• Cinematography

  Zebra Stipes: Using a Gray Scale

  Posted by Thomas Hanser on October 17, 2018 at 5:31 pm

  Can a grayscale card (Kodak) be used to determine precise exposure, with your zebra stripes set to 70%?

  I was taught that zebra stripes will appear on correctly exposed Caucasian skin. But why not use a gray scale of some kind in the studio?

  Apparently this won’t work – the 70% step on a Kodak gray scale is far too dark, rendering the scene way overexposed.

  What if I change my camera settings to 100% zebra stripes, and expose for the white step on a gray card? Isn’t this a more precise way of exposing?

  Thanks.

  Thomas Hanser
  Seattle, WA

  Thomas Hanser replied 7 years, 7 months ago 2 Members · 2 Replies
• 2 Replies

• 

  Mark Suszko

  October 17, 2018 at 9:02 pm

  I’d suggest that rather than just a gray card, you get an actual color bar chart to use on set: part of the chart is specifically made to calibrate exposure.

  And if you can afford it, get a Macbeth chart, which can really help you in the color correction phase of post.

  Camera-generated bars are next to useless; you need a chart shot thru the lens, under the actual lighting conditions.
• 

  Thomas Hanser

  October 17, 2018 at 9:16 pm

  I believe you’re right, Mark.

  >Camera-generated bars are next to useless; you need a chart shot thru the lens, under the actual lighting conditions.

  I’m using a Macbeth color chart AND a Kodak grayscale, but I think I’ll start relying on my waveform monitor. The chart and grayscale card are mounted on a stand, where the subject would sit, under studio lighting.

  I assumed there was a correlation between the 70% step on the grayscale and the 70% that the zebra stripes represent, but there isn’t one.

  70% zebra stripes represent 70% brightness, not 70% on a grayscale.

  Thanks.

  Thomas Hanser
  Seattle, WA

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