When it comes to image quality, correct technique is only half the battle. If you really want to get the best out of your camera you should also know what you’re doing in the digital darkroom. That’s not to say that post-production should replace camera techniques and the idea of getting it right as you’re shooting – it shouldn’t. It’s just that if you want the maximum quality you’ll be shooting Raw images, and if you shoot Raw images you’ll need to process them to some extent.
Processing can be as easy or as difficult as you want to make it. You can simply apply a preset to a Raw image and make nothing more than a minor tweak to sharpening or noise reduction, or alternatively you may wish to take every aspect into your own hands and take time to process with utmost precision. Whichever way you go about it, there are a few things to bear in mind which should ensure your images don’t result with any unsightly artefacts or obvious signs of editing. Here are seven common mistakes photographers make when it comes to processing and what you can do to avoid them.
Mistakes that happen to all of us. There never will be a time when we can improve, like when it comes to compression artefacts, those small blocks that blur out the closer you zoom in on the photo.
Then when you get a bit overzealous with over-sharpening...just don't. It's hard to not want the clearest photo. But re-frame from doing so.