What is push processing?

This is a technique used in film processing whereby film is overdeveloped in order to compensate for underexposure, by adjusting the amount of chemicals used. Likewise, pull processing compensates for overexposure.

While the term is not really used in the digital era, a similar methodology applies, such as intentionally capturing an underexposed image, and then using image editing software to correct it. This is known as ‘exposing to the left’ or ‘exposing to the right’, in reference to the camera’s exposure meter.