Technical data

Digital imaging offers many advantages to the modern-day
photographer. The immediate feedback and satisfaction of
seeing the image on the screen moments after the camera is
fired allows the photographer to know instantly whether or
not the goal has been achieved.
Colour Stability
With this reward comes additional responsibilities. With the
photographer now producing a file, once the responsibility
of a scanning service lab, they must also do everything
Profoto D4 – Ultimate Consistancy D4
D4 | Profoto D4 & Digital Photography
In today’s high-tech, precise world, many clients and
photographers are looking for more. Digital photography
takes the guesswork away from a technician and puts the
responsibility back on the photographer’s shoulders.
F-stop Stability
With multi-shot digital cameras, using either a moving CCD
or rotating filter to shoot three or more consecutive images,
which are later compiled by the computer to create a single
colour image, consistency from flash-to-flash is critical.
These cameras capture red, green,
and blue as separate layers to
create the full-colour image.
Should one of the exposures vary
in density, the correct colour
will not be achieved when the
computer generates the final file.
With single-shot digital cameras,
pixels on the sensor are coloured
using red, green, and blue dyes.
Therefore during a single exposure
incomplete colour data is recorded.
When the computer processes
the data it makes judgments
(“interpolation”) based on the
information provided and fills in the
blanks. Consistency in output and
colour temperature from exposure
to exposure is the only way to
ensure high quality digital images.
Consistency From
All Heads
Some high-quality flash systems
can achieve this when using only
one head at a time. Problems
arise when multiple heads are
used asymmetrically during the
same exposure. The new Profoto D4
uses hybrid technologies and the
latest advances in microprocessor
design to ensure that light output
and colour remain constant flash-to-
flash, day-to -day, year-to-year, regardless of the number of
heads used and over the entire power range.
Advanced Computer
Control
With the D4, all the operations of up to 127 packs can be
controlled through a single computer, all with the click of a
mouse using a menu designed like the top panel of the generator.
Digital Photography
© 2003 Bill Steele
possible to achieve accurate and consistent colour for their
clients. Whether images will be used in a catalogue, with
several others on the same page, or in a fashion layout,
accuracy and repeatability of colour is a must. With scanning,
the operator was able to make adjustments to maintain
consistency from image to image. Since the technician was
usually not present during the photo shoot, they used their
interpretation and experience to judge the colour.
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