Keeping Post Processing Short

Once you\’ve gotten some experience with the entire process, there are a few concepts that will present themselves to you regarding post processing. It is these strengths and weaknesses that will become clear. Then, as you are out taking photos, you\’ll be able to keep these in mind to assist you in selecting not only the right technique, but also the best format for post processing.

Efficiency

Be sure to save your unedited originals! When you\’re done editing and save your photos, don\’t save over the originals because you figure you have it edited the way you like. Since trends come and go, you may find in a few years from now, that your edits might look tacky and unattractive. With an unedited original, you have the chance to edit in the future according to what more you have learned about photography and what the current trends are.

Another way to improve efficiency is by organizing similar photos together. Although this may take a little time at first, you\’ll find that it will save you time as you batch similar photos simultaneously. With this one tip, you can shave hours off of your editing time.

Then, from there, it\’s just one step until you have your own presets. Building your own presets and actions will save you loads of time! Set up a few styles that you know you will use over and over again. In the future, you may find you have saved yourself weeks worth of work for what took one hour five years ago!

Warnings

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!

Then, prior to shooting, be sure that you have selected the format file type that will work best for your situation. Many advocate always using RAW because it has the most flexibility, but it can also be the most time consuming! Then, with what software editing can now do with .jpg files, you may find this to be a quick and easy solution.

Editing Software as Part of the Process

Reading the manual is no one\’s idea of having a good time or even for learning information! But, you might be surprised by the information that you can glean from it. Although the information can be quite tedious, consider some of the other options for finding what you may need. Often, as a great overview, you can consider online tutorials that are designed for your software.

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!

Now with your skills ready, put them into action with your Canon or visit us for further information.

Keeping Post Processing Short