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Post Processing is the final key step in the image flow from shooting to presentation.

Post Processing can make or break an image and turn turds into diamonds. The post processing tools that you use will have a great deal of effect on what you're able to do.

Photoshop

Photoshop isn't a cheap tool but on the flipside does do almost everything that you're ever going to need

The big daddy of all post processing software, Photoshop isn't a cheap tool but on the flipside does do almost everything that you're ever going to need. A large, memory hogging application, because of its memory management it'll work better on a Mac than a PC but I wouldn't be without it.

Topaz Detail

An extra purchase into Photoshop, the Topaz Detail plugin is a great tool to help bring out the detail in your shots, and beautifully easy to use. Topaz Detail came out with Detail 3.0 late in 2012 and with its selective detailing is a very good improvement.

Noise Ninja

Topaz Detail plugin is a great tool to help bring out the detail in your shots, and beautifully easy to use

Noise is an almost unavoidable part of digital photography and post processing, and getting rid of the noise in the background, especially in the darks, requires a little help over and beyond the standard tool inside Photoshop. I've been using Noise Ninja for several years and whilst newer and shinier noise removal products have come along I'm perfectly happy with the job that Noise Ninja manages to do.

Computer Setup

I don't have anything special in my computer setup to be able to run all these tools efficiently. The only relative extravagances I use are a vaguely decent screen (hp x2301) and a Bamboo tablet. Beyond that, the memory isn't especially large nor is it remotely overspecced.

Post Processing Time

On the stacks that I make, it usually takes me 1-2 hrs of postprocessing to get the images to a decent state. The workflow is images (emphasis on detail rather than sharpness), Zerene Stacker, Retouching, cloning in Photoshop, Topaz Detail, Noise Ninja and finally sharpening using mcpactions.

Final Touches

It's generally a good idea to stick some form of copyright notice into the final image. I like to use an exif field inside Exif Pilot to do this for me.

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