Maxpixel

I have a quibble about the term “post processing.” Why not just call it “processing?” We say film is processed, not post processed, so why would processing of a RAW image be any different? Now if I processed a jpg image, which is already a processed image, I can see why that could be called post processing. I thought UHH would be the perfect place to resolve this semantic issue!

PoppieJ Loc: North Georgia

in the interest of confusion it is just like a multitude of other terms in our chosen hobby, a hold out from day (years) past

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Maybe to differentiate it from In Camera processing, which is done to camera created JPEGs via the camera settings?

Film has only the one step....

I'll still call it post-processing.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

I'm with you. Even if we don't do any "post processing," it has already been processed by the camera (for the jpg). ALL processing is post shot.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Because pp is much more fun to use as an abbreviation than just P

Agree with Longshadow: in-camera vs. another device (computer, tablet) after downloading the file.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

Film has never had only one step, Long. There's always been developing and printing. (And there's no need to get into the usual blather about what some software engineer in Japan or where ever decided 'was correct' in terms of raw files or .jpgs or NEF's or what-have-you that comes off a digital camera's card. That's been addressed ad nauseum.) Some of us were happy with what the drug store provided, some of us were not, so set out to process the negs or slides or the prints themselves. Neither was right, neither was wrong, but some processing and/or processing after the fact --be it of negs, slides (or off cards or scans)-- results resulted in better images than the drug store usually provided.

Frankly, I'm not a big fan of "post-processing" either. At least not as a term. Processing, to me, has (almost, or at least ever since I got past the drug store print phase) included everything that led me up to having 'taken' ('captured', 'shot' or so on) an image to the time that image was actualized, be that in print form or somehow digitally displayed. 'Nuther words, there is no 'post' for me; it's all 'processing'.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

While you're at it you should throw in editing as well.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Wikipedia has a disambiguation page on postprocessing.

Image editing in photography is the first hit, but after that comes audio editing software, differential GPS processing to enhance accuracy, video processing, and finite element model processing for computer calculations.

But all that is beside your point. You are specifically complaining about "post' as I understand it. In photographic image processing the post merely refers to the fact that it's done after the camera has exposed the image, preprocessed it (to introduce a new term), and disgorged it to a file. Postprocesssing is what's done Post-Camera.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Save printing, which not everyone does with digital.
So before "printing" there is only one step with film....

Maxpixel

I suspect the term post-processing came about before RAW output was common with digital cameras and processing was always done on a camera produced jpg image. The term makes sense in that case. Saying that processing of a RAW image is post processing begs the question, “post what?” If we say it is post camera, that makes as much sense as saying development of film is post-development because that is also post camera. Frankly, I’m for replacing “post processing” altogether with “proccessing.”

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Pre processing (Prep) is when the photographer adjusts the camera settings before taking the shot.
Post processing(Post) is when the photographer adjusts the image produced after the shot - depending on kit, this could mean in camera or computer.
The advantage of Prep is that, e.g., the landscape photographer (me) can chimp and likely be able to adjust the settings live - to shoot again if so inclined. Happy shooting

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

Post exposure is a good rational. I suspect it originated in the film industry. Postproduction is the closest hit from Webster’s Dictionary.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

We have SOOC so now we can have POOC. 😊

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

SOOPP?