The Computer

For many photographers (and almost ALL professionals) every photo is processed to some degree in the computer, so this section looks briefly at the essential roles that post-processing can play in arriving at the final image.

Contrast
The computer has allowed us to adjust the contrast of color images, whereas in the chemical days we could generally only adjust contrast in black and white.

Adjust the contrast.

Saturation
We can adjust HOW MUCH color an image has, from none to vivid and beyond. This is another essential tool in post-production.

Adjust the saturation.

Selective Saturation
There are many cases when adjusting the saturation of part of an image will produce not only a more effective image, but often more accurate to the original scene.

Select this.

Black and White
Working in black and white from color original images gives us enormous control that we never had in "real" black and white. 

Some answers.

Color Balance
Many images will need subtle color adjustments to correct lighting problems.

See some problems and fixes.

Digital Filters
There are many ways to add overall effects to your images in computer that can be useful, interesting and occasionally bring out more of what the image "wants to say."

Above, at or below.

Photoshop
When you really want to move pixels around, you work in a program like Adobe's Photoshop, where there are no limits at all.

Consider Photoshop.

Pixels
A reminder that digital images are composed of pixels, and some of the implications of images built from little tiny squares of color.

How many do you need?

How good is good enough?