Help with Why this is happening

Robo

Senior Member
Hi all, (pics shot in Raw uncompressed, A mode)

I'm having an issue with my Z6. I went out to take some pics of the better half. Got home opened in DXO Photolab 2.2 and her skin was shiny in places and just looked awful. Opened same file in Nikon NX-i and looked how they should no shiny skin etc.

I think it has something to do with D-Lighting being set to Auto. What other settings would effect this.

I will upload pics when I get home to show you what I mean but in the mean time ideas would be great.

I have used DXO with my D7200 before so know its not my settings.

Thank You
 

Danno

Senior Member
Welcome to the forum Robo. I am not familiar with DXO. I use LR, but I am sure someone can help. I do keep my D lighting turned off in both my Z6 and D7200.
If you go to upload your files when you export them from DXO they cannot be full-size file jpg files. It is best to export them with the EXF data and 1000 pixels on the long side and a resolution of 72 pixels.

I am sure someone will try to help you out.
 

Robo

Senior Member
Welcome to the forum Robo. I am not familiar with DXO. I use LR, but I am sure someone can help. I do keep my D lighting turned off in both my Z6 and D7200.
If you go to upload your files when you export them from DXO they cannot be full-size file jpg files. It is best to export them with the EXF data and 1000 pixels on the long side and a resolution of 72 pixels.

I am sure someone will try to help you out.

Hi Danno, Thank you for the reply.

Will upload with them sizes asap, DXO is very good but just never experienced this issue before with my D7200.
 

Robo

Senior Member
Yes Nikon Z6 was supported in V2.2.0 released on 06/03/2019. I have been reading that only Nikon NX-i and NX-D software can read the D-Lighting system and DXO etc don't which can give problems with post processing which i believe may be my issue here.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Did you try converting your RAW images to DNG? Maybe DXO hasn't yet updated their software for the Z6. Not sure if it will change anything but might be worth a try.
 

Danno

Senior Member
Yes Nikon Z6 was supported in V2.2.0 released on 06/03/2019. I have been reading that only Nikon NX-i and NX-D software can read the D-Lighting system and DXO etc don't which can give problems with post processing which i believe may be my issue here.

Am I right in thinking you have found the answer to your problem?
 

Robo

Senior Member
Hi all forgot to take laptop home to upload pics. I have found that NX-i/NX-D gives me a better image in terms of color etc. Highlights in DXO were blown and just gave me shiny skin and color profile was way off. This might change with future updates but for now results are horrid.

My work around is now quick edit in NX-D, Convert to Tiff 16bit in NX-i and then any more editing in photoshop in needed.

I have decided that leaving D-Lighting at Auto in camera and opening in NX-i/NX-D will give me the results I want.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
This is a response from this thread: https://nikonites.com/d7200/42570-active-d-lighting-test.html#axzz5i3TllxNf

Active D-Lighting is essentially a Contrast modifier best used in higher dynamic-range, lower ISO, situations when shooting .jpg (quite a few caveats, I know!) I find it does a nice job of protecting highlights, generally speaking, but may also increase noise in the shadows somewhat. I've found the Auto setting surprisingly effective at achieving a good balance but I only enable the option for straight .jpg shooting. I kind of think of it as a poor man's fill-flash. Sort of. I find it does not play nicely with high ISO's.


Active D-Lighting doesn't process raw files, per se, but it can (read: will) affect metering, so I definitely disable the option when shooting raw. Third-party processing applications like Lightroom and Photoshop don't recognize the effects of Active D-Lighting and, on a couple occasions, using it has really messed with some of my shots. So again, for straight raw shooting, I have this feature disabled.

It's definitely possible that other software brands react different to Active-D Lighting, and that might be what you are experiencing. Although it doesn't affect a RAW file directly, it affects the metering of a RAW file. I can't find a particular discussion from years ago, but there was a link posted that gave a lot of helpful information. Unless you are shooting jpeg and need the details in the shadows, you might want to turn off Active-D Lighting.
 
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