<p>The scopes are objective and absolute measures of the levels in your image. They aren't susceptible to the vagaries of human perception—colours and levels looking different depending on context—and they work even on un-calibrated monitors.</p>

<p>Scopes are particularly important where viewing conditions aren't optimal - that's why pro cameras will usually have a histogram or scope function. If you're squinting at a monitor in bright daylight you'll have a very different idea of the exposure than if you're inside, and without an absolute measure of the levels it can be very hard to judge what's correctly exposed.</p>

<p>If your viewing setup is correctly set-up and calibrated you can certainly get away without them, but you might find that learning how to read them may give you an insight into the process that you don't get just from looking at the image.</p>

<p>Of course the scopes won't tell you when something looks good, that's your job, but they will ensure that what looks good for you will look good for others.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-19T14:33:03.160Z
I hadn't thought about using them at capture time. I'm used to cameras with viewfinders. Video doesn't work that way though. I'll keep this in mind. Thanks!
dev_willis
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-20T00:40:53.820Z
[Zebra stripes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_patterning) are another invaluable capture-time tool.
Michael Liebman
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-21T06:08:56.987Z
I was going to mention them too. A good discussion about scopes, stripes and exposure, particularly the difference in use between histograms and scopes here: https://vimeo.com/154627187
stib
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-19T07:25:04.710Z
2017-12-19T07:25:04.710Z
stib
<p>I've never fully understood what histograms in LR/PS and Lumetri scopes in PP are telling me so perhaps this is why I don't understand the need for them but why can't I just look at the image and see what needs adjusting? I'm new to video but I've been doing it this way with photos for a long time and if there's a difference between the results I get and others' my eye isn't trained enough to see it. I don't have any formal education on the subjects though.</p>

<color-correction><color-grading>
Why use Lumetri scopes?
dev_willis
# Why use Lumetri scopes?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-12-19)

I've never fully understood what histograms in LR/PS and Lumetri scopes in PP are telling me so perhaps this is why I don't understand the need for them but why can't I just look at the image and see what needs adjusting? I'm new to video but I've been doing it this way with photos for a long time and if there's a difference between the results I get and others' my eye isn't trained enough to see it. I don't have any formal education on the subjects though.

**Tags:** color-correction, color-grading


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-12-19. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

The scopes are objective and absolute measures of the levels in your image. They aren't susceptible to the vagaries of human perception—colours and levels looking different depending on context—and they work even on un-calibrated monitors.

Scopes are particularly important where viewing conditions aren't optimal - that's why pro cameras will usually have a histogram or scope function. If you're squinting at a monitor in bright daylight you'll have a very different idea of the exposure than if you're inside, and without an absolute measure of the levels it can be very hard to judge what's correctly exposed.

If your viewing setup is correctly set-up and calibrated you can certainly get away without them, but you might find that learning how to read them may give you an insight into the process that you don't get just from looking at the image.

Of course the scopes won't tell you when something looks good, that's your job, but they will ensure that what looks good for you will look good for others.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I hadn't thought about using them at capture time. I'm used to cameras with viewfinders. Video doesn't work that way though. I'll keep this in mind. Thanks!  
> **username_2**: [Zebra stripes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_patterning) are another invaluable capture-time tool.  
> **username_1**: I was going to mention them too. A good discussion about scopes, stripes and exposure, particularly the difference in use between histograms and scopes here: https://vimeo.com/154627187  

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