Originally Posted by
Diane Miller
An important factor in a discussion of the various ways people do processing is the quality of the raw file. If someone starts with an excellent file that is tack-sharp, low noise, perfectly lighted and not heavily cropped, then they can “get away with” a different processing method than a typical beginner who starts with a soft and underexposed raw file and resorts to stronger processing to try to make it the equivalent of a good file. The good initial file needs a lot less sharpening, noise reduction and tonal adjustments, so the details of how and when they are done are much less likely to contribute to image degradation.
Procedures that might work well on excellent files can cause problems for a less-experienced user with less-than-excellent files, a less-developed understanding of the limitations of certain procedures and a less-practiced eye.
Even with an excellent file, someone who is new to the digital darkroom can make the common mistake of thinking there are absolute rules to follow, or that what worked on one image would work equally well on a different one.