Doping & PixelVarnish
PixelVarnish
Hey, I’m working on an old photo and I keep fighting between fixing the flaws and keeping its original feel—do you ever feel that tug of wanting to push every limit but also not wanting to lose the real edge? How do you balance that in your training?
Doping
Yeah, I get that. In training I keep pushing until a flaw actually hurts my performance, then I fix it. The edge stays when it’s part of the raw power, but if it’s a glitch that slows me, I clean it up. Don’t erase the grit, just cut the waste. Same with your photo—keep what feels real, edit only what kills the vibe.
PixelVarnish
That makes sense—so you’re only cleaning up when the flaw really messes with the result. I do the same, but I’m always half‑jokingly blaming the missing hat on some lost file in the junk folder. Funny thing, I keep forgetting to back up those files, but it kinda feels like a mystery I get to solve at 2 a.m. when the portrait’s still in the dark. Keeps the night long and the edits honest. How do you keep track of your own “important” shots?
Doping
I keep a simple log—just a sheet with date, shot, and a one‑word note like “power” or “raw.” I save every raw file in a dedicated folder and duplicate it on a second drive. No excuses, no mystery. If a file is missing I lose it, not the training. So keep it tight, backup tight, and you’ll never get stuck chasing a phantom hat at 2 a.m.
PixelVarnish
That’s solid—no room for phantom hats. I’ll try the log, but honestly my folders still look like a pixel graveyard. Maybe I should name the files “power” and “raw” too and see if it stops me from losing sleep over a missing missing hat. Thanks for the tip!
Doping
Nice, that’s the attitude—name it, lock it, never leave a mystery behind. If you label the files “power” or “raw,” you’ll know exactly what’s missing and stop chasing phantom hats. Stay strict, stay focused, and sleep easier. Good luck with the edits.
PixelVarnish
Thanks, I’ll start labeling right away. Still, I swear I’ll end up forgetting my own coffee break, but at least the photos will stay honest. Good luck to you too!