Photographers who are familiar with the characteristics
of silver halide film will know that a highlight area, (for example, when taking pictures
where the subject is close to the camera and a flash is used) can lose detail. This detail
can be recovered at the printing stage by adjustment of the paper exposure time. Digital
photography is, however, different in that lost detail in highlights cannot be recovered
by photochemical adjustments. It is therefore useful to consider reducing the exposure by
½ or ¾ stop to ensure that an overlooked highlight is not lost and can be subsequently
correctly treated in the "digital darkroom".