Image Properties/Contrast, Sharpness, Color Saturation; Color Rendition - Leica X1 Instructions Manual

Image properties/contrast, sharpness, color saturation

One of the many advantages of digital photography is that it is very easy to
change critical properties of an image, i.e. those that determine its charac-
ter. The LEICA X 1 allows you to influence three of the most important
image properties even before taking the picture:
– The contrast, i.e. the difference between light and dark areas, determines
whether a picture appears as more "flat" or "brilliant". As a consequence,
the contrast can be influenced by increasing or reducing this difference,
i.e. by making light areas lighter and dark areas darker.
– Sharpness reproduction – at least of the main subject – by using the
correct distance setting is a prerequisite for a successful picture. In turn,
the impression of sharpness given by a picture is, to a great extent, de-
termined by the contour sharpness, i.e. how small the light/dark transi-
tion is on contours in the picture. The sharpness effect can therefore be
changed by increasing or reducing these areas.
– The color saturation determines whether the colors in the picture appear
as "pale" and pastel-like or "bright" and colorful. While the lighting and
weather conditions (hazy/clear) are given conditions for the picture, the
reproduction can definitely be influenced here.
Besides the Standard, i.e. unchanged rendition, you can – independently -
also selected two weakened or strengthened levels for each of the three
image properties.
In the menu, select either Sharpening (3.10), Saturation (3.11), or Contrast
(3.12), and in the respective submenus the desired settings.
Note:
These settings only come into effect with JPG files, DNG files remain un-
changed (see also p. 123).

Color rendition

In addition to the adjustments concerning sharpness, saturation, and con-
trast (see previous section) you can also select basic color rendition op-
tions. You can choose between Standard, Vivid – for highly saturated col-
ors, and Natural- for slightly less saturated colors and slightly softer con-
trast, plus two black and white settings B&W Natural and B&W High
Contr. (high contrast).
In the menu, select Preset Film (3.9), and in the submenu the desired set-
ting.
Notes:
• This setting only comes into effect with JPG files, DNG files remain un-
changed (see also p. 123).
• All five settings can be adjusted further with the image properties and
noise reduction options described in the previous and following sec-
tions, respectively.
In such cases, the color rendition options are marked with an additional
asterisk, e.g. Standard*.
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