Infrared processing -

GristlyEnd

This is a quick post to show the differences between using a custom white balance against an auto white balance. My tools of choice for infrared photography are my Nikon D50, Hoya R72 filter and a tripod. Most of my shots are taking in bright sunlight.

I always take a white balance reading from grass in direct sunlight with the filter on. This makes a huge difference in the processing and you will see the results of this below. The tutorial is the same as that on PBase, so head there for the figures I used below.


This is my RAW file converted to TIFF for photoshop. As you can see no red which is what most people expect to see from an unprocessed IR shot.


Auto levels


Channel mixer


Levels again


Hue/Saturation


Final image with USM


RAW file with auto white balance


RAW processed as above with auto white balance

Fenster

Very nice, Darren. If you want to get your whites even whiter, use a paintbrush set to low (10-15%) opacity and set to colour and simply paint in the white areas.

trishw78

Fenster wrote: »

Very nice, Darren. If you want to get your whites even whiter, use a paintbrush set to low (10-15%) opacity and set to colour and simply paint in the white areas.

That just sounds like too much hard work.:D

trishw78

Here's my atempt at IR Colour if you guys have any suggestions or pointers please let me know. I personaly think it's a bit blue I was trying to bring out the colour in the background bit with little success.



EDIT: I used a Hoya R72 filter

Hugh_C

looks good trish, I've found I've got the best results when the sun is low(ish) in the sky and coming over your shoulder - it's hard to tell in your shot but it looks like it might be in front and to the right?

Can't remember where I read about the best results coming from the sun over your shoulder but ...

There's a guy called inframel on flickr who's well worth checking out - his stuff is amazing.

Hugh

bernard0368

Nice shot Darren,
I am not getting anywhere near that must be doing something wrong. When I use auto levels the trees get an orange look about them. I will keep going till I can figure it out.

Fenster

What WB and RAW processor are you shooting with?

bernard0368

The camera is a 400d and the white balance I was taking the first shot with the filter fitted and setting that as custom wb.

bernard0368

[IMG][/img]

Fenster

That looks absolutely grand to me, TBH

trishw78

It looks good to me also.

bernard0368

Thanks, I am not mad about it.