Innehållsförteckning för Digital Darkroom från Digital Darkroom

Whether you’re starting from scratch or augmenting your current workspace, the basic tools you’ll need for a digital darkroom are a computer, a monitor screen and a printer. You’ll also need backing-up systems and, possibly, a scanner. A calibration device will help you keep the colour and tonal rendition of the monitor screen consistent. There must also be a workspace for setting up your equipment and appropriate editing software. Your workspace Whether your workspace is a permanent setup or a collection of portable devices, they must be able to perform the required tasks. While there’s no need to work in total darkness, subdued lighting is best for image editing. Once you’ve established your requirements, turn to individual components, starting with the computer. Computer requirements Regardless of which operating system you…

If you’ve never edited a photo with desktop software, the best way to learn is by choosing and opening an image and working on it. This chapter provides a basic overview of the essential tools found in all software applications. Their locations may differ and different applications may include different tools and functions, although the basics remain fairly consistent. In the freeware application GIMP they are accessed from the top toolbar and grouped into three categories: Selection, Paint and Transform, as shown in the screen grab on this page. Most other programs align the editing tools down the left side of the workspace, while the other functions – such as File (for opening files), Edit, Layer, Select, Filters, Window and Help – are arranged across the top of the workspace.…

As outlined in Chapter 1, when setting up a printer you must allow enough space behind it for paper to pass through (if necessary) without hitting anything. For printers with rear feed chutes for heavy papers – and also for printers with clip-on roll paper holders – there must also be enough space to feed the paper in or fit the paper holder. Most printer manuals provide data on how much space is needed, although as a rough guide at least 330 mm will be needed for an A3 printer and around 400 mm for an A2 printer. Printers are normally supplied in a cardboard carton, packed inside a large plastic bag. Once you’ve lifted it onto your desktop you must remove the packaging materials (shown in the illustration on…

Software choices are important. While you can carry out some basic editing tasks with the software that comes bundled with your computer’s operating system, it provides a limited range of editing tools. If you’re serious about photography you need a dedicated image editor. What to look for Editing applications range from simple apps to software with sophisticated tools that require a steep learning curve. The best applications provide a clear, intuitive user interface with the following features: 1. Layers support: Layers (see Chapter 6) are discrete overlays on the image that are independently editable. They are created each time you duplicate the main image, copy a selected part or add text to an image. They can also be totally blank. Clicking on one of the eye icons (outlined in red)…

Backing-up should be the first step in any image or video editing process. That way if the computer crashes – or the files become corrupted through some other misfortune – you have undamaged original files to go back to. Saving backups to external storage is the best way to ‘archive’ copies of your original, unedited files. It’s also a good idea to create a ‘working’ folder for the session for storing copies of the images you’ll be working on. Tag each file you’re working on with an ‘ed’ (for edit) or ‘adj’ (for adjustment) label to distinguish them from unedited files. This chapter will cover the main external storage options, including cloud storage. It will also examine the plusses and minuses of automated backup systems, which are often bundled with…

Raw files come straight from the camera’s image sensor and are saved without additional processing. Photographers who use them can apply whatever adjustments they choose before saving the image in a usable format. In this chapter we’ll look at the benefits of shooting and processing raw images and show how to extract the best results from raw files. Raw file formats While a ‘universal’ raw file format exists, unlike JPEG, it’s not widely supported. The DNG.RAW format is used by Leica and Hasselblad (both professional camera manufacturers) and about 15 camera manufacturers – although not the market leaders. Raw vs JPEG While both file formats record colours as three separate channels: red, green and blue (RGB), because they contain all the image data recorded by the camera’s sensor, raw files…

Monochrome prints have always had a special role in fine art photography because they stand out in our world of colour images. Images containing only tones between deep black and bright white evoke different responses in viewers. For some they convey a sense of history; for others a sense of drama or a return to the basics of the photographic art. Even today, in our colour-rich world, almost all cameras include selectable monochrome modes, most editors offer monochrome conversion and prestige manufacturer, Leica, even sells dedicated monochrome cameras. Monochrome printing, therefore, has a role to play in digital darkroom work. You need the right shot, effective editing, the right printer and the right media to create an eye-catching B&W photograph, and you needn’t start with a monochrome image. In most…