display the 
menus, then highlight 
White balance  in the 
shooting menu and press 
2 . Highlight the desired 
white balance option and 
press  2 (if  Fluorescent  is...

128P, S, A, and M Modes
2
Fine-tune white balance.
Use the multi selector to fine-tune white balance.
3
Save changes and exit.
Press  J.
Coordinates
Increase green
Increase blue Increase 
amber
Increase magenta Adjustment
AWhite Balance Fine-Tuning
The colors on the fine-tuning axes are relative, not absolute.
 For 
example, moving the cursor to  B (blue) when a “warm” setting such 
as  J (incandescent) is selected will make photographs slightly 
“colder” but will not actually make them blue. 

129
P, S, A, and M Modes
Preset ManualPreset manual is used to record  and recall custom white balance 
settings for shooting under mixed lighting or to compensate for 
light sources with a strong color cast.
 Two methods are available 
for setting preset white balance:
❚❚ Measuring a Value for Preset White Balance1
Light a reference object.
Place a neutral gray or white object under the lighting that 
will be used in the final photograph.
2
Display white balance options.
To display the menus, press the...

130P, S, A, and M Modes
3
Select  Measure .
Highlight  Measure and 
press  2.
4
Select  Ye s.
The menu shown at right 
will be displayed; highlight 
Ye s  and press  J.
The camera will enter preset 
measurement mode.
When the camera is ready to measure 
white balance, a flashing  D (L ) will 
appear in the viewfinder and 
information display.