Specifications

The power of NEF
As a pioneer in RAW image file development, Nikon has
incorporated its exclusive and highly versatile NEF (Nikon
Electronic Format) system into every D-SLR since the first
D1. Consider NEF files to be the link between your Nikon
camera and Nikon’s Capture NX 2 software. Each NEF image
you shoot contains a thumbnail image and your camera, lens
and Speedlight settings, which the software recognizes and
applies just as you did when you created the image. The
exclusive Capture NX 2 concept also ensures that the image
data in each file remains intact: use NEF and you can always
return to the original image’s maximum possible quality. If
you’ve made changes to the image using the software, those
settings are also stored in the NEF, which is capable of hold-
ing countless versions of the same image. Creativity doesn’t
end after the shutter clicks. With NEF and Capture NX 2, it is
only beginning.
16-bit processing throughout for high-quality NEF
Photographers today utilize a variety of file formats, but
Nikon’s NEF offers capabilities far beyond the reach of the
others. NEF files give you an unprecedented level of versatile
and creative options. For example, thanks to 16-bit process-
ing, the incredible versatility of the NEF format and the power
of the Capture NX 2 software, you can reveal shadow detail
and enhance sharpness in ways unattainable with other
formats. These files can also be easily converted into JPEGs
and TIFFs for printing and publishing. Capture NX 2 also lets
you convert your TIFFs and JPEGs into NEF files for added
creative choices without deteriorating image quality. Saving
these or even scanned prints as NEFs allows you to keep a
copy of your originals without needing to hold onto numerous
versions, which frees up valuable storage space.
One of the features that makes Capture NX 2 crucial software
for photographers is Nikon’s Color Control Points, which sim-
plify image enhancement while enabling photographers with
unmatched image processing freedom. Instead of complicated
layering and memorization, with Capture NX 2 you simply
place a Color Control Point wherever you want to reprocess.
Using the Color Control Point’s slider controls, you can adjust
hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, red tone, green tone, blue
tone and image warmth. The selection can then be applied
within a designated area for the color you need. Simply click,
slide and adjust: a wonderfully visual experience. This intuitive
system makes both subtle and radical changes possible in sec-
onds. You can also craft customized color wheels and preset
color settings to save extra time and effort. Compose a selec-
tion and change it at will, or make multiple settings with Color
Control Points and watch how the software responds to help
you achieve exactly what you want to see!
In addition to the sliders indicated at left,
there are sliders for Hue, Red, Green, Blue,
and Warmth. You can choose to display BCS
(Default), HSB, RGB, or All mode, and adjust
images to suit your purposes.
Color Control Points
Size
Brightness
Contrast
Saturation
Opacity slider (set up the degree of
processing)
Size slider (select effective area)
Selection Control Points
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This function enables you to apply enhancements such as
Unsharp Mask or D-Lighting to a specific area with just a
click of the mouse. There is no need for precision selection
or masks — the Selection Control Point recognizes the areas
you want to modify. Any enhancement effect you create
can easily be adjusted, and can be applied to either the
designated area or to everywhere outside that area, just like
with intuitive masking. The Selection Control Point can be
used with virtually any image enhancement tool, including
D-Lighting, Brightness, Color, Focus, Correction, and Noise
Reduction. For example, you can apply Unsharp Mask to
only the area you want to edit if you like.
Distracting blemishes and other imperfections in your pictures
can be effectively removed without compromising the color
or integrity of your image. Simply click and drag over a spot
caused by dust on the camera’s sensor, for example, and it
disappears. You can also make creative changes, such as
removing unwanted facial details or other distracting elements
in a picture. It’s important to remember that just like color
enhancements, each retouching effect you enact here is also
non-destructive, giving you great freedom to pick and choose
retouching actions and determine exactly what is best for your
picture without worrying about spoiling the original.
Color Control Points for intuitive image enhancement
Selection Control Points for quick and easy image editing
Auto Retouch Brush
Dummy
NEF
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Capture NX 2 — Get the
highest quality from your images
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© Joe McNally
© Cliff Mautner
© Cliff Mautner