How to set a photo with less flare.
What is Zebra Pattern and what does it do?
IMPORTANT: The Zebra Pattern is a highlight warning indicator that is common in video cameras. It does not control exposure but just warns you that your highlights are blown out. It is not recorded into the image.
Zebra Pattern is a camera feature that overlays some stripes into the image that indicate exposure levels. It is a function that aids exposure by showing a striped pattern over areas that are close to overexposure. If the maximum brightness that can be expressed in shooting is defined as 100, use the Zebra function to check the amount of brightness to which the subject has been exposed.
- The Zebra Pattern will appear over the part of an image if the brightness level exceeds the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) that you set (IRE level can be set between 70 to 100). IRE is the measure of the video signal level that is used as the basis of brightness.
- Not all cameras have the Zebra Pattern function. For further details, check the instruction guide that came with the product. Manuals are posted on your model support page.
To set the Zebra function, check the following.
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How to set a photo with less flare.
- On the camera, launch the Zebra function.
- ILCE-6000
- On the MENU screen, select Custom Settings .
- Select Zebra .
Set the Zebra setting between 90 and 95, and adjust the exposure so that the Zebra pattern appears on the white subject you want to shoot.
Set a Zebra setting between 70 and 80, and adjust the exposure so that the Zebra pattern appears on the face of the subject. NOTE: It is recommended that you adjust the setting according to the photo subject, or to the brightness you want to capture.
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How to Spray Paint a Zebra Striped Plate
In honor of the 80 degree weather we had last week, I decided to refresh the vignette on my sideboard to give it a more spring feeling. On top of my green knotted table runner, I added a fabulous lamp and an old globe that I had found a while back at Goodwill. But, I felt like I needed something high above the sideboard for scale.
I remembered a great tutorial I saw a while back on how to create a Zebra stripe pattern on a side table using painter’s tape, and I decided it would be fun to try to replicate the technique on an old white plate I had laying around. The worst that could happen was that I ruin a white, thrift store plate. The best that could happen was that I could have a fabulous new piece of art for my wall. I think it was a best case scenario type situation.
You wouldn’t believe how easy it was to paint that plate. I took some photos along the way, so that I could write a tutorial for you in case I liked the way it turned out. I loved it, so I’ve put together the instructions below. The plate only took about 30 minutes from start to finish (not including paint dry time), so you could pull off this bad boy today!
How to Paint a Zebra Striped Plate
1. I washed and dried my plate, and then I covered it in painter’s tape. I overlapped the edges of the tape to make sure the whole plate was covered. You will see that my plate had a raised design around the edges, so I pushed the tape down really well in those areas.
2. With a pen, I drew a zebra pattern onto the plate. I’m not an artist, and I promise there’s no “right” way to do this. I actually searched “Zebra Stripe” in Google Images and just sort of copied a design that I liked. I then filled in the areas I wanted to cut out in black so it would make it easier to cut.
3. Using an X-ACTO knife, I cut along the pen lines I had drawn. It doesn’t have to be exact. I was happy that it was easier to cut than I thought it would be. I carefully peeled off and discarded the tape that I cut out.
4. I rubbed my finger along the tape to make sure it had good adhesion to the plate. I took it outside and sprayed it with Krylon’s Brushed Metallic spray paint in Carmel Latte. That color was a good match to the gold in my thrifted globe.
I let the paint dry for about an hour and then carefully peeled away the tape. The result was so fun! I only had one tiny place where the paint tried to come up with the tape, and I was able to just push the paint back down onto the plate.
Obviously, you don’t want to actually use this plate for food. Also, the paint will easily scratch off, so it is best used for display purposes that won’t see any use. I carefully added a plate hanger to hang it on the wall, and the durability has been just fine for that use. If you’d like to make it more durable, you’d need to spray a coat of primer, a base color, and then follow the directions I outlined above.
Give it a try! What color would you paint your zebra striped plate?
About Lindsay Ballard
Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.
Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.
Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin’ City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.
