There are things in this world you can always depend on. Like the release of the ZPS X Spring Update every year! Join us for a look at the new features we’ve prepared for you. This time around we’ve empowered you to adapt the program to your needs, we’ve swept up a bit inside the modules, and we’ve sped up previews.

When it comes to technically perfect color photos, digital noise is viewed as a blemish, and camera manufacturers are constantly improving their sensors to minimize it. And in fact we’ve published a number of guides to removing noise from your photos. But things are different for black-and-white photos—in these, “grain” is an element that’s not just tolerated; it’s downright desirable. Here’s how to add it to your photos easily.

A storytelling photo series is a modern and interesting theme done by many leading photographers around the world. It’s only natural to want to try our hand at a storytelling photo series too. In the following article, we take a step-by-step look at what is required for this type of shoot, including how to select costumes, models, a script, and location. We will also cover how to incorporate all of this so that the resulting photo series has depth.