Post-processing is the process (and art) of adjusting a previously-captured image to obtain a desired look. It encompasses everything from simple whole-image adjustments to detailed per-pixel touch-up work.
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5answers
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What should I look for in a monitor for photo processing?
What aspects should one keep in mind when choosing monitor for photo processing? What about color gamut, panel types, input types, requirements for video card, different gammas, refresh rate, angle of ...
31
votes
5answers
4k views
How to get a miniature effect on pictures without special equipment?
I was browsing Behance and came upon these pictures:
http://www.behance.net/gallery/The-Little-Things/402879
I was wondering how he got this miniature style effect?
I'm guessing a Gaussian Blur on a ...
20
votes
8answers
37k views
What is the best free RAW editor/converter on Windows?
I'm looking for a free RAW editor/converter on Windows. Can you tell me some strong/weak points of them comparing with Capture NX and/or Adobe Photoshop Elements?
RawTherapee
PhotoFiltre
Able RAWer
...
18
votes
4answers
1k views
Why should my last post-processing step be sharpening?
I've seen a number of people recommend that you apply sharpening as the last step in post-processing, and some seem to imply you should always do that.
Why? I tend to discard pictures that either are ...
27
votes
3answers
2k views
Unsharp mask - what do the parameters do?
I'm interested in getting into post-processing stuff, and I'm wondering about the Unsharp Mask operation. Specifically, there are 3 parameters involved:
amount
radius
threshold
What do these do? ...
35
votes
13answers
3k views
Any good tutorials for learning how to post-process images?
I don't really know where to start with post-processing my images. I normally just straighten, crop and sharpen. Do people know of any good resources on the internet for getting a grip with Photoshop ...
8
votes
5answers
1k views
How can I approximate 'soft focus' digitally?
In a previous question about soft lenses, it was suggested that much of the current practices regarding soft focus involve selectively soft focusing certain parts of the image and mattdm suggests its ...
44
votes
14answers
2k views
When is black and white likely to enhance an image?
I recently had a play with converting some images to black and white to see how that changed the image. Some baby photos came out particularly well, while others I tried seemed less interesting when ...
38
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13answers
3k views
Why do it “in-camera” rather than in post-processing?
There's a very common attitude among photographers that the appearance of a photo (ex: exposure) should be created using the features of the camera (aperture, shutter, etc; does not include the ...
25
votes
9answers
3k views
What's the difference between using black and white mode in-camera, and converting in post?
For black and white photography, will there be any quality difference between using the built-in black and white mode, or shooting in color initially and then removing the color later using Photoshop ...
10
votes
4answers
1k views
30
votes
5answers
14k views
How do I combine multiple exposures for action shots?
I'd like to create one of those "stacked" action shot images where multiple exposures are combined to show the subject moving across a static background. Here's an example I found on Flickr (by ...
26
votes
1answer
7k views
How does one create the Dave Hill effect for portraits/action shots?
Inspired by the question here by sebastian.b, and the response to the subsequent meta question. I would like to ask how to achieve a specific photo effect.
There may be more photographers that pull ...
13
votes
4answers
958 views
What is the optimal order of post-processing steps?
I know it's best to do as much post-processing before converting from RAW, but in cases where it's not possible - what is the optimal order of post-processing steps (like noise removal, dust-spot ...
21
votes
9answers
3k views
How do I remove dead pixels from a digital photo?
I have a Nikon D90 and until recently it has been working just perfectly. While viewing a set of photos I had taken I'm starting to find these little nasty dead pixels:
They only show up when ...
12
votes
1answer
715 views
Is in-camera high-ISO noise reduction worthwhile?
I shoot in RAW and post-process in Aperture where needed.
Does the in-camera noise-reduction do anything that I can't do in Aperture or other post-processing software? It seems to add a bit of time ...
5
votes
6answers
7k views
Is it possible to increase the pixel density of an image?
I have taken a picture whose resolution is less. I can resize the image easily (i.e I can scale to higher resolution) but the image quality goes for a toss, which is true because the image might not ...
3
votes
1answer
10k views
How can I upscale a low-res image to make it appear higher-res?
I want to enlarge an image to a bigger size. This will cause pixelation.
So I want to apply some treatment to it in Photoshop that will suppress some of this pixelation. Of course I cannot generate ...
15
votes
1answer
481 views
Will I lose image quality by adjusting white balance in post processing?
I understand that if I shoot in RAW, post processing software like Lightroom is capable of adjusting colour temperature and tint to my desire.
Will I lose any image quality in process? Or is it as ...
3
votes
2answers
865 views
How can I fix the color of blue photos using settings from “good” photos?
Imagine how photos with a bad blue filter look. I can recolor those pictures with the color filters from any image manipulation program like gimp.
Now my question is: can I "grab" the right settings ...
15
votes
3answers
779 views
What is the Orton Effect and how can I apply it to digital photographs?
I have heard of a photographic effect known as the 'Orton Effect'.
Can anyone tell me what the effect is, what its history is and how I would create it in both film and on my digital SLR?
15
votes
8answers
3k views
What is the best way to handle overexposed sky in post-processing?
I'm new at photography and I have taken some pictures where the subjects in the foreground are exposed correctly but the sky is very overexposed. What is the best way to handle it in post production?
...
14
votes
6answers
633 views
What types of filter cannot be emulated by post-processing?
What types of filter cannot be successfully emulated by digital post-processing?
Polarizing, obviously. and neutral density for depth-of-field control.
But what about UV filters? and are there other ...
10
votes
3answers
726 views
Does the order of sharpening and noise reduction matter?
I have been shooting for more than three years, but I never do too much in post-processing. I tend to be strict and keep in mind that PP can only do little to save an otherwise-great photo.
I was ...
6
votes
1answer
570 views
How can I reproduce the camera-internal postprocessing?
I just started playing around with raw images. When opening the raw image in Raw Therapee, it looks completely different than the JPEG produced by the camera:
(left is raw, right is JPEG)
I ...
6
votes
4answers
369 views
Are there any tools out there to automatically level an image?
I am wondering if there are any tools (standalone, Lightroom/Photoshop plugins, or other) that can take a photo, look for lines that are almost vertical or horizontal (eg horizons, telephone poles, ...
19
votes
8answers
874 views
What are the first few steps a beginner should take in post processing?
I'm starting to learn more about post processing my images, and I'm just wondering what are the first few steps I should take into post processing that would have the biggest effect on the photos I ...
3
votes
5answers
967 views
How do I achieve a vintage photo effect in Photoshop?
How can I achieve this vintage color tone in Photoshop?
Photo link
19
votes
4answers
2k views
How to I photograph moving subjects to allow good HDR processing?
I've started to experiment with HDR photography and would love to have a few shots of my family rendered via HDR. There's one problem - my family is human and they move, sometimes a LOT. How would ...
12
votes
4answers
3k views
How do I make a bottle image transparent?
I've taken some stock photography of lots of clear bottles, and now want to remove the background (which is white-ish, because at a pinch I could leave it...) so that the bottle becomes transparent ...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
Please suggest a workflow on Mac using only free/open source software
I own a D90 with a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 prime lens. However ever since buying my camera I am struggling to find a proper workflow to process RAW images on my Mac which does at least the following
Adjust ...
6
votes
4answers
824 views
What sort of color correction and effects are used in this photo?
I've seen plenty of photos like this before and I've always liked them. They're usually warmer colours and they seem to have a bit of a haze to them.
Photo by David Guenther
What sort of post ...
10
votes
4answers
1k views
How do I remove random people from my photos?
I'm very excited about the new Scalado Remove App for Android/iPhone. Let's say you're taking a picture of your friend in front of a landmark with several people walking by. The app allows you to ...
10
votes
3answers
710 views
How to get the best results with resizing an image?
I've heard that resizing your image from 100% to the desired size is not a good way to resize an image.
Given developer/photographers like Fred Miranda have written tools to help resize your images ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
How can I create a grayscale with color highlighting effect in Lightroom?
Highlighting certain area with color, leaving the rest grayscaled — what is the name of this effect in photography?
What is the most precise way to achieve this effect in Lightroom?
4
votes
5answers
3k views
What kind of color treatment is applied to these Sean Flanigan photos?
Sean Flanigan is probably one of my favorite photographers. His photos has an extremely unique feel to them, at least to me they are unique. Whenever I try to describe his photos, words fail me. I ...
7
votes
4answers
433 views
Tips for making black and white conversions in post-processing?
In image editors, especially powerful ones like GIMP and Photoshop, there happen to be a bevvy of ways to turn a color image into a black and white one, but not all techniques are the same.
How do ...
4
votes
3answers
422 views
What are the inherent limitations of the iPad as a digital darkroom?
With all of this talk of the post pc era, what limits do the lack of a traditional laptop or desktop computer impose on digital photography? If I want to use a modern day DSLR and a device such as ...
13
votes
6answers
457 views
Techniques to pull skin tones out of the shadows?
What are some good workflows and methods for pulling skin tones out of the shadow and preserving tonality?
I took a couple shots during a sunrise and did not want to blind riders (who had been riding ...
12
votes
5answers
967 views
What is the best techinque to smooth skin?
I am toning a senior portrait right now and am wondering what the best skin smoothing technique is. Think glamor. I know how to take care of blemishes, but I'm looking to enhance that silky skin look.
...
8
votes
6answers
738 views
What are non-destructive edits and do they exist?
This is going to be somewhat provocative and more about terms and definitions, so if you feel it should be closed or moved to meta, vote so.
To the question - there is a lot of talk about ...
5
votes
3answers
942 views
Can I simulate Active D-Lighting on post processing?
I'm using a Nikon D5000 and I think I get more noise using Active D-Lighting on Auto. If I turn it off, how can I simulate A D-Lighting in post processing? I shoot RAW.
10
votes
1answer
1k views
What are Barrel and Pincushion distortion and how are they corrected?
I have some questions regarding Barrel distortion and pincushion distortion. Since they are related I have put them in single post.
I am aware that barrel distortion
occurs more in wide-angle
...
6
votes
2answers
269 views
Real-time vs post-production blurs — what's the difference?
I've always been a huge fan of blurry photos, I guess in part because almost any camera is able to take blurry photos, though some better than others.
What's the difference between real-time and ...
3
votes
5answers
2k views
Is there a desktop application for easy photo effects, like Camera+ for the iPhone?
I'm searching a desktop equivalent of the Camera+ iPhone app. The app Camera+ has predefined effects which can be added to images. Basically, all I want is a desktop application which is able to ...
2
votes
1answer
304 views
Resize and sharpen or sharpen and then resize?
Is there a logical reason why one is preferred over the other or it does not make any difference either way?
Edit: I meant resize as in downsizing the image.
1
vote
4answers
261 views
How can I fix an out-of-focus blurred photo in Photoshop?
How can I fix this picture? Somebody else took this picture and well he wasn't able to do it very well, and it's blurred.
I have photoshop
0
votes
0answers
87 views
What software or technique was used to acheive this (soft-curves-brush-stroke) effect? [duplicate]
I am curious to know what software, filter plugin or technique was used to achieve the effect applied on the tree on the following photo:
http://500px.com/photo/28630509?from=upcoming&from_page=4
...
11
votes
4answers
2k views
How do I get this “Washed out” effect for street photography?
I was browsing an unrelated question here and noticed this photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sparth/5730541580/lightbox/
I've seen countless street-photography shots with this kind of color effect ...
14
votes
7answers
3k views
Do professionals all edit their pictures heavily?
I am just wondering how many of you do a heavy editing in Photoshop after taking those pictures. Do all or most professional photographers do that? Or they just do a simple cropping and adjusting a ...
