Infared

[shirley miers]

Is there a way to create an infared effect in an elements image?
Photoshop CS uses the channel mixer, but elements does not have one and I really like that effect.

[MikeH]

You can install add-ons that enable you to run some Photoshop actionsin Elements including channel mixer.

I use Grant's tools at: http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/Challenge/Tools/index.html

Others use Paul Shipley's add-ons: http://member.melbpc.org.au/~pshipley/Download.htm

Both are free... :)

Mike

[shirley miers]

thanks Mike, I will download them right away and see what happens.
Hate to think there is something elements cant do. Shirley

[MikeH]

Shirley,

So far I have found very little that Elements can't do compared to the full Photoshop product either by using add-ons or workarounds. :wink:

Let us know how you get on and if you need any help whatsoever there are plenty of people here who are willing and able! :)

Mike

[shirley miers]

I downloaded Grants - no workee.
I downloaded Shipley's - works beautifully and is fantastic.
I guess my computer is a Shipley fan.
Thanks again for your help.
Shirley

[Wendy]

Shirley,

Most people have problems installing Paul's tools and no problem at all with Grants ....

:)


Wendy

[MikeH]

Grant's tools work fine with me :shock: :)

Mike

[Wendy]

Grant's tools work fine for me too !!..


Wendy

[andi_t]

I got this for free out of some magazine months ago and LOVE it....

http://www.grafnet.com.pl/Fotomatic%20Plug-In%20Filters/PseudoIR.htm

Never tried Grant's....

Andi

[Richard Lynch]

The process of creating an infrared image isn't quite as easy as just hitting an image with the channel mixer. While an infrared result can be half-heartedly imitated by using the red channel with a few adjustments, there are other properties of infrared like grain and glow and contrast that are inherent qualities of the film (basically you have two infrared film types, Kodak and Konica, the latter is more contrasty). On top of that there is different levels of filtering that you can apply, from opaque (wich will record infrared only) to no filter at all, which will record many qualities of what we see as normal visible light with a mix of infrared sensitivity. Infrared light also reacts differently to surfaces and textures...Blue sky and water tends to turn pitch black, all colors of foliage glow (except in shade). Grain increases depending on exposure length.

In short, the infared spectrum that you want to record is not captured in an RGB image, and the result you get from manipulating an RGB image can only be imitated -- not nailed dead on.

With that in mind, there are some plugins and such that have tried to mimic the effect. The free effect listed here does an OK, job, but I note some banding and unnatural behaviors that are not characteristic of infrared. Take a look at the samples I converted here using a process in Elements that uses separated red and blue channel information to create the infrared effect:

http://aps8.com/infrared_tool.htm
http://aps8.com/infrared_tool2.htm

I think you will find these much closer to what you want to accomplish than relying simply on the red channel. the process uses the red channel, but only after shifting colors in the Cyan through Red spectrum toward red to heighten the imitation of infrared -- using Hue/Saturation. Once that is done, deep saturated blues are darkened and grain and glow are added. As the process uses layers, the effect can easily be adjusted (rather than in the single-layer plugin effects).

The only way to really get infrared is to shoot it...but in understanding infrared qualities, you can come close.

Hope that helps!

[shirley miers]

Lynch, you modest fellow! I read your advice with great enthusiasm and thought, boy, he really knows his subject. Then the name clicked--I have your book and love to access it for particularly interesting problems.

When someone says I cant do something in Elements, I hardly ever give up until I can. Infared was the only thing stumping me and I have 2 methods now that give really good results. Actually, the glow was a stickler, but that is solved now.

Thanks, Shirley

[Wendy]

Shirley ..

Sounds like you came up with a good result on that one :)


Wendy