Zebra patterning

{{Short description|Camera feature}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2016}}

{{Use British English Oxford spelling|date=November 2017}}

{{About|the usage of zebra stripes videography||Zebra stripes (disambiguation)}}

File:Mendelssohn.with.zebra.patterning.jpg bust with zebra patterning]]

Zebra patterning, or zebra stripes, is a feature found on some prosumer and most professional video cameras to aid in correct exposure. When enabled, areas of the image over a certain threshold are filled with a striped or cross-hatch pattern to dramatically highlight areas where too much light is falling on the image sensor.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-30 |title=What is Zebra Pattern and what does it do? |url=https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00077788 |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Sony}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L5jkBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA30|title=The Complete Guide to Sony's A6000 Camera|first=Gary L. |last=Friedman | publisher=Lulu.com | year=2014 | pages=30–31 | via=Google Books | isbn=9781312318793 | access-date=May 25, 2016|edition=B&W}}

Often, a threshold level can be set, e.g. 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% (with 100% meaning pure white, or over-exposed, AKA 100 IRE).{{cite web | url=http://e-archivo.uc3m.es/bitstream/handle/10016/9726/Fundamentals%20of%20shooting%20with%20DV%20camaras.pdf?sequence=1 | format=PDF | title=Fundamentals of shooting with digital video cameras | author-first1=Vicente Rodríguez | author-last1=Ortega | author-first2=Francisco Utray | author-last2=Delgado | publisher= Universidad Carlos III de Madrid | page= 3 }} A lower threshold like 70 to 80% can help correctly expose many skin tones, while higher numbers help ensure correct overall scene exposure.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hc4lPLmkESoC&pg=PA76|title=Basic Betacam Camerawork|first=Peter |last=Ward | publisher=Taylor & Francis | year=2013 | via=Google Books | isbn=9781136049545 |access-date=May 25, 2016 | pages=76–77}}