Modern digital cameras can save photographs in various formats, including raw. These files represent the maximum amount of initial information received by the sensor when shooting.
Instructions
Step 1
Select and install a program to handle this type of file. It is worth noting that manufacturers usually bundle the camera with their own raw converter. These programs are free, have good functionality, but do not allow you to achieve the best possible result. There are three titans in the software market in this area: Adobe Lightroom, Apple Aperture, and Phase One Capture One. Among them there are subjective pros and cons, however, the first program is the most popular and convenient. Lightroom was conceived as an imitation of a dark room for developing negatives. It makes it very easy to catalog information, process large arrays of photos at the same time and is very easy to use.
Step 2
Copy the required raw files to your computer. Do not process from flash drives. This will significantly speed up the processing process. Disable programs that actively use the hard disk while working with the raw editor. Make sure there is free space. When working with a raw file, the program uses the free space of the hard disk, which is several times larger than its size.
Step 3
Import files. In this case, you can pre-select a number of parameters that will be applied to all photos. For example, if all imported photos are portraits, you can select Portrait, Sharpen, or any other setting.
Step 4
Frame the image, leaving the most important and interesting part of the frame. Try not to include unnecessary things in the composition. Achieve a laconic combination of elements.
Step 5
The most important thing in the image is the exposure. Set the contrast and brightness to their default values if the software has increased them, and check the histogram plot. By decreasing or increasing the exposure parameter, achieve such a position so that the graph does not go beyond the edges.
Step 6
Start correcting the resulting image. Experiment with contrast, light fill, curves. If the photo is in color, use the white balance correction to adjust the light temperature where the photo will have natural colors. You can apply masks to darken or lighten certain parts of the photo. Experiment with these settings to find the best combination.
Step 7
General filters are the last step in image processing. Increase, if necessary, the overall sharpness of the frame, reduce noise. If desired, you can use vignetting, toning or grain overlay.
Step 8
Export your photo to a jpeg file with the quality parameter set to its maximum value. If necessary, you can use further processing in a graphical editor. However, this only makes sense when the image is heavily modified: plastic editing, collaging, cloning textures, correcting the surface of the skin, hair, folds of clothes and other complex manipulations.
