Objectives
C H A P T E R
Digital Darkroom
Basics
Technical Terms
active layer
additive primaries
adjustment layer
bundled
burning
destructive
dodging
downsampling
editing program
flopping the negative
When you have finished reading this chapter, you will be able to:
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the “digital darkroom” vs. the conventional
darkroom.
• Distinguish between digital image processing and digital image manipulation.
• Describe the general procedure for using image editing software.
• Apply digital darkroom techniques to adjust the size, contrast, and overall color balance of
an image.
• Demonstrate different methods of converting a color image to monochrome.
• Explain how and why unsharp masking is used on digital images.
graphics tablet
grayscale mode
image editor
image manipulation
image processing
interpolation
monochrome
nondestructive
oversharpening
399
phosphor dots
RAW converter
RGB images
sharpening
shortcut keys
straight photography
straight print
upsampling
working file
In this age of digital imaging, it is actually
possible to shoot a photo, process the image,
and print a color enlargement in as little as five
minutes. With a digital camera and an inkjet or
dye sublimation printer (even the computer is
optional), the photographer can capture an image
with the camera, pop out the small memory
card, then insert the card directly into a reader
slot on the printer. Minutes later, the finished
print emerges. A number of sports and event
photographers are using such capabilities to their
business advantage: for example, they often can
have a photo of the rodeo performer’s thrilling
ride ready by the time the competition results are
announced. See Figure 15-1.
Digital vs. Conventional
Darkroom
This, of course, is an extreme application
of the “digital darkroom” concept. For most
photographers, the advantage of working
digitally is not so much speed as it is creative