By Cindy Mikel
Most photographers have taken pictures where people have evil-looking red eyes. They are caused when electronic flash is used in low-light situations. Light from the flash reflects off tiny blood vessels in the eye's retina and make the pupil appear red. Some digital cameras now on the market have in-camera red-eye reduction.
Significance
In-camera red-eye reduction can save a digital photographer countless hours in post-production computer time. In the past, photographers would have to remove red-eye one image at a time using post-production software such as Photoshop. That was extremely time consuming, especially if you photographed a family gathering or birthday party and took hundreds of pictures. Red-eye also can transform what would have been a treasured keepsake into a considerable disappointment.
Types
There are two different red-eye elimination tools for digital cameras. Most cameras have built-in red-eye reduction that utilizes the camera's flash. The flash fires to get the eye's pupil to contract. A second flash fires when the picture is taken. Since the pupil is not open as wide, red-eye is less likely to occur. The second tool uses complicated formulas to find red-eye and remove it from the picture while still in the camera.
Benefits
In-camera red-eye removal gives photographers the flexibility to download photographs directly to a printer. It also allows photographers to take the memory card directly to a photo printer kiosk found in many retail stores.
Considerations
In-camera red-eye removal may lengthen the time your camera takes between shots. Automatic red-eye removal will search for and fix red eyes, increasing the time needed to write the image to the camera's memory card. Most cameras' default settings have automatic red-eye removal turned off. A photographer must activate the feature if he wants red-eye removed automatically. If automatic red-eye removal is off, the photographer can still remove red-eye in-camera by selecting "Remove Red Eyes" in the camera menu.
Misconceptions
In-camera red-eye removal is not perfect. Complex algorithms look at both color and context to find red-eye, according to HP. Sometimes the camera misses red-eye. Other times, the camera will try to fix an area that is not red-eye. Many in-camera red-eye removal systems will allow the photographer to review the changes made and reverse them if necessary.
About the Author:
Cindy Mikel has been writing about education and family issues for more than 25 years. As a newspaper reporter with a journalism degree and as the mother of two grown children, she shares her knowledge of those important subjects with readers on a regular basis. She is also a published photographer.
