Preserving the Original Photo After Editing: Techniques and Tips

Understanding how to preserve the original photo after undergoing editing is crucial for photographers and artists alike. Whether you start with a raw image or a JPEG, ensuring that the original remains intact is essential to preserving the integrity of your work. This article outlines the methods and steps you can take to maintain the original photo and discusses the differences between various file formats and the challenges you might encounter.

Understanding Raw Files and Editing Techniques

When you begin with a raw image, which is the data directly from the camera sensor, you are on the right track. Different camera brands label these files differently, such as NEF for Nikon. When you edit a photo, you do not modify the original file; instead, the editing software creates a copy of the data and stores it in a separate file. This ensures that the original raw image remains unchanged and unedited.

Raw Files: The Safeguard for Originality

By using a RAW file, you have a safe haven to return to the original state of your photo. When you need to revert to the original, simply open the RAW file in your RAW software and reset all the parameters to their default settings. This approach ensures that you will always have the highest quality, unaltered image.

JPEG Files and Their Limitations

If you save your photo as a JPEG, you lose the ability to revert to the original file, as JPEGs do not contain the necessary metadata to track edits. If you need to make substantial edits and wish to keep the original file intact, it is best to save a copy of the edited photo in a different file format, like a PSD or PSDX (Photoshop file), which preserves the original layers and edits.

Removing Editing from a Photo

Even if you have saved your edits correctly, sometimes you may need to remove them from a photo. Here are some techniques to help you recover the original image:

Using Selection Tools and Content-Aware Fill

One method to remove unwanted elements from a photo is to use selection tools to isolate the parts you want to remove. Select the area containing the unwanted elements and apply Content-Aware Fill. This feature intelligently fills the selected area with the surrounding content, making the edits nearly imperceptible. For more complex edits, you can use Cloning to copy and paste sections from other parts of the photo to cover up the removed elements.

Reverting to the Original Copies

Always keep a copy of the original unedited photo for future reference. By saving a duplicate file, you can revert to the original at any time without compromising the integrity of the edited version. This step is crucial if you need to remove any edits or return to a previous state of the photo.

Specific Examples and Tips

To better illustrate this process, let me use a specific example. Here is a photo of a pond's reflection, which I had to convert to JPEG format for posting on Quora. Originally, I shot this photo in Ultra wide mode on my Samsung S22 Ultra with the first-generation Dragon processor. The 109 pixels per square inch (ppi) resolution in Ultra wide mode allows for large format printing, but for posting online, I had to reduce the size of the file.

Steps to Restore the Original Format

If you have the original photo stored on your phone, computer, or camera, you can follow these steps to remove edits and restore the photo to its original format:

Step 1: Use the camera or photo editing software to select the area you want to remove. Utilize selection tools to isolate the element.

Step 2: Employ Content-Aware Fill to fill in the selected area with the surrounding content. Alternatively, use cloning to copy and paste sections from other parts of the photo to cover up the removed elements.

Step 3: Save the original unedited version of the photo for future reference. This ensures that you can always revert to the original state if needed.

Conclusion

Maintaining the integrity of your original photo is a fundamental aspect of image editing. By understanding the differences between raw and JPEG files and utilizing editing tools effectively, you can preserve the original version of your work. Always keep copies of the original photos to ensure you can always revert to the unedited state if required.