how to read these 4 histograms.

<p>Hello. <br /> Please refer to the files attached (below).<br /> In the histogram, I would like to know,<br /> a) In the first photograph, When there is no clipping either on the black or the white side, the traingles on the top left corner ( at black 0) and the triangle on the top right corner (at white 255) , the triangles appear black when there is no clipping. Right ?<br /> b) In the second photograph, when i moved exposure slider I could see the triangle became red. What does it indicate when the triangle is red?<br /> c) In the third photograph , when i darken the blacks, I could see the triangle become blue.What does it indicate when the triangle is blue ?<br /> d) In the fourth photograph, when i darken the blacks even more, the triangle becomes white. What does it indicate when the triangle is white ?<br /> A good histogram is when there is no clipping and most of the data in on the right side of the histogram. right ? Or is it possible, if my subject is predominant of a particular colour, is it acceptable if there is a clipping of that colour. or no? I would like to know how does one edit files for commercial use. <br /> Please can someone let me know. Thank you very much.</p>

<p>first photograph</p>

<p>second photograph</p>

<p>third photograph</p>

<p>fourth photograph</p>

<p>The Histogram in ACR indicates clipping at the ends with both <strong>saturation</strong> of one or two color channels <strong>OR</strong> <strong>full clipping of all three (tone). </strong><br>

In image 2, you see a red clipping at the edge. That means the red channel is clipping. If you saw white, all three would be clipping. In the case of magenta, that means green and blue are clipping, red isn’t. Yellow (the opposite being blue), would indicate “not blue” or green and red are clipping. <br>

I very often clip if I want a particular effect in the rendering. IOW, no clipping at all isn’t necessary “right”, the image may appear flat. This is especially true in the shadows. You may want to crunch them down a lot (ever see the portrait work of Photographer Greg Gorman? He doesn’t care at all about shadow detail, his style is very contrasty). Now if you want to play with the clipping outside of ACR or Lightroom, later in Photoshop, then move the sliders back a tad and clip (or don’t clip) later. But there is no rule that says a fixed appearing histogram makes a proper appearing image. You have to decide. </p>

<p>The histogram in ACR is affected also by the Color space. A histogram with no clipping in the highlights in ProPhoto RGB may become clipped if you change to sRGB.<br>

As Andrew said, there is no rule about how the histogram should look. The histogram is just a tool that gives you some information. What you edit is the image. </p>

<p>In Lightroom, if you click on the boxes in the upper left and right of the histogram it will show right on the image where the clipping is located. IF it is in a location where you do not care if there is any detail, and its not much you can leave it at the setting which looks best to you for the final image.</p>

<p>You can bet if Master Photographers from Ansel Adams to Yousuf Karsh were using DSLR's today, they would be printing according to how they wanted the Finished Print to look. They'd be paying attention to histograms maybe only when shooting, and not all of them would be placing it to the right or even close, depending on what they wanted. <br>

A Photo is only a <strong>representation</strong> of a scene, favor how you wish to represent it to others. Remember to note those with the best work here. Then if they choose to critique your images, pay attention. Just because someone gives critiques, they may not know what <strong>you</strong> want to communicate. Technical advice may be great from the same person.</p>

 

<p>would be interesting to see one of these files in production ( screenshot ) I think you have a massive WB-problem ?!; did you already adjust?<img src="file:///Volumes/Datadrobo/Drobopics/websnaps/little%20snapper%20book.lslibrary/61138842-DFBE-4BFA-A93E-ECD0F0643CDB-176-0000349D071A8782.snap/Lightroom.png" alt="" /><br>

<img src="file:///Volumes/Datadrobo/Drobopics/websnaps/little%20snapper%20book.lslibrary/61138842-DFBE-4BFA-A93E-ECD0F0643CDB-176-0000349D071A8782.snap/Lightroom.png" alt="" /></p>

<blockquote>

<p>A good histogram is when there is no clipping and most of the data in on the right side of the histogram. right ?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>That would be true for your in-camera histogram. While shooting, you want to preserve as much detail as possible and you want the histogram at the right side to preserve clean shadow detail. After post processing you usually don't want the histogram on the right side. Such histogram indicates you don't have any blacks in your final print.</p>

<p>Thank You very much everyone. Yes its totally true, about the masters. I want to learn about technical things. I have been applying to various stock agencies and they very often reject my images for clipping. The stock companies have a problem with clipping either on white or black side. </p>

<blockquote>

<p>I very often clip if I want a particular effect in the rendering</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Andrew, please can you tell me the meaning of rendering. <br>

 

<blockquote>

<p>In Lightroom, if you click on the boxes in the upper left and right of the histogram it will show right on the image where the clipping is located. IF it is in a location where you do not care if there is any detail, and its not much you can leave it at the setting which looks best to you for the final image.</p>

</blockquote>

Robert, please can you tell me if its possible to check in ACR where the clipping is located. Currently, I take the crop tool and create a small square on the areas which are important to me and check if the clipping is appearing.

 

Please do have patience with me. I am learning the basics. I want to learn about technical stuff for my images to be able to qualify as technically sound for commercial / editorial use, since it will help me to keep in mind while I am making the photos. Thank You very much once again.

</p>

<p>If you are shooting photographs of people , it is critical that every tiny bit of skin and hair and eyes are all in the histogram at the correct exposure. Skin is totally unforgiving if you blow anything at all off the histogram.<br>

Also, I see a color temperature issue too. The red should not be spiked so far to the right in most situations. Of course, one needs to actually see a picture to know if that is correct.</p>

<p> </p>

<blockquote>

<p>Andrew, please can you tell me the meaning of rendering. </p>

</blockquote>

<p>Raw data isn’t in a form that one could call an image, it needs to be rendered. The metadata instructions in the raw converter is used to create a true RGB image, that is called rendering. </p>

Thank you Nathan and Andrew. I am very sorry for my late reply. I am going through some problems. Thank you once

again. I have learnt a lot from these threads