Stroker1

Way back when, in the Color cast thread, I mumbled something about a scanning negatives tutorial.

After all this time, I finally found it.

Converting colour negatives with Photoshop

Near as I can tell, it was written back in 1998. However, I suspect it's a little older than that due to some of the stuff that Mr. Pink talks about.

It may look like a far cry from the colour cast technique that we all know and love, but it's in there - you just have to understand what it going on. Knowing some PhotoShop history helps as well.

I'm so happy that I found it.
I'm gonna give myself a cookie.
~munch~

wbiss

B7 Way cool Stroker! I would never have thought that possible! [excited]

The only part that I don't quite understand is the "equalize all channels individually". [confused] Can you explain that bit to me?

Enjoy your cookie! You've earned it!

Very interesting Stroker [righton]
I have bookmarked the site and will look at it as soon as I have my scanner working

Stroker1

Wendy,

Contemporary PS:
To Equalize the channels individually, just use Levels or a Levels Ad-Layer. Click on Auto. Or ctrl + shift + l. Now, I believe the actual command, Equalize, works on the composite. So, when Mr. Pink says to equalize the channels individually, it just like saying to use Auto Levels.

Mr. Pink:
What he is doing is actually breaking the doc into three separate documents, one for Red, Green, and Blue. This used to be done with the Split Channels command from the Channels palette. I think they took Split Channels out in PS 6. Now that the channels are in their own seperate documents, Equalize them. Then put them back together again via Merge Channels. Again, I believe Merge Channels disappeared in PS 6.

A modern version of the tutorial would go something like this:
1) Scanned negative in a new doc.
2) Pick the colour, do the Colour layer, and bring Opacity down to 50%. As he kind of points out in the tutorial, this effectively subtracts the chosen colour from the Layer beneath it.
3) Invert (ctrl + i) both Layers.
4) Add a Levels Adjustment Layer and either eyeball it, or use Auto.
5) Add other tweaks an necessary.

Anybody willing to donate a scanned negative for us to play with?

wbiss

Thanks for the "equalize" clarification, Stroker. [righton]

Sure... I'll dig up a neg today, scan and post same by day's end and then we can all have a "go" at this fascinating technique! B7

jpfitness

sounds cool......... good find Stroker [righton]
sfm

Bacardi

OK, here is one. Simple raw scan, uncorrected and set to jpg, 97% quality. Enjoy. [righton]

Stroker1

hehehe

wbiss

[saywhat] Stroker! Man, that is so cool... I'm dying to try it out! I've got a whole box of negs from my pre-digital days!!!

Any scanning guidelines/tips, Stroker & Erik, before I trot off in that direction?
[confused] I've never scanned a neg before....

Bacardi

Sorry1, I use my scanner software for this. (SilverfastAI6 with Negatifix).
What scanner do you use, Wendy?

Sorry2, there should be a load more colours in there. Would you prefer to see what it should look like, or do you prefer to see it later on?