How to Create a Multiple-Exposure Image on the Nikon D780

Fortunately, it’s easy to create a multiple exposure on your Nikon D780. In fact, you can capture up to ten exposures in one image. You can also save each exposure as an NEF (RAW) file.

Back in the old days, you could create a double exposure with a film camera by holding down the rewind button and then moving the film advance lever. The combination of those two actions reset the shutter so you could take another picture on the same piece of film, creating a double exposure. You could repeat this two-finger tango to add another exposure to the same piece of film, resulting in a multiple-exposure image. Whew! Lots of work.

Here’s how to create a multiple-exposure image on the Nikon D780:

1. Press the MENU button. The menus appear on your tilting monitor.
2. Press the down arrow on the multi selector to select the Photo Shooting menu, and then press the left arrow on the multi selector. The Photo Shooting menu icon is highlighted.
3. Press the right arrow on the multi selector to place the cursor in the menu, and the press the down arrow on the multi selector to highlight Multiple Exposure Mode.
   The Current Multiple Exposure Mode.
4. Press the right arrow on the multi selector. The multiple exposure options are displayed. The default option is Off.
5. Use the multi selector to choose one of the following options:
   • On (series): This option enables you to create a series of multiple exposures until you revisit this menu and choose Off.
   • On (single photo): This option enables you to create a single multiple exposure.
   • Off: You use this option after creating several multiple exposures using the On (series) option to disable the Multiple Exposure option.
6. After choosing the desired option, press OK. You’re returned to the previous menu.
7. Press the down arrow on the multi selector to highlight Number of Shots. The default number of shots is 2. If you want more shots in your multiple exposure, go to Step 9. If not, go to Step 10.
8. Press OK. The tilting monitor refreshes and you can increase the number of exposures.
   Specifying the number of exposures.
9. Accept the default number of shots (2), or press the up arrow on the multi selector to add more exposures to the image(s) and then press OK. The Multiple Exposure menu is displayed.
10. Press the down arrow on the multi selector to highlight Overlay Mode, and then press the right arrow on the multi selector. The Overlay modes are displayed.
11. Use the up arrow or down arrow on the multi selector to highlight one of the following overlay modes:
    • Add: The exposures are placed on top of each other and are not modified. This option doesn’t work well unless one or more of the shots has a light background and the first shot is dark.
    • Average: The exposures are stacked and the density of each image is adjusted so all exposures are noticeable in the final image. This option works best in most instances.
    • Lighten: The camera examines the pixels in each exposure and uses only the brightest pixels.
    • Darken: The camera examines the pixels in each exposure and uses only the darkest pixels.
12. After choosing an overlay mode, press OK. You’re returned to the Multiple Exposure menu.
13. Press the down arrow on the multi selector to highlight Save Individual Exposures (NEF). The default option is On, which saves the individual exposures as NEF files. If desired, press the right arrow on the multi selector and choose Off to disable this option.
14. Choose the final Multiple Exposure options.
    • Overlay Shooting: This option is enabled by default. With this option, earlier exposures are overlaid on the view seen through the lens, which enables you to decide whether to add this view as an exposure.
    • Select First Exposure (NEF): If you highlight this option, you can choose the first exposure of your multiple exposure from NEF images already stored on your memory card.
15. After choosing the options for your multiple exposure, press the shutter-release button halfway to return to shooting mode.
16. Compose the first exposure of your multiple exposure and take the picture. You can now add additional exposures to the multiple exposure up to the number you specified earlier.