<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE html
  PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<!--#config errmsg="" --><!-- saved from url=(0022)http://help.adobe.com/ -->
<html lang="en-us">
  <head>
    <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />
    <meta name="lang" content="en-us" />
    <meta name="area" content="livedocs" />
    <title>Adobe&#160;OnLocation&#160;CS5 * Evaluating brightness with zebras</title>
    <link rel="shortcut icon" href="images/OnLocation.ico" />
    <meta name="book" content="Using Adobe OnLocation CS5" />
    <meta name="product" content="adobe onlocation" />
    <meta name="keywords" content="" />
    
    <script type="text/javascript" language="Javascript" charset="UTF-8"><!--[CDATA[
        var currentTreeNode = "WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98bab-7fde.html";
// ]]--></script>
<script src="terms.js" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript" charset="UTF-8">...</script> <script src="help.js" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript" charset="UTF-8">...</script>  <script src="utilities.js" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript" charset="UTF-8">...</script> <script src="event.js" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript" charset="UTF-8">...</script> <script src="treeview.js" type="text/javascript" language="Javascript" charset="UTF-8">...</script> <script src="toc.js" language="Javascript" type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8">..</script> <script src="swfobject.js" language="Javascript" type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8">..</script> 
<script type="text/javascript">
<!--[CDATA[
var headId = document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0];         
if (use_ie_6_behavior) {
  var linkId = document.createElement("link");
  linkId.href = "content-ie6.css";
  linkId.rel = "stylesheet";
  linkId.type = "text/css";
  headId.appendChild(linkId);
}
function initRoboHelpDOM() {
  if (use_chm_behavior) {
    hideElement("search");
  }
  if (use_robohelp_behavior) {
    hideElement("search");
    hideElement("productmenu");
    hideElement("notyourversion");
  }
}
var dirname = location.pathname.match( /.*\// );    
function setSearchUserPref(){
  if ( document.cookie.indexOf( "ah_searchpref" ) > -1 ) {
    if ( document.cookie.indexOf( dirname ) > 0 ) {
      document.search.gsa.checked = true ;
    }else{
      document.search.gsa.checked = false ;            
    }
  }
}
YAHOO.util.Event.onDOMReady(initRoboHelpDOM);
YAHOO.util.Event.onDOMReady(setSearchUserPref);
// ]]-->
</script>
<!--#include virtual="/ssi/globalheader.ssi" -->
<!--#include virtual="/en_US/ssi/localheader.ssi" -->
<!--#include virtual="header.ssi" -->
    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="tree.css" />
    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="content-fonts.css" />
    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="content-hyperlinks.css" />
    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="content.css" />
    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="localeSpecific.css" />
  </head>
  <body id="content_body" onload="window.focus();">
    <a name="top" shape="rect"><!--LeaveCommentHere--></a>
    
    <div id="mnemonic">
      <div class="OnLocation"><div class="banner">Adobe&#160;OnLocation&#160;CS5</div></div>
    </div>
    
    <div id="searchbar">
      <div id="pdf"><img src="images/PDF.gif" width="16" height="16" hspace="10" />&#160;
           <a title="View Help PDF" href="http://help.adobe.com/en_US/OnLocation/CS5/Using/onlocation_cs5_help.pdf">View Help PDF (adobe.com)</a></div>
    </div>

<!-- BEGIN SEARCH CONTENT -->
<form id="search" name="search" action="search.html" target="_self">
<script type="text/javascript">
<!--[CDATA[
if (typeof(terms_AHV_SEARCH_CONSTRAINT) != "undefined" && 
    terms_AHV_SEARCH_CONSTRAINT.length > 0 && 
    document.location.href.indexOf(".adobe.com") > 0){
    if ( typeof(terms_SEARCH_THIS_HELP_ONLY) != "undefined" && terms_SEARCH_THIS_HELP_ONLY == "ON" ) {
        document.write('<div id="searchscope"> \
            <input onchange="setAHSearchPref();" \
            class="gsa" \
            name="gsa" \
            id="gsa" \
            type="checkbox" \
            checked="checked" \
            value="1" ><\/input>'); 
            
    // Leave the "Search this help system only" checkbox unckecked
    }else{    
        document.write('<div id="searchscope"> \
            <input onchange="setAHSearchPref();" \
            class="gsa" \
            name="gsa" \
            id="gsa" \
            type="checkbox" \
            value="1" ><\/input>'); 
    }
    document.write('<span class="gsalabel">' + terms_AHV_SEARCH_CONSTRAINT + '<\/span><\/div>'); 
}
document.write('<input class="searchinput" \
    name="q" \
    id="q" \
    type="text" \
    maxlength="256" \
    value="' + terms_AHV_SEARCH_BUTTON + '" \
    onclick="clearSearch()"><\/input><input \
    type="button" \
    name="searchbutton" \
    class="searchbutton" \
    onclick="submit()" />'); 
 
 
/* 
 * Start Functions 
 */
function clearSearch(){
    if (document.search.q.value == terms_AHV_SEARCH_BUTTON){document.search.q.value = ""}; 
}

// set search preferences
function setAHSearchPref(){
    if (document.search.gsa.checked == 1){
        setAHSearchCookie( dirname );
    }else{
        setAHSearchCookie( "community" );
    }
}

// Set search preferences cookie
function setAHSearchCookie( p ){
    // set cookie ah_searchpref with a value of the document path
    var expire=new Date();
    expire.setDate(expire.getDate()+365); // Cookie expires after 1 year (365 days) 
    document.cookie="ah_searchpref=" +p+ "; expires=" +expire.toGMTString()+ ";";
}

// ]]-->
</script> 
 </form>
<!-- END SEARCH CONTENT -->    



<!-- BEGIN PAGE CONTENT WRAPPER -->
    <div id="page_content_wrapper">
<!-- BEGIN PAGE WRAPPER -->
<table id="page_content_table">
<tr>
<td id="col2">
<!-- BEGIN CONTENT WRAPPER -->
<!-- BEGIN BREADCRUMBS -->
      <div xmlns:adobe="http://www.adobe.com/saxon" class="contentmap"><a href="index.html?topicId=WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98bab-7fde.html">CONTENTS</a></div>
      
      <div id="breadcrumb">
        
<ul xmlns:adobe="http://www.adobe.com/saxon" class="navigation"><li class="prev"><a accesskey="p" class="prev" href="WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7fdf.html" title="Analyzing lighting, exposure, and color"><img src="images/blank.gif" alt="Previous" width="17" height="17" /></a></li><li class="next"><a accesskey="n" class="next" href="WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98bab-7fd1.html" title="Evaluating brightness and color with waveform monitors"><img src="images/blank.gif" alt="Next" width="17" height="17" /></a></li></ul><div xmlns:adobe="http://www.adobe.com/saxon" class="hierarchy" id="hierarchy"><a href="index.html">Using Adobe OnLocation CS5</a> : <a href="WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7fdf.html"><b>Analyzing lighting, exposure, and color</b></a> 
     </div>

      </div>
<!-- END BREADCRUMBS -->
      <div id="content_wrapper">
<!-- BEGIN PAGE TITLE -->
        <h1>
          Evaluating brightness with zebras
        </h1>
<!-- END PAGE TITLE -->
<!-- BEGIN IONCOMMENTCOUNT -->
        <div id="ionCount">
        </div>
<!-- END IONCOMMENTCOUNT -->
<!--#include virtual="contentheader.ssi" -->
        <div xmlns:adobe="http://www.adobe.com/saxon" id="minitoc"><div class="t"><div class="b"><div><ul id="minitoc-links"><li><p><a href="#WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7ffe"><h1 class="topictitle1">Enable or disable a zebra</h1>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7ffd"><h1 class="topictitle1">Set a zebra to identify highlights or shadows</h1>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7ffc"><h1 class="topictitle1">Set zebra thresholds</h1>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7ffa"><h1 class="topictitle1">Preserving shadows with dark zebras</h1>
</a></p></li></ul></div></div></div></div><div><p>Adobe OnLocation
provides two adjustable zebras in the Field Monitor. These zebras
overlay a pattern of diagonal stripes on areas of the video that
exceed the specified brightness or darkness threshold. By default,
the threshold is 96% for Zebra 1 and 75% for Zebra 2. </p>
<p>Use Zebra 1 at its default setting to identify areas that will
lose all detail from overexposure and may cause video clipping and
distortion. Use Zebra 2 at its default setting to identify areas
of faces, or other main subjects, that are bright enough to show
satisfactory detail. </p>
<p>The complexion of the faces, the overall ambiance of the scene,
or the intended artistic mood can dictate different brightness thresholds.
Some videographers prefer to expose faces at below 70%, and those
creating a film look might use a threshold of 60% or even less.
You can change zebra Threshold settings from the defaults to any
of these values.</p>
<p>To monitor the levels of shadow areas, you can also change a
zebra from its default Bright mode to Dark. For example, in Dark
mode a zebra with a Threshold of 20% displays stripes across all
areas below that level.</p>
<ul class="navlinklist"></ul>
</div>
<div id="WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7ffe" class="nochunk"><a name="WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7ffe"><!-- --></a><h2 class="topictitle2">Enable or disable a zebra</h2><div><p><img src="images/dingbat.png" />&#160;In the Field Monitor, click the Zebra 1&#160;<img src="images/zebra_1_icon.png" /> or
Zebra 2&#160;<img src="images/zebra_2_icon.png" /> button. </p>
<p>Only one zebra can be active at a time, so enabling Zebra 1 disables
Zebra 2, and vice versa.</p>
</div></div>
<div id="WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7ffd" class="nochunk"><a name="WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7ffd"><!-- --></a><h2 class="topictitle2">Set a zebra to identify highlights or shadows</h2><div><ol><li><p>In the upper-right corner of the Field Monitor,
click the panel menu icon&#160;<img src="images/panel_menu_icon.png" />, and
choose Zebra Settings. Or, press Alt+Z.</p>
</li>
<li><p>From the Mode menu for either zebra, choose Bright to identify
highlights or Dark to identify shadows.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="tip"><img src="images/tip_help.png" />To contrast with the area they're painted over,
zebra stripes are black in Bright mode and white in Dark mode. </div></div></div>
<div id="WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7ffc" class="nochunk"><a name="WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7ffc"><!-- --></a><h2 class="topictitle2">Set zebra thresholds</h2><div><p>A 0% threshold represents a brightness value of 16; 100%
represents 235. (The values 16 and 235 are the brightness limits
for broadcast.)</p>
<ol><li><p>In the upper-right corner of the Field Monitor, click
the panel menu icon&#160;<img src="images/panel_menu_icon.png" />, and
choose Zebra Settings.</p>
</li>
<li><p>Set the Brightness or Darkness Threshold, and click OK.</p>
</li>
</ol>
</div></div>
<div id="WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7ffa" class="nochunk"><a name="WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7ffa"><!-- --></a><h2 class="topictitle2">Preserving shadows with dark zebras</h2><div><p>Dark shadows in a scene can meet many different cinematic
goals. But it can be particularly challenging to create a dark,
moody ambiance in DV format because it’s unforgiving when shadows
become too dark. Undesirable image noise often occurs, which postproduction
cannot address.</p>
<p>Fortunately, many DV cameras can deliver remarkably compelling
images of dark scenes. The margin for error is narrow, however,
so objectively monitoring shadow areas is crucial.</p>
<p>This situation is especially difficult when using the flip-out
screen on many DV camcorders. In these small screens, any region
that is close to black often appears entirely black. Additionally,
the flip-out screen does not show the effect of DV compression on
the live video. Neither do high-end external analog monitors. To really
see what you’re recording with either of these displays, first play
back the tape. In these situations, the native DV, HDV, and DVCPro
Field Monitor in Adobe OnLocation is invaluable, because it displays
the compressed image in real time as you make adjustments.</p>
<p>With OnLocation, a dark zebra lets you introduce strong shadows
into a scene with the confidence that enough image detail remains.
For example, rich feature shadows on a face can be dramatic, but
it looks unprofessional if no detail appears in the shadow area.
In other situations, you might want to ensure that the darkest parts
of a shadow area, such as the recesses of a corner, reach pure black.
Doing so maximizes the dynamic range of the image and provides greater flexibility
if you postprocess the scene in an editing application.</p>
<p>When setting dark zebra thresholds, the values you should use
vary depending on the camera and the look you’re trying to achieve.</p>
</div></div>


<!-- BEGIN USER PREFERENCES -->
        <div id="userprefs">
        </div>
<!-- END USER PREFERENCES -->

        <div id="related">
          <div id="relatedlinkinfo">More Help topics</div><div><p><a href="WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7ffb.html">About video dynamic range</a></p>
</div>
          
          <div class="separator"><a href="#top"><img src="images/BTT.jpg" /></a>&#160;</div>
        </div>
        <div id="footer">
          <p><img src="images/Community.png" />&#160;<a title="community help (adobe.com)" href="http://www.adobe.com/go/lr_OnLocation_community_en">community help (adobe.com)</a></p>
<!-- BEGIN IONCOMMENTS -->
          <div id="ionComHere">
          </div>
<!-- END IONCOMMENTS -->
<!--#include virtual="ionComments.ssi" -->
          <p id="creativecommons"><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/" id="creativecommons_text"><img id="creativecommons_img" src="images/CC.png" alt="This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License" /></a></p>
        </div>
      </div>
<!-- BEGIN BREADCRUMBS -->
      <div id="breadcrumb">
        
<ul xmlns:adobe="http://www.adobe.com/saxon" class="navigation"><li class="prev"><a accesskey="p" class="prev" href="WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7fdf.html" title="Analyzing lighting, exposure, and color"><img src="images/blank.gif" alt="Previous" width="17" height="17" /></a></li><li class="next"><a accesskey="n" class="next" href="WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98bab-7fd1.html" title="Evaluating brightness and color with waveform monitors"><img src="images/blank.gif" alt="Next" width="17" height="17" /></a></li></ul><div xmlns:adobe="http://www.adobe.com/saxon" class="hierarchy" id="hierarchy"><a href="index.html">Using Adobe OnLocation CS5</a> : <a href="WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d117cbc98447-7fdf.html"><b>Analyzing lighting, exposure, and color</b></a> 
     </div>

      </div>
<!-- END BREADCRUMBS -->
<!-- END CONTENT WRAPPER -->
<!--#include virtual="contentfooter.ssi" -->
</td>
</tr>
</table>
    </div>
<!-- END PAGE CONTENT WRAPPER -->
<script type="text/javascript">
<!--[CDATA[
scrollToNameAnchor();
// ]]-->
</script> 
<!--#include virtual="/en_US/ssi/productmenu.ssi" -->
<!--#include virtual="/ssi/globalfooter.ssi" -->
<!--#include virtual="/en_US/ssi/localfooter.ssi" -->
<!--#include virtual="footer.ssi" -->
<!--#include virtual="/ubi/analytics/analytics_ssi.html" -->
  </body>
</html>