Dark shadows in a scene can meet many different cinematic
goals. But it can be particularly challenging to create a dark,
moody ambiance in DV format because it’s unforgiving when shadows
become too dark. Undesirable image noise often occurs, which postproduction
cannot address.
Fortunately, many DV cameras can deliver remarkably compelling
images of dark scenes. The margin for error is narrow, however,
so objectively monitoring shadow areas is crucial.
This situation is especially difficult when using the flip-out
screen on many DV camcorders. In these small screens, any region
that is close to black often appears entirely black. Additionally,
the flip-out screen does not show the effect of DV compression on
the live video. Neither do high-end external analog monitors. To really
see what you’re recording with either of these displays, first play
back the tape. In these situations, the native DV, HDV, and DVCPro
Field Monitor in Adobe OnLocation is invaluable, because it displays
the compressed image in real time as you make adjustments.
With OnLocation, a dark zebra lets you introduce strong shadows
into a scene with the confidence that enough image detail remains.
For example, rich feature shadows on a face can be dramatic, but
it looks unprofessional if no detail appears in the shadow area.
In other situations, you might want to ensure that the darkest parts
of a shadow area, such as the recesses of a corner, reach pure black.
Doing so maximizes the dynamic range of the image and provides greater flexibility
if you post-process the scene in an editing application.
When setting dark zebra thresholds, the values you should use
vary depending on the camera and the look you’re trying to achieve.
In the Field Monitor, click the Zebra 1 
or
Zebra 2 
button. 
, and
choose Zebra Settings. Or, press Alt+Z.
To contrast with the area they're painted over,
zebra stripes are black in Bright mode and white in Dark mode. 
