how do I invert and adjust color on a color negative(PS5)

Tom Watson <el_slide_kabongpants@shaw.ca> wrote in
news:3F34BB3F.4050206@shaw.ca:

> Hi
> I've been scanning black and white negatives (900 of them) of 1920's
> family pictures, and I ran across a few old color negatives as well. I
> have been trying to invert and adjust the levels on the pos color
> picture, but the colors come out all wrong! I know I'm doing something
> silly or missing something. I also tried in Graphic converter too, to
> no avail!


First off, are you sure your scanning software doesn't have this
built in? Most do anymore...

But if not, this is what I've done the few times I tried it, when my
scanner couldn't handle the color shift correctly. Pick a negative with a
good range of colors throughout, especially whites in shadow (clothes,
drapes, sides of house, whatever). Use 'Invert' as you have, which gives
you a positive image with a cyan cast. Go into Curves, and use the
eyedropper tools for white and grey on the corresponding areas of the
negative which *should* be pure white and middle-tone grey. Tweak to taste.

All types of film have a different color-cast to the film base, and
additionally may have faded or color-shifted throught time. So you can't
easily change this into an action. But, if you have a lot of the same type
of film, you can get good results with one prime example, then jot down the
Curves numbers before you close that window. On the next neg, change the
curves manually while recording the action (do not use the eyedroppers).
Won't be perfect for every pic, but should get you close enough to wiggle
on your own.

Good luck!


- Al.

--
To reply, insert dash in address to separate G and I in the domain

Hi Al

I'm using Desk Scan II and it will do the color adjustment(didn't see
that before!). I guess I don't really know what I'm trying to do to get
the cyan or the ?(orange) out... What is it I am trying to do? What kind
of adjustment do you normally do with the color adjustment, or the
emphasis in deskscanII?

Sorry If I'm asking too many dumb questions. At least I'm heading in
the right direction now!

Tom
-----snip-----

Al Denelsbeck wrote:
> Tom Watson <el_slide_kabongpants@shaw.ca> wrote in
> news:3F34BB3F.4050206@shaw.ca:
>
>
>>Hi
>>I've been scanning black and white negatives (900 of them) of 1920's
>>family pictures, and I ran across a few old color negatives as well. I
>>have been trying to invert and adjust the levels on the pos color
>>picture, but the colors come out all wrong! I know I'm doing something
>>silly or missing something. I also tried in Graphic converter too, to
>>no avail!
>
>
>
> First off, are you sure your scanning software doesn't have this
> built in? Most do anymore...
>
> But if not, this is what I've done the few times I tried it, when my
> scanner couldn't handle the color shift correctly. Pick a negative with a
> good range of colors throughout, especially whites in shadow (clothes,
> drapes, sides of house, whatever). Use 'Invert' as you have, which gives
> you a positive image with a cyan cast. Go into Curves, and use the
> eyedropper tools for white and grey on the corresponding areas of the
> negative which *should* be pure white and middle-tone grey. Tweak to taste.
>
> All types of film have a different color-cast to the film base, and
> additionally may have faded or color-shifted throught time. So you can't
> easily change this into an action. But, if you have a lot of the same type
> of film, you can get good results with one prime example, then jot down the
> Curves numbers before you close that window. On the next neg, change the
> curves manually while recording the action (do not use the eyedroppers).
> Won't be perfect for every pic, but should get you close enough to wiggle
> on your own.
>
> Good luck!
>
>
> - Al.
>

Tom Watson wrote:
> Hi Al
>
> I'm using Desk Scan II and it will do the color adjustment(didn't see
> that before!). I guess I don't really know what I'm trying to do to
> get
> the cyan or the ?(orange) out... What is it I am trying to do? What
> kind
> of adjustment do you normally do with the color adjustment, or the
> emphasis in deskscanII?
>
> Sorry If I'm asking too many dumb questions. At least I'm heading in
> the right direction now!

The orange mask is indeed the problem. It's a mixture of magenta and yellow
because the other dyes are "contaminated" to a certain extent by these
colors. For more discussion of the theory behind this, see:
http://www.photo.net/learn/orange-negative-mask

As for the goal, you are trying to map clear orange to pure black, and the
darkest possible black on the negative to pure white, as per the tutorial
at:
<http://www.zocalo.net/~mgr/DigitalPh...ex.htm#Curving
the Negative>

You may use the same curve adjustment for all your images, though you will
also probably want to adjust each individual picture somewhat.

--

Mike Russell
http://www.curvemeister.com
http://www.zocalo.net/~mgr
http://geigy.2y.net