This is a list of definitions of photo editing terms, with links to articles that include them.
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- DAM (Digital Asset Management) (5)'DAM' is short for 'digital asset management' and it's often used as another term for photo cataloguing software, though it's a slightly different thing. Digital asset management is often related to stock image libraries and design assets too, so it's no a purely photographic thing.
- DeepPRIME (DxO) (8)DeepPRIME is an AI-powered noise reduction and detail enhancement process developed by DxO. It's been developed into newer DeepPRIME XD and DeepPRIME XD 2 versions. It demosaics and demonises raw files at the same time and can produce editable raw DNG files for use in Lightroom, Capture One and other programs, or it can export ready-to-use JPEG and TIFF images. DeepPRIME is found in both DxO PhotoLab and PureRAW.
- Dehaze (6)This is a relatively new tool in Lightroom and other programs. What the Dehaze effect does is to split the image up into different tonal areas – such as the sky and the foreground in a landscape photo – and then maximise the contrast within these areas. The effect is strongest in areas which are quite pale and washed out, such as weak skies or distant hazy horizons.
- Demosaicing (2)Cameras use 'color filter arrays', or tiny color filters, over each photo site so that it can capture red, green or blue color information. Demosaicing is the rocess where the camera (or RAW conversion software) takes the ‘mosaic’ of red, green and blue pixel data from the sensor and converts it into full-color information for each pixel.
- Detail (Lightroom) (1)Lightroom Classic has two 'Detail' sliders. One is in the Sharpening section, where it adds definition but also some texture and granularity to fine detail. The other is in the Noise Reduction section. This slider offsets some of the detail softening effects of increased noise reduction.
- Develop (RAW files) (2)A term used by some software companies, for example Serif in its Affinity Photo software, to describe the RAW conversion process, where a RAW file is processed into an editable image.
- Dfine (Nik Collection) (2)Software plug in for reducing noise in images and part of the Nik Collection. Like many other noise reduction programs, Dfine analyses the image and calculates a noise reduction profile. It’s also possible to define the areas used for analysis manually.
- Distortion (4)Many lenses create distortion, where straight lines take on a slightly bowed appearance near the edges of the frame. Lens designers try to minimise distortion, but it's still common in zoom lenses. Distortion falls into two main types: barrel distortion, which is common with wide-angle lenses, and pincushion distortion, sometimes displayed by telephoto lenses.
- Distortion correction (3)Many lenses create distortion, where straight lines take on a slightly bowed appearance near the edges of the frame. Lens designers try to minimise distortion, but it's still common in zoom lenses. Many cameras and software applications now have distortion correction features, however, were the distortion is corrected digitally rather than optically.
- DNG (3)'DNG' stands for 'Digital NeGative' and it's an open file format developed by Adobe with the intention that it would become a 'universal' file format for digital camera RAW files. To this day, only handful of cameras use it, and it is not supported consistently by editing software – though it's still useful within the Adobe ecosystem.
- Dodging and burning (12)Dodging and burning is an old black and white technique for darkening or lightening different areas of a print while it's being developed. Dodging and burning is a creative process that's just as relevant with digital images. It's done to enhance the tones, the composition and the balance of a picture to create a visually satisfying image.
- DxO (5)Paris-based software company famous for its optical research, testing systems and software. It publishes DxO PhotoLab (previously known as DxO Optics Pro), FilmPack and ViewPoint, the Nik Collection and the PureRAW RAW pre-processing tool.
- Dynamic range (7)This is the brightness range the camera can capture before starting to lose detail in bright areas (like the sky) and dense, dark shadows. Generally, the larger the camera’s sensor, the better its dynamic range. RAW files capture a slightly wider dynamic range than JPEGs.