Many of today’s digital cameras include overrides for controlling color saturation, contrast, and sharpness. If your digicam offers these functions, you may be tempted to really boost all three aspects for more "punchy" images. But that can be a mistake, because inappropriate settings can produce unnatural effects as illustrated in the accompanying photo.
Excessive contrast, sharpness, and saturation create serious problems
© Peter K. Burian
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Tips and Techniques for Using In-Camera Settings
A slight increase to sharpness, contrast or color saturation can be useful at times - if needed for specific reasons. The problem is, very few cameras offer fine control. They require you to make a fairly significant adjustment. If you’re not happy with the results, it’s very difficult to fully correct a major problem using image editing software. Hint - Evaluate your camera! Before you decide to use any of those three controls on a regular basis, make some test shots with your camera. Take some pictures of subjects that you frequently photograph: a person, a landscape and some buildings, perhaps. Start by testing the color saturation adjustment. Take the first image at the Low setting, the second at the Normal setting and the third at the High Saturation setting. When reviewing images on your computer monitor, ask yourself the following questions. Does high saturation produce a very pleasing effect, or a garish, wet-paint look? Is it ideal for colorful icons that you might find while traveling but totally unsuitable for people pictures? And what advantage does low color saturation provide? When would this option be useful? Use the same testing approach with the Sharpness and Contrast adjustment controls.
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Moderate contrast, sharpness, saturation settings produce more natural effects
© Peter K. Burian
All Rights Reserved
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Beware When Using Your Camera's LCD Monitor
Most cameras’ LCD monitors are small and they rarely provide a truly accurate view of an image. Make all of your evaluations on a computer monitor after downloading the JPEG’s. If you don’t have time for extensive testing of your own camera, leave all three parameters at the default (Normal) level. The better digicams will produce surprisingly good results.Does your camera produce slightly low sharpness, contrast or color richness? No problem. In fact, that’s probably ideal because it’s easy to boost any of the three aspects in a computer. Decreasing their effects (while maintaining a natural "look") is much more difficult. Use the appropriate tools in your image enhancing software. You’ll get ultra fine control and you can adjust the levels until the image looks perfect.
The Bottom Line
After testing dozens of digital compact and SLR cameras, I rarely find a need to increase sharpness, contrast or saturation with in-camera controls. Occasionally, I’ll select a lower level for sharpening or for color saturation, at least for some subjects: portrait and wedding pictures with a "softer" effect. And in very harsh, noonday light, I’ll decrease the contrast level for most types of images. Since it's easy to boost all three parameters in Photoshop or Elements, I’m generally satisfied with the end result.Check out Peter Burian's online Digital Photography course at BetterPhoto!
About Author / Instructor / Photographer, Peter K. Burian
 Peter K. Burian, Photo Journal Syndicate (www.peterkburian.com), is a freelance photographer based in Toronto, Canada. His outdoor, travel, nature and active lifestyle photographs are available as stock for editorial and advertising use. He markets his work direct to photo buyers via www.peterkburian.com and is also represented by three stock agencies: Corbis, Alamy and The Stock Connection. As a writer and editor, Burian is co-author of several books, including the National Geographic Photography Field Guide and ten Magic Lantern Guides to SLR camera systems (including Sony Alpha, Pentax Digital and Maxxum/Dynax digital cameras). His book covering all digital aspects has received numerous favorable reviews. Mastering Digital Photography and Imaging (Sybex)covers the technology, equipment and techniques, providing 270 pages of practical advice for photo enthusiasts. Burian is a regular contributor with several magazines: SHUTTERBUG, PHOTO LIFE, Australian Photography and HERE'S HOW! He is also one of the Panel of Experts for Microsoft Home answering readers' questions about digital cameras and photography at: http://www.microsoft.com/canada/home/expertadvice/default.asp#3 He also provides editing and technical editing services to publishers of books on photography and digital imaging. Finally, Peter Burian is also a BetterPhoto.com course instructor. Sign up today to learn how to make great photos with your digital camera
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