When you've had some experience with post processing, there are definitely some lessons that you can glean regarding the process. It has both limitations and strengths that soon become obvious to you. If you keep these in mind as you are taking photos, then you'll be able to shoot with the right technique and format that you'll need for post processing.
Efficiency
One thing to keep in mind is to always retain your unedited originals! I cannot stress this enough, since trends come and go, as well as your own preferences. What you once considered satisfactory may soon become below standard as your photography improves. Not only that, but as photography trends change, you'll have the chance to re-edit according to taste.
To improve efficiency, you can also organize similar photos into the same folder. In this way, you'll be able to batch an entire set of photos all at once time. Although it may take a few moments to organize, in the long run it could save you hours of editing.
From batching photos together, it's only one small step to saving your settings and creating a preset that you can use over and over again. You have just leverages those few moments into potentially unlimited amounts of time that you have saved yourself over the years. Your gray hairs will thank you (and so will your family members)!
Warnings for Photo Processing
There are a few things to keep in mind regarding post processing, however. Be careful not to convert to the wrong color space. If you are making prints, assume that you should always be in RGB or sRGB color space, which is what your camera shoots in. CMYK format is rarely used in the photo printing industry, so save yourself from a surcharge to your order by doing a file conversion back into RGB, just so the printers can handle the files!
Prior to shooting, decide what file format you plan on using. No file format is an end-all solution. Many professional photographers advocate the consistent use of the RAW format, but they also usually have an entire staff that can help them with the editing process. RAW is a file format that can be time intensive, so also consider some of the easier options, like .jpg files. With what you can now do with editing programs, this might be an easier solution.
Editing Software as Part of the Process
Manuals are usually a user's worst nightmare, but you might be surprised at what you might be able to glean from it. If it is too tedious, you can also opt for some of the more enjoyable options, such as help files or tutorials built directly into the software. My favorite, of course, is to find a pertinent YouTube tutorial specifically created for the program I am using.
You'll be surprised to find what an excellent feedback system there is just in uploading your files into the program. With the EXIF data available, you can learn valuable clues and gain insight that will help you improve your photography. If you take the time to review your photos before going out the next time, you will have improved your skills greatly!
For those who may have been thinking that post processing is merely an extra step, think again! It's a great opportunity to learn more about yourself and what you can do to improve. What's even better is that you can create just a bit of magic by sprinkling some of the effects available that can make your photo stand out from the rest!
Efficiency
One thing to keep in mind is to always retain your unedited originals! I cannot stress this enough, since trends come and go, as well as your own preferences. What you once considered satisfactory may soon become below standard as your photography improves. Not only that, but as photography trends change, you'll have the chance to re-edit according to taste.
To improve efficiency, you can also organize similar photos into the same folder. In this way, you'll be able to batch an entire set of photos all at once time. Although it may take a few moments to organize, in the long run it could save you hours of editing.
From batching photos together, it's only one small step to saving your settings and creating a preset that you can use over and over again. You have just leverages those few moments into potentially unlimited amounts of time that you have saved yourself over the years. Your gray hairs will thank you (and so will your family members)!
Warnings for Photo Processing
There are a few things to keep in mind regarding post processing, however. Be careful not to convert to the wrong color space. If you are making prints, assume that you should always be in RGB or sRGB color space, which is what your camera shoots in. CMYK format is rarely used in the photo printing industry, so save yourself from a surcharge to your order by doing a file conversion back into RGB, just so the printers can handle the files!
Prior to shooting, decide what file format you plan on using. No file format is an end-all solution. Many professional photographers advocate the consistent use of the RAW format, but they also usually have an entire staff that can help them with the editing process. RAW is a file format that can be time intensive, so also consider some of the easier options, like .jpg files. With what you can now do with editing programs, this might be an easier solution.
Editing Software as Part of the Process
Manuals are usually a user's worst nightmare, but you might be surprised at what you might be able to glean from it. If it is too tedious, you can also opt for some of the more enjoyable options, such as help files or tutorials built directly into the software. My favorite, of course, is to find a pertinent YouTube tutorial specifically created for the program I am using.
You'll be surprised to find what an excellent feedback system there is just in uploading your files into the program. With the EXIF data available, you can learn valuable clues and gain insight that will help you improve your photography. If you take the time to review your photos before going out the next time, you will have improved your skills greatly!
For those who may have been thinking that post processing is merely an extra step, think again! It's a great opportunity to learn more about yourself and what you can do to improve. What's even better is that you can create just a bit of magic by sprinkling some of the effects available that can make your photo stand out from the rest!
About the Author:
0 comments:
Post a Comment