Pro Camera App Halide Can Now Capture Photos With No Image Processing

Called Process Zero, the option in Halide 2.15 uses no image processing or AI. The results provide better control over lighting and exposure.

Akin to the analog film process, Process Zero images also come with digital negatives to change the exposure after the image was taken. The process works best in daytimes or mixed lighting instead of at night.

The result is a single, 12-megapixel shot that’s les saturated, softer, and granier. On the Lux blog, you can see a number of examples of Process Zero.

There are some tradeoffs, as mentioned on the blog:

I mentioned grain earlier, and just like film, Process Zero will have an ideal ‘ISO’ range. In the dark, it will get noisy. Fortunately, newer iPhones with quad-bayer sensors have incredible low-light performance, compared to the past. Don’t go in expecting night mode, but I’ve been surprised by how useful the results can be.

Because Process Zero does not fuse multiple shots, you are limited by the dynamic range of the sensor. That means that if you’re shooting something like that window from earlier, you need to choose which bits you want exposed.

You can easily switch between Process Zero and the normal system processing with a single tap.

Halide Mark II is designed for the iPhone and all iPad models. It’s a free download on the App Store.

You will need a subscription to use the app. There are two options available, $2.99 per month or $11.99 yearly, There is a seven-day free trial available to try out the app.

A lifetime license to the app for $59.99.

The Halide team has had a busy 2024. In late May, the developers also released Kino, a professional-grade video app with a number of great features and an easy-to-use UI.