post-exposure

The term “post-exposure” refers on this website to any time after the exposure is ended.

TTG’s definition of “post-exposure” (“anytime after the exposure is ended”) matters because the end of the recording process marks an important transition point in the making of a TTG photograph.

When it comes to non-“light”-related aspects of photographs, TTG makes a very strong distinction between visual effects determined by things that occur before the exposure is ended vs. visual effects determined by things that occur after the exposure is ended.

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Everything is either “pre-shutter” or “post-exposure”

There is by definition no interval of time between the end of the “pre-shutter” period and the beginning of the “post-exposure” period.

Everything that affects a photograph happens during one of those two periods.

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“Post-exposure changes”

On this website the term “post-exposure changes” covers anything done to the photograph after the exposure is ended.

That holds regardless of whether those actions occur in the picture-taking device, on a computer, in a darkroom, or by any other means, and it applies regardless of whether the changes are done intentionally, automatically (by the device), or by accident.

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“Post” and “post-processing”

In some contexts, post-exposure changes are shorthanded to “post” (e.g., “I’ll fix that problem in post”)* or “post-processing” (because “post-exposure processing” is a mouthful).

However, for clarity the longer phrases “post-exposure changes” or “post-exposure processing” are used on this website when possible.

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“Post-exposure changes allowed by TTG”

The list of TTG’s Allowable Changes section details all of the changes that can be made to TTG photographs after they are recorded.

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*FAQ #120 explains why the phrase “I’ll fix it in post” often doesn’t apply to TTG photographs