What is Post Processing?
What is Post-Processing?
Definition: “Using a process to transform photos from what was captured in a camera either to be closer to what our eyes saw, or to alter the image artistically.”
Jeff Harmon, Hobbyist Editor, improvephotography.com
Every shot you have been impressed with in the past decade has been post-processed digitally.
Famous photographers like Ansel Adams would spend hours or days developing a negative or producing a memorable print. This was “pre-digital” post-processing. Does the fact it is easier and quicker today mean we shouldn’t do it?
“I shoot JPEG because I don’t believe in post-processing in any form!” Well guess what – your camera is doing the post-processing, but using its more limited computing power and software to bake in pre-determined edits instead of letting you choose how to transform the photo.
No camera can handle the same range of light as our eyes. Remember those awesome sunsets you’ve seen and photographed. Right out of the camera, they didn’t look anything like what you saw. What about those beautiful photos of sunrise or sunset you have seen on-line? POST-PROCESSING!
What Can (Should) You Do in Post-Processing?
Corrections
- Lens corrections.
- Remove chromatic aberrations.
- Crop to improve composition.
- Remove distracting elements.
- Remove noise.
Then, in the words of Blake Rudis: “Tone – Color – Artistic Effects” in that order.
Tone
- Increase the dynamic range by bringing out the shadows, recovering blown-out highlights.
- Alter the contrast with sliders, a customized tone curve or “dynamic” contrast.
- Draw the viewer’s attention to your subject.
- Increase the apparent depth of field.
- Graduated and radial filters.
Color
- Change the color temperature.
- Correct colors (change the hue).
- Alter saturation and luminance.
- Color filters.
- Black & White effects.
Artistic Effects
- Split-toning.
- Glow.
- Textures.
- Sharpening.
- Vignette.
Post Processing Can Make You a Better Photographer
- It gives you access to instant feedback.
- After you’ve been processing your photos for a while the limitations and strengths of digital photography will become more apparent. Then you can keep these in mind when shooting and change your settings or technique.
- Post-processing expands the mind. Creating images from the shooting perspective only is somewhat like tunnel vision. Once you free yourself from the constraints of preserving “reality” you will open your mind to the creative possibilities and your confidence will grow.
- If you’ve been thinking that processing is an extra step you don’t have time for, you’re missing the point. It’s an extra opportunity to learn more, make better photos and become a better photographer. And it’s fun!
Getting the Best Out of Your Images is a Two-Phased Approach:
- Taking the best picture possible with your camera. Nail the exposure, frame the subject properly, etc. > No amount of post-processing can fix a poorly shot image. The closer your initial image is to “perfection”, the less time you will need to correct flaws in the image, and the more time you will have to make the tweaks to finish off your image.
- Post-processing to enhance your image closer to what your eyes saw or artistically. > There are some limits to what you can do with your camera. You may not always be able to frame your image in a way that is compelling, or remove distracting elements. Post-processing can fix these issues and add the proper enhancements to your photo.