Camera controls are inter-related. The total amount of light reaching the film plane  changes with the duration of exposure, aperture of the lens, and focal length of the lens . Changing any of these controls alters the exposure. Many cameras may be set to adjust most or all of these controls automatically.

     This automatic functionality is useful in many situations, and in most situations to occasional photographers. Image capture is only part of the image forming process. Regardless of material, some process must be employed to render the latent image captured by the camera into the final photographic work. This process consists of two steps, development, and printing.

    Printing Process

      During the printing process, modifications can be made to the print by several controls. Many of these controls are similar to controls during image capture, while some are exclusive to the printing process. Most controls have equivalent digital concepts, but some create different effects. For example, dodging and burning controls are different between digital and film processes.Besides the camera, other methods of forming images with light are available.

     A photocopy or xerography machine forms permanent images but uses the transfer of static electrical charges rather than photographic film, hence the term electrophotography. Photograms are images produced by the shadows of objects cast on the photographic paper, without the use of a camera. Objects can also be placed directly on the glass of an image scanner to produce digital pictures.