Post Processing Basics: Lightroom, Camera Raw, & More

The creation of a beautiful photograph starts with the taking of the image in the camera. What follows for most photographers is a trip to the edit suite where levels are adjusted, contrast and colors are tweaked, and a final image is perfected. To many, this final process may seem overly complex, maybe even intimidating. However, in the age of modern photography, post processing is to digital what darkroom is to film. Most photographers in history used different types of film to control color and feel of their images. With digital cameras, these different color palates are most often created in a digital darkroom, e.i. Lightroom, Photoshop, or similar applications.

In this online class, you’ll start at the ground level of digital darkroom processing, learning basic file handling and basic raw processing techniques such as contrast and brightness, shadows and highlights, and color temperature. Moving through, you’ll learn more advanced techniques such as color theory and color palates, working with non-destructive editing techniques, blending exposures and lens corrections, and how to blend and separate lights and darks for the most pleasing photograph. You will leave feeling more confident in your ability to take that brilliant captured moment and turn it into a print worthy masterpiece, all from the comfort of your desktop or laptop.

Topics Include:

• File Handling

• Raw Processing Basics

• Contrast, Brightness, and Luminosity

• Color Temperature and Tint

• Color Theory and Grading

• Blending Exposures

• Bracketing and Stitching

• Lens Corrections

• Stylistic Editing