Halide is our favorite pro-level camera app for the iPhone, and earlier this year it introduced a new shooting mode that removes the usual machine-learning enhancements Apple applies to photos. iPhone photographers now have access to Process Zero, giving photographers greater creative control over their images without computational interference. This can result in a more raw, film-like look, where every decision is made by you instead of an algorithm.
Left: shot with Apple’s Camera app; Right: shot with Halide Process Zero
Apple’s standard photo processing
The iPhone’s default camera uses advanced computational wizardry and AI to enhance your shots automatically. Features like Smart HDR and Deep Fusion combine multiple exposures to balance lighting, reduce noise, and sharpen details. While this results in clear and vibrant photos, it also means the camera is making many creative decisions for you. Oh, and you can’t turn them off.
For photographers who want more control, Halide’s Process Zero bypasses these automatic adjustments, producing an image that reflects the original light and detail of the scene without enhancement. “It’s like shooting film,” say Halide’s developers, because the images retain natural grain and allow for much greater control. While you’ll lose some conveniences of computational photography, you’ll gain the ability to produce unique, film-like images that reflect your personal style.
Instead of letting algorithms smooth noise and enhance exposure, Process Zero captures a single photo at the sensor level. The result is an image with more natural textures and color tones. Since this shooting mode doesn’t combine multiple exposures, it’s best suited for well-lit or daytime shots. Low-light photos and those with high contrast backlighting will suffer without Apple’s under-the-hood smarts helping out.
How to use Process Zero
To try this mode, download and open the Halide app and switch to Process Zero from the drop-down format menu at the top of the view. When you capture a photo, you’ll get a digital negative (shown as DNG in the app) which you can fine-tune in your favorite editing app. Halide’s built-in Image Lab feature (accessed from the lower menu) offers a single-dial control to quickly adjust exposure without needing a separate editor, but note that you’ll have to pay up for access to these features.
Process Zero brings a refreshing option for photographers who value simplicity and creative control, allowing iPhone photos to capture a more authentic look without automated enhancements. For more info and plenty of example photos, see this article from Halide’s co-creator Ben Sandofsky that goes into all the nitty gritty details. It’s a good read.