How images are rendered

In photography, image rendering can refer to several different processes, all of which boil down to how a device or browser converts image data into a viewable format.

Your device "sees" a data set that describes the visual properties of an image or graphic. How it renders that information determines what you see on the screen.

In-camera image rendering

When you take a picture, you first see the rendered image on the camera itself.

Whatever device you're taking the picture on must interpret the data sent to it from the image sensor and then convert that information into a picture.

The image you see on the electronic viewfinder and/or LCD screen is the camera's rendering of the scene.

The appearance of this picture depends on the algorithms your camera uses for image rendering, as well as the settings you choose.

Each camera does this slightly differently.

Image rendering during post-processing

The next rendering in photography occurs during the editing stage.

Your post-processing program needs to interpret the data in each image file and then render it on whatever screen you're editing.

Just like a camera, each image editing program has its own unique algorithms and outputs. You may not notice the differences when editing a Jpeg photo, but if you're shooting in RAW format, the differences become very noticeable.

A common misconception is that "straight out of the camera" (SOOTC) images are pristine because they are "unedited". This is actually far from the truth.

If you shoot in Jpeg format, the camera will "edit" for you using settings in the camera, including AUTO mode. You can choose whether or not to post-process the image, but either way, it's already "edited" in the first place.

If you shoot in RAW format, your camera will simply organize all the data into one big image file. How it ends up in post-processing will depend on the software you use.

Unlike Jpeg, with RAW photos, you determine how the image looks. The starting point will depend on the quality of the RAW image rendering capabilities of the software you choose.

Image rendering when making composites

Another way to use the term rendering in post-processing refers to creating separate layers when making composite images.

It is also used to refer to the final image, when all the different layers are combined into a single flat image and saved to a single image file. This is sometimes called "final rendering," although you see it most often in 3D image rendering.

This isn't a frequent use of the word "rendering" -- most of the time we're just saying we're cutting elements and placing them in a composite -- but it's there. It's there, and you'll probably run into it.

If you're involved in professional-level photography, the way your images are initially rendered on screen has an impact on your workflow.

3D image rendering?

Designers will create individual elements (called render passes) and then combine them into a complete, often lifelike image.

When done well, these resulting images were nearly impossible to distinguish from real photographs.

Today, this form of image rendering is ubiquitous, swamping everything from movies and games to online catalogs, architectural design, and interior decorating.

How do you render a photo?

Most of the time, photographers aren't asked to render images in a technical sense-that's for your device's software and/or your browser to do.

But if you are using "rendering" to represent different elements of a cut composite, how you do this will depend on the software you are using.

It is important that you have an image editor with layers and a suitable toolset for making fine selections.

(Note that not all selection tools are created equal. Photoshop is still the best software when it comes to making fine selections.)

If you just want to change the background, many programs will do this automatically. The same is true for switching skies.

The results usually won't be perfect-you'll still need to do the final touches-but the technology has certainly come a long way.

But if you want to make multiple beautiful cuts, then using a program like Photoshop or GIMP will be your best bet.

From there, you'll need to learn the selection tool of your choice (there are many). After selecting the part of the image you want to use, click "copy" and then "paste" into a separate layer in the composite you're working on.

Once all your elements are present and aligned, you can "flatten" your image (i.e., combine all the layers into one). You now have the final rendering.

How can I speed up image rendering?

If it's a 2D image rendering, you can use Zanqi Cloud Workstation, a massive software center that supports image rendering, compositing, and post-production, so you can choose the right software and machine configuration according to your needs, and use it flexibly with no limit on the time of use.

3D image rendering can use TOUCH cloud rendering, according to the needs of batch rendering tasks in the cloud, fast and efficient, you can also use Zanqi cloud workstation, through the Cloud Zanqi workstations, software center, cloud disk, TOUCH cloud rendering?

The Zanqi cloud workstation can also be used to perform the entire process of Cloud Zanqi workstation, software center, cloud disk, and TOUCH cloud rendering.