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How to Adjust Your In-Camera Settings for Better Photo Colors
You don’t need to wait until you’ve uploaded your pictures to a computer to capture more vibrant images. Keep reading to discover which in-camera settings you should consider adjusting for better colors in your photos.
1. Get Your White Balance Correct
White balance is one of the most essential areas to get right in your photography. If you pick a tone that’s too warm or too cold, your image will have a strange, unrealistic effect. While you can adjust your white balance settings in Lightroom and other photo editing tools, getting it right in camera will streamline your workflow.
You often have several options for adjusting your in-camera white balance. For example, you can use the Kelvin number scale to choose how warm or dark you want your tones to be. Other users will take a photo of something white, such as a piece of paper, and use that to determine the white balance on their devices.
Another possible option for adjusting your white balance is to use either Auto White Balance or the preset versions. However, these are sometimes inaccurate—so you’ll need to consider whether you’re happy to use them.
You can check out this complete guide to white balance in photography if you’re new to the theory.
2. Change Your Camera Profile
It’s better to capture images in RAW for photos you plan to edit in-depth. However, there are some situations where it’s better to shoot in JPEG instead of RAW. For images that you take in JPEG format, you can get better in-camera colors by adjusting the camera profile or film simulation.
Most modern DSLR and mirrorless cameras have different profiles that you can use. These will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and higher-end models may have more options than the entry-level cameras for your brand. Nonetheless, you can experiment with each of these profiles to see which ones work best for you.
If you do take photos in RAW, you can still change your camera profile in Lightroom. So, it’s still worth trying different profiles when you’re out and about.
If you take photos with a smartphone, you can use the different filters on your device as well. Besides changing the filter for better colors, you may want to learn how to improve the quality of your smartphone camera.
3. Adjust the In-Camera Color Meter
Some cameras will come with a color meter that you can adjust to make your photos look more or less intense. You can move the meter up to increase the amount of color in your image, along with dropping it in the opposite direction if you would prefer to make your tones look more subdued.
You might need to adjust this meter multiple times to get the colors you’re looking for. On some cameras, you can also move the pointer closer to a specific hue—which will allow you to calibrate your image however you want.
3. Adjust Monochromatic Color Settings
So far, we’ve discussed how to change the colors in your photos if you want to capture images with actual colors in them. But did you know that it’s possible to also alter your settings if you’d prefer to take monochromatic pictures instead? Good news: You can still make adjustments on your camera to meet these needs.
To adjust the monochromatic settings on your camera, you’ll normally need to choose a monochrome color profile or film simulation. After that, you can make a few alterations to move the meter closer to what you want.
If you’re interested in trying black-and-white photography, consider reading our complete guide to black-and-white photography.
4. Alter the Color Chrome Effect
If you own a Fujifilm camera, you’ve got plenty of access to unique in-camera color settings. Color Chrome is one of those. This feature allows you to ensure that the colors in your image don’t become overblown.
You have access to two different Color Chrome features on a Fujifilm camera: Color Chrome and Color Chrome FX Blue. To adjust either (or both) of these:
- Click on your camera’s Menu button.
- Go to Image Quality Setting.
- Scroll down to Color Chrome Effect and Color Chrome FX Blue. Change both settings in whatever way you feel is necessary.
When using a Fujifilm camera, knowing how to use the Camera Remote app will make it easier for you to transfer files to your other devices.
5. Change the Saturation
On some cameras, you’ll find an option to increase or decrease the saturation in your photos. This works in a similar way to altering some device’s color meters. You can typically access this feature from the main menu on your device, and you can pick whether you want to add more or less saturation to your pictures.
In addition to altering the saturation, some cameras will allow you to tweak the vibrance as well. So, you should give both of these a try and figure out which settings suit your style the best. Like many of these settings, you may need to adjust multiple times based on different lighting conditions and the like.
6. Change Your Camera’s Scene Modes
If you own a Nikon camera, you can utilize the Scene Modes feature to improve your photo colors. This setting will control the tones in your image, and it’ll also help to ensure that other aspects—such as the flash on your device—are optimized for the photoshoot that you’re on.
You can use Scene Modes by scrolling the dial at the top of your camera and making any further alterations that you feel are necessary. Test out a couple of different shots before changing if you feel like doing so is required.
Are you thinking about getting a Nikon camera, but you aren’t 100% sure? If so, you should consider comparing this brand with other manufacturers. Consider checking out this list of the best budget DSLR cameras to make more of an informed choice.
Get Better Colors in Your Photos With These Camera Settings
Understanding how to get better colors in post-production is essential if you want to improve as a photographer. But at the same time, you should not discount the different settings on your camera. If you use these wisely, you can capture amazing results and also streamline your editing process.
The color settings on your camera will vary depending on the manufacturer and model. Nonetheless, it’s worth taking the time to get used to utilizing each of these effectively.
