Dadyassa Loc: Spain

Hi guys, I just got a D5100 and taking a few shots to try it out.
I am trying out the selective colour in special effects, but having a problem. The square that you frame an object in to put that colour into a black and white pic is yellow and not white. The three colour option squares at the top of the screen stay grey and the new pic is just black and white with no colour in it. Any ideas on what I am doing wrong ?

brianjdavies Loc: Gloucester

I shouldn't bother bother with in-camera effects. That sort of stuff is easy to do in PhotoShop Elements or other post-processing software, and you still have the unadulterated Raw or JPEG file if you want to try other stuff.

Having said that, I recently bought a D5100 and tried out the selective colour feature. I eventually got it to work following the instructions in the manual (a red rose with all the other colure B&W), but I'm not sure how, now.

I realise I'm not being very helpful, but most camera effects seem a bit gimmicky to me.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That can be a nice feature, depending on what you want to do. I've had a couple of cameras that can do that. I've also done it with my D5100, just to see how it would look, so I know it does work. I'm heading out for the day, so I can't give you details now, but I'm sure someone will walk you through it. If not, I'll be back this evening. I like using all of the camera's features. It's there, and it's free.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

First and foremost, be sure to select a photo with rich and saturated colors. Once you move the little yellow box over the color you wish to isolate, click on the AE-L AF-L (connected to the eye dropper at bottom of screen) once you have picked up the color and see it in one of the upper boxes, you can now adjust the tolerance using the up & down selector arrows, to increase or decrease the overall tolerance (1-7), rotate the command dial till the number alongside the box is highlighted to choose 1-7, a very broad range of similar colors that will be included. A narrow range would work opposite. You can now either select another color in the second or third box or Once done, OK/Save, you may be doing it right but if the color you are selecting isn't that rich or saturated, or wasn't adjusted properly..... you should see a basic B&W with just the selected color. Hope this was helpful. So much easier in PP/PS

Dadyassa Loc: Spain

Thanks for the help guys, OnDsnap you may of sussed it out, there is no mention of clicking AE-L AF-L in the manual instructions ;-) just to click the up arrow on the main dial, which of course moves the box up and off the target. I will give it a try tomorrow and let you know what happens, as today it is the British Grand Prix, Wimbledon tennis final and a BBQ to get ready for this evening. Once again thanks for the help.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Most manuals that I know of don't mention a lot of how to's. I don't use the features your referring to but when I purchased a 5100 for my daughter, I also bough for her and read "David Bushes Nikon D5100" cover to cover to help her understand it's features...it's about 1 inch thick compared to the 20 or so page manual. He has written a must read book for many a camera's if you really want to understand a camera, I picked it up a B&N but I'm sure it's available most places, Amazon etc.. Off to a BBQ myself...

Dadyassa Loc: Spain

Thanks, i will have a look for that book

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Well worth it :)

mrblackett Loc: Bloomfield, CT

I have the D800 and it has the same feature, it is kinda tricky, once you highlight the color you want to keep, turn the wheel to move over to the box with the number, then turn it again to accept the color and move on to the middle box to choose a second color. You only click the OK button one time to choose a color and to apply the changes or else you will get a full B&W image.

Dadyassa Loc: Spain

Thanks mrblackett, will give it another try later and see what happens.

Dadyassa Loc: Spain

Thanks for the help guys, sorted it this morning, it`s the bit they missed in the manual that OnDSnap mentioned "AE-L AF-L" has to be pressed. ;-)