Jump to content

Colour film for b&w


PaulJohn

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I’m considering the possibility of using colour film to create black and white images. Not because of processing as I rather enjoy sloshing b&w film but because it might look different. Manipulating the colour channels in pp would also add some extra creative control.

 

Has anyone done much with this?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Link to post
Share on other sites

Chemical B&W prints from colour film are rather ho-hum in my experience. I rather doubt that digital enhancing will save the day.

But it will certainly look different. Please share your results.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

The orange mask built in to colour films makes convention B&W printing difficult. There was an orange mask on Kodak's B&W chromogenic films - they were designed to be printed onto colour paper for the 1 hr trade. 

 

For scanning, some software (e.g. SIlver Efex Pro) can emulate the effect of colour filters in B&W shooting. 

 

I don't think you will gain anything by shooting on colour film with the goal of B&W prints. You might (at least to a small extent) loose something in terms of grain and sharpness. Instead, think Ilford XP2 Super, or a conventional silver film.

Edited by Michael Hiles
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I differ from those disappointed with color images made to B&W via digital means. The profound control of color-to-B&W is, to me, undeniably superior to strict monochrome. How else can one apply, for example, a blue filter and a red filter to the same image using color channels, masks and blending of layers?

 

Please experiment, reconsider, share your results or disappointments.

Best,
Pico

Edited by pico
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I’m considering the possibility of using colour film to create black and white images. Not because of processing as I rather enjoy sloshing b&w film but because it might look different. Manipulating the colour channels in pp would also add some extra creative control.

 

Has anyone done much with this?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, a lot.

 

Fuji Velvia 50 in medium format makes for monochrome conversions with extensive and very smooth tonal transitions that looks nothing like most traditional black and white negative film output. 

 

My advice would be not to restrict yourself to simply pushing sliders around in Channels, you'll find far more control and creative possibilities in SFX or Alien Skin.   

Edited by Ouroboros
  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

I’m considering the possibility of using colour film to create black and white images. Not because of processing as I rather enjoy sloshing b&w film but because it might look different. Manipulating the colour channels in pp would also add some extra creative control.

 

Has anyone done much with this?

 

 

There shouldn't be a problem scanning your colour film and converting it to B&W, I've done it a couple of times. All I would say is it can sometimes look a little bland and soft edged. The lack of grain in many colour films combined with removing the colour, which to the eye gives edge definition, means you may have to play with edge contrast to achieve some fake acutance. Also think about adding grain with Silver Efex.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I had a play with some Portra 400 scans and there is definitely room for improvement with the LR sliders but you can only go so far before things start to look grungy. Making a blue sky black is achievable in digital but not with film. Will post examples later. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Here are my experiments with Ektar 100.

 

Donor photo:

 

41276300142_3aa4e40941_b.jpgEktar 100 by Paul Nadin, on Flickr

 

mono conversion in LR:

 

41319009041_dd60ef081b_b.jpgEktar mono by Paul Nadin, on Flickr

 

Blue luminance dropped in LR:

 

40423196465_75a0f7b24c_b.jpgEktar blues darkened by Paul Nadin, on Flickr

 

Red filter applied in Silver Efex:

 

27446718098_a996b8516f_b.jpgEktar red filter in silver ex by Paul Nadin, on Flickr

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...