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Infrared photography is a process that collects
infrared light. This light is invisible to humans and can
result in dramatically different appearances in the landscape
of a photograph. Infrared characteristically makes foliage
and skin glow white, makes sky and water dark or black, and
it reacts to different surfaces and textures differently than
visible light. There are other properties of infrared like
inherent film grain and high contrast that are inherent qualities
of the film, and are affected by time in exposure. Different
levels of filtering from entirely opaque (which will record
only infrared light) to no filtering at all (which will record
a mixture of infrared and visible light based on the film
sensitivity). The available infrared films (basically, there
are two infrared film types, Kodak and Konica) have very different
qualities of capture. All of these variables leave photographic
infrared images with different qualities depending on the
exposure and subject(s).
Because there are so many variables in infrared
photography, and because infrared light is not the light captured
by digital cameras, the only way to get a real infrared effect is
to take an infrared photo with infrared film (unless you happen
to have one of the rare digital cameras that can collect infrared
light). That said, there are ways of manipulating color images to
appear to have been taken with infrared film. 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
is a lot more that can be done. The Hidden Power Infrared tool looks
at many aspects of color and light to make the best possible infrared
effect from your color photos.
The following sample images were selected at random
from the internet. One shows a typical foliage shot, and the other
a portrait. The images were processed in a few moments using the
default settings for the Hidden Power Infrared tool. To see larger
comparisons, click on the image.
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The results are left in layers so you can make
adjustments to the depth of the infrared effects desired. This will
allow you to essentially adjust levels for filtering, glow, and
noise.
You can purchase the Hidden Power Infrared tool
entirely online right now using PayPal or a credit card for just $8. You will be able to download
the tool immediately, after payment, from a secure FTP site. Please
use Firefox or Internet Explorer browsers for your purchase;
Safari will not complete the download process!!
If you have any trouble with your order, please contact Richard
Lynch: thebookdoc@aol.com
Installation for the Hidden Power Infrared tool
for Elements is manual, but simple. The instructions are in a readme.html
in the the download as well as below. The tool will appear on the
Styles and Effects palette under Effects after installation. The
basic steps for installing the infrared effects are:
1. Decompress the downloaded files.
2. Install the effects into Elements.
3. Delete the Effects Cache folder.
4. Restart Elements.
1. Decompress the downloaded files.
Details: Files
are compressed in order to make them smaller, safer, and more
predictable. Decompressing files restores the files to their
original state. To decompress the file, you will need a decompression
utility. Sometimes these are built into operating systems so
the step may be completed for you. If the file does not automatically
decompress, try double-clicking it after it is downloaded. If
nothing happens, you may need to download and install a decompression
utility. These can be downloaded for free from the internet.
The following utilities have been tested for compatability with
Hidden Power effects.
PC: http://website.lineone.net/~chris_m/
Mac: http://download.com.com/3000-2254-5040047.html
NOTE: When unzipped
there should be 1 folders with the following name: Buds_Frames_A.
2. Install the effects into Elements.
Details: Move
the folder that was decompressed in Step 1 into the Effects
Folder in Elements 3. Move the folder, do not copy the files
out of the folders. The folder should contain only action files
(.atn) and an image file (.psd); it should contain no other
folders, and should not nest or bury those files in additional
folders. The Effects folder can be found inside the Photoshop
Elements program folder as follows on PC and Mac:
PC: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop
Elements 3\Previews\Effects
Mac: Applications\Adobe Photoshop
Elements 3\ Previews\Effects
3. Delete the Effects Cache folder.
Details: Elements keeps track
of the effects you have loaded to save time on startup. It does
this by creating a Cache file. The problem is that the cache
doesn't regularly get rebuilt, so new effects that get installed
will not be recognized. To force Elements to recognize new files,
you have to manually delete the Effects Cache folder so the
cache will be rebuild the next time you start the program. Delete
the Cache folder located in the following places on PC and Mac.
PC: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop
Elements 2\Previews\Cache
Mac: Applications\Adobe Photoshop
Elements 2\ Previews\Cache
4. Restart Elements.
Details: Close out of elements
if it is open and re-start the program. Restarting Elements
will force Elements to recognize any new files. Be sure the
Effects palette is showing, and give the cache file several
minutes to rebuild.
At this point you should be able to apply the
added effects.
To apply the infrared effect, be sure you have
the Effects palette open (This is called the Styles and Effects
palette in Elements 3; choosing Effects from the drop list at the
upper right will display the Effects).
1. Choose the category for
the effect that you want to apply from the category drop list.
In this case you will want to choose PowerInfrared.
2. Open any RGB color image
to apply the effect to.
3. Double-click the Infrared
icon in the palette.
Double-clicking should execute the effect on the
current image. If nothing seems to happen, or if an error message
appears, please check the troubleshooting
information on the How
to Run Actions in Photoshop Elements whitepaper on this site.
You can add glow and film grain using the Increase Glow and Increase
Grain tools included in the set.
Let me know if you have any trouble: rl@ps6.com
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