Applicable to Reality Divisions (Nature, Phototravel, PJ)

Processing or editing must be limited to making the image look as close to the original scene as possible, except that conversion to grayscale monochrome is allowed.

Allowed Editing Techniques

• Cropping, straightening and perspective correction. 
  
  
• Removal or correction of elements added by the camera or lens, such as dust spots, noise, chromatic aberration and lens distortion.
  
  
• Global and selective adjustments such as brightness, hue, saturation and contrast to restore the appearance of the original scene.
  
  
• Complete conversion of color images to grayscale monochrome.
  
  
• Blending of multiple images of the same subject and combining them in camera or with software (exposure blending or focus stacking);
  
  
• Image stitching – combining multiple images with overlapping fields of view that are taken consecutively (panoramas).
  
  
• Sharpening that does not make the image appear unnatural.

Editing Techniques that are NOT ALLOWED

Using such techniques may lead to images being Disqualified (DQ'ed)

• Removing, adding to, moving or changing any part of an image, except for cropping and straightening.
  
  
• Adding a vignette during processing. 
  
  
• Blurring parts of the image during processing to hide elements in the original scene.
  
  
• Darkening parts of the image during processing to hide elements in the original scene.
  
  
• All conversions other than to complete grayscale monochrome. 
  
  
• Conversion of parts of an image to monochrome, or partial toning, desaturation or over-saturation of color 
  
• Incorporating, in whole or in part, someone else's work

Using such techniques may lead to an image being DQed. Some offenses are taken more seriously such as using someone else's work without the author's permission.