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 button to display the 
menus. Highlight  Active D-Lighting  
in the shooting menu and press  2.Preserving Detail  in Highlights and 
Shadows
Active D-Lighting:  Off Active D-Lighting: On
G button 
						

							
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 retouch menu 
( 0 266) brightens shadows in images after shooting. 
						

							
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 direct sunlight.
N Flash Use with the flash.
G Cloudy Use in daylight under overcast skies.
M Shade Use in daylight with subjects in the shade.
L Preset manual Measure white balance or copy white balance 
from existing photo (
0129). 
						

							
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 an objective measure of the color of a 
light source, defined with referenc e to the temperature to which an 
object would have to be heated to radiate light in the same 
wavelengths. While light sources with a color temperature in the 
neighborhood of 5000–5500 K appear  white, light sources with a lower 
color temperature, such as incandescent light bulbs, appear slightly 
yellow or red. Light sources with a higher color temperature appear 
tinged with blue. The camera white balance options are adapted to 
the following color temperatures (all figures are approximate):
• I  (sodium-vapor lamps):  2700 K
• J  (incandescent)/
I (warm-white fluorescent): 
3000 K
• I  (white fluorescent):  3700 K
• I  (cool-white fluorescent): 
4200 K
• I  (day white fluorescent):  5000 K•
H  (direct sunlight):  5200 K
• N  (flash):  5400 K
• G  (cloudy):  6000 K
• I  (daylight fluorescent):  6500 K
• I  (high temp. mercury-vapor): 
7200 K
• M  (shade):  8000 K 
						

							
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 
selected, highlight the 
desired lighting type and 
press  2; note that fine-
tuning is not available with 
Preset manual ).
G button 
						

							
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  G 
button.
 Highlight  White balance  in 
the shooting menu and press  2 to 
display white balance options.
 
Highlight  Preset manual  and press 
2 .Method
Description
Measure Neutral gray or white object is
 placed under lighting that 
will be used in final photo and white balance measured by 
camera (see below).
Use photo White balance is copied from photo on memory card 
(
0 133).
G  button 
						

							
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.