InfraRed Effect

[agila]

Hey Guys,
Does anybody here know how to simulate the InfraRed effect in photoshop? I tried but i cant do it
Thanks

[DannyRaphael]

I've read opinions written by folks much more knowledgeable than me in this area that one cannot render a genuine IR effect in Photoshop, though many have tried. Check out the following actions to get an idea of some typical approaches that are in the ballpark.

http://www.digitalfocus.net/downloads.htm

- - - - - -

In the action set that can be found in the 2nd post in this thread

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2653

is another take on IR in an action written by Dave Jaseck. I believe the action is named something like "Dave's IR" or "Jaseck IR."

~Danny~

[T Paul]

Fake Infrared in PhotoShop

Here's one just using PhotoShop...no actions:

Infrared - PEI Mag

1. Open your image. Ideally it should have a lot of green and very little blue (this method doesn’t work well on blue skies). Blue should come out black in real infrared photos.

2. Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Channel Mixer. When the dialogue appears set Red to minus 70%, Green to plus 200 % and Blue to minus 30 %. Don’t check the monochrome option at this stage. Click OK.

3. Select the background layer, open the Channels palette and select the Green channel. Blur the green channel (Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur) using a small radius of 4 or 5 pixels. Click OK.

4. From the Edit menu select Fade Gaussian Blur. When the dialog appears change the mode to Screen and reduce the opacity setting. The lower the setting, the lower the “glowing” effect will be. Experiment with the opacity starting around 25%.

5. Go back to the Layers palette and double-click the Channel mixer adjustment layer. Select the Monochrome option. You image should look like an IR image. Now for some fine tuning.

6. Select the background layer and add some noise – IR photos tend to be grainy. Choose Filter>Noise>Add Noise and set the amount fairly low (10 to 12%). Select the Gaussian and Monochrome options. Click OK.

7. You may want to add a subtle tone or adjust the brightness and contrast.

[T Paul]

Infrared

Here is another method:

Infrared

[DannyRaphael]

Here's another action:

http://home.comcast.net/~ai007/Daves_New_IR_Action_Version_2.1.atn

...and the last time I checked, actions use Photoshop, but I see your point, T.

~Danny~

[T Paul]

Smile, very true Danny. I just meant that you didn't have to download anything.

~T

[agila]

WoW! You guys are really helpful.
here's a sample pix with Dave's version..

Thanks a lot...

[Richard_Lynch]

I have a tool for this -- created for elements, but will work as an action for PS users:

http://hiddenelements.com/infrared

some samples there.

Just to note...it is impossible to really create IR effects without collecting infrared light. That means using filters to block out at least the better part of blue and green light, and film (or sensor) that can capture IR wave lengths. The best you can get is an approximation.

[Racc Iria]

Another thing to keep in mind...

Infrared doesn't just mean an abundance of one color channel over another with a glow applied. It also means heat. Things that are hot or radiate heat should be brighter in the image. Things that are cold or do not radiate heat will be a lot darker, if visible at all.

Oh, and don't confuse actual infrared (usually a B/W image or false color applied by computer) with nightvision (usually green and very grainy). Nightvision uses infrared to boost and enhance the available visible light.

--Racc

[pjanak]

There is an entire book on IRT photography and Photoshop at Borders Books. Can't recall the title. And its not in the photoshop section. Its in the Photoagraphy/Art section.

[Panpan]

There is an entire book on IRT photography and Photoshop at Borders Books. Can't recall the title. And its not in the photoshop section. Its in the Photoagraphy/Art section.

Apogee Photo Magazine reviews Infrared Landscape Photography in the September Book Review. Maybe that's the one?

Pierre