Process Zero II: Add Light Processing to Your Workflow
▼ Summary
– The iPhone camera app Halide has released a major new update, Mark III, which is available as a “Public Preview” while final design work is completed.
– A key feature is the enhanced Process Zero mode, which now adds support for HDR and ProRAW capture while maintaining its hands-off, anti-computational philosophy.
– The update introduces a new black-and-white film simulation called Chroma Noir that also supports HDR, aiming to give highlights more pop.
– New “Tone Fusion” adjustments for brightness and shadows are part of Process Zero, which Halide emphasizes does not use AI and is less aggressive than Apple’s default processing.
– The Mark III update is available to current subscribers and will be free for all Halide II users; the app operates on a $19.99 annual or $59.99 one-time payment model.
The latest version of the popular iPhone photography app, Halide, has launched a significant update known as Halide Mark III. This release, available now as a public preview, introduces several powerful new features centered on giving photographers more control and creative options. A key highlight is the evolution of its Process Zero mode, which now incorporates HDR and ProRAW support, blending the app’s signature minimalist processing with advanced technical capabilities. This update also debuts a new black-and-white film simulation and promises additional “Looks” in the future, all while maintaining Halide’s focus on intuitive, professional-grade mobile photography.
For many, the term HDR brings to mind overly processed images with unnatural contrast. However, on true HDR displays like those found in modern smartphones, the technology allows for a much wider and more realistic range of tones. Highlights can be genuinely bright while retaining detail, and shadows can remain deep without losing information. This is the type of HDR that Process Zero now supports. If the idea seems at odds with the mode’s “hands-off” philosophy, the results might be a pleasant surprise. In a complementary feature, users can now shoot in Apple’s ProRAW format directly within Process Zero. This provides an image that has undergone some initial Apple processing but retains extensive flexibility for post-capture editing.
This editing flexibility is enhanced by a new tool called Tone Fusion, which allows for brightness and shadow adjustments. Halide emphasizes that this feature does not rely on artificial intelligence, positioning it as a more subtle and photographer-guided alternative to the automatic processing applied by default in iOS. For those seeking a completely different aesthetic, the update introduces Chroma Noir, Halide’s own monochrome film simulation. This black-and-white mode also supports HDR, giving bright highlights extra luminosity. The developers note that traditional film is inherently a high dynamic range medium, making HDR a natural fit for monochrome photography. Users who prefer to avoid HDR can simply disable the feature.
The Halide Mark III update is accessible immediately to current subscribers, who can enable the public preview within the existing Halide II app. When finalized, the upgrade will be provided free of charge to all Halide II subscribers. The app operates on a subscription model priced at $19.99 annually, with a one-time payment option of $59.99 also available.
(Source: The Verge)
