Blackmagicdesign Blackmagic Video assist, Installation And Operation Manual

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Settings
Overlays
Tap the overlays icon to open the zebra, focus peaking, guides and grid settings.
These settings let you display overlays on the LCD to help with exposure, focus, composition
and framing when connected to a camera.
Overlay features are not visible via the SDI or HDMI output.
Zebra
The zebra feature helps you achieve optimum exposure by displaying diagonal lines over areas
of the video that exceed your set zebra level. For example, if you set the zebra level to 100%,
you’ll know that any area of the image displaying the zebra pattern will be clipped. If you set the
zebra to 90%, you can feel confident that you have some extra exposure headroom to protect
the highlights in your shot.
To turn the zebra feature on and change the zebra level, tap the left and right arrows or drag
the slider in the ‘zebra’ setting.
Focus Peaking and Focus Assist
Focus peaking and focus assist settings give you powerful tools to help focus your images fast.
Focus peaking displays edge lines on the sharpest areas of the image. Sensitivity settings let
you change how strong the lines are.
To turn edge lines on and change the sensitivity settings, tap the left and right arrows or drag
the slider left or right. Sensitivity levels include ‘low’, ‘medium’ or ‘high’. In images with lots of
detail and high contrast, the lines can be distracting, so in these conditions you can select ’low’
or ‘medium’. Alternatively, for low contrast shots with less detail, select ‘high’ so the lines are
stronger and easier to see.
Changing the color of the edge lines can also make them easier to see in conditions where
their color may match the image. To change the color, simply tap the left and right arrows in the
‘focus line color’ setting.
Edge lines are extremely effective. They can be so pronounced that you can even monitor the
depth of your focal plane, plus watch it move closer or further into your shot as you adjust your
camera’s focus ring.
For more information on selecting focus assist tools, refer to the ‘monitor settings’ section in
this manual.
Guides
The frame guides feature provides aspect ratio overlays for various cinema, television and
online standards. Tap the ‘guides’ menu button, then tap the left or right arrows, or drag the
slider icon left or right to choose a guide or to turn the guides off.
TIP You can also set the zebra to highlight areas of your image that represent specific
video levels on a waveform, for example setting the zebra for 50% means you can
visually identify which regions of your image will appear at approximately 50% on a
waveform scope.
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