The renowned iOS professional photography application Halide has recently rolled out an update presenting an intriguing feature named Process Zero. This feature is set to attract photographers who are interested in capturing images without the intervention of artificial intelligence. Lux Optics, the developer of Halide, suggests that Process Zero offers photographers a fresh, creative avenue for capturing moments.
Previously, Halide had permitted its users to dial back the default image processing somewhat. With Process Zero, the application skips traditional image enhancements altogether, basing the results solely on a single exposure RAW file. Halide’s Process Zero employs 12-megapixel RAW DNG files and benefits from a quick processing pipeline, which reportedly is 10 to 25 times faster than Apple’s ProRAW capture.
The resulting images from Process Zero will feature natural sensor noise along with minor color discrepancies. While these traits may be less desirable in dim light settings, they can be employed by photographers to emulate the look of classic digital cameras.
Several apps have attempted to revive vintage aesthetics in recent years, yet Halide’s methodology is unique, stripping away automatic enhancements to reveal the camera sensor’s unadulterated output.
Lux Optics has expressed that while Apple’s sophisticated image processing technologies have been beneficial to many, with Process Zero, photographers can observe the stark difference when these enhancements are removed. The company underscores the importance of giving photographers the power to choose their desired level of processing, akin to selecting different lenses or film stock for their work.
Additionally, Halide has introduced Image Lab, a feature that enables users to adjust exposure and re-develop images taken with the Process Zero feature, offering further control over the final output.
The update to Halide 2.15 is accessible to all existing Halide users and maintains compatibility for those using iPhone X and iPhone SE models. To celebrate the update, Lux Optics has announced a promotional offer on their annual subscription at $11.99 for one week, along with a lifetime membership available at $59.99.
Earlier this year, the company also unveiled an application called Kino, catering to videographers. Kino boasts several professional features including audio level indicators, recording format presets, focus peaking, and an RGB waveform to enhance video recording experiences.
This latest development by Halide serves as an exciting opportunity for photographers to explore a more traditional and organic way of capturing images in our increasingly AI-augmented world.
