anwarsalim

13 Feb 2009
What is Infrared False Color?

In infrared film photography, we can say 100% its unique fancy reddish usually end with high contrast B/W monochrome photography. To get specific false color in infrared film photography is really hard, it’s depend on characteristic of film. That’s why i really salute to each photographer these days who still take picture with this method. Because I really know its super duper very hard to do that, last time i do this, from 1 roll of Kodak EIR, only 2 photos that really well.

These days, with help from Digital Photography technology and Digital Post Processing, Infrared false color has reach the spot what we called Creativity. With “Creativity”, sky is the limit. Every photographer can express their own photo with unique “taste”.

But is that true? as easy as that the concept in Infrared Digital Photography?
if the answer is YES? then why we state the infrared color is white, bluish?
Infrared photo always identical with B/W, white-bluish. That’s the positioning marketing in our mind. I’m not say that was wrong, but with that background of mindset. I just want to explain what is the False Color it should be….

For me personally, false color is Color of Love
........
I know the Color Of Love,
(And It lives in side of you)
I know the color of truth,
(Its in the image of you)
If it comes for the heart, then you know that its true,
It will color your soul, like a rainbow
(Like a rainbow)
And the color of love, is in you
Boyz II Men – Color of Love

Check this 4 photos bellow :
1st photo is natural photo from camera

Pre-set white balance to Grey 80% (Natural photo from Camera)

There are many other photo i can show for example, but let me ask you question.
Which one do you prefer? which one is your fav color? which one is your infrared?

So get back to the question “what is False Color in infrared digital photography?”
for me the answer is clear now, its the inner beauty of infrared. We can see the creativity of the color in 1 photo. So many different color can be represent in one composition of photo. As long as you feel comfort to represent the photo to viewer. Its your Freedom!

So what is the hint for today? as we know the fundamental of color profile in our camera is Preset White Balance. That’s the keyword, thats why its so important. Without Preset White Balance before, usually you will not optimally get the beauty of false color in Infrared Photo.

Some people always say preset white balance to green grass, white. I declare 100% that’s not wrong, but let me ask you think for a second.. How is the effect of my photo if you preset white balance to Gray? Blue? Red? Yellow? or other color?
Trust me, you will get so many fantastic new color combine in your photo. I bet the color you won’t expect before.

Welcome to the entrance of Freedom Creativity of Infrared Digital Photography – False Color my friends.

For easy way, to white balance preset I recommend using the Color Target Card.

Point to what color you prefer as a base of white balance, until camera accept it good as preset white balance. In this point practice make perfect, what i mean.. base on experience you will know which color is the best to get your ” own infrared false color”

I don’t push you to buy the color target card anyway, just download from internet. Print and laminated it, what you see is what you get.

Still want to know what is another “gain” of Pre-Set White Balance?
In digital post processing, we know that color is bit of data (01010110101), that’s why we know color in computer language as a Chain of Color.

Let’s straight to the point, you know that if we push the hue or channel mixer into maximum, we will get the color that we want, for example gold yellow. But we also get the “noise/grain” in the photo, how to avoid it? Do the Pre-Set White balance!!!!

What????
Let me share, basically I make a simple plan before take a picture like “concept, message of photo, and know what is the end point color of my photo..” Let say i want the color of my photo is yellow gold. I always Preset White balance into 70% Grey or 80% Grey as a starting point natural color. Now you know why i write that sentence after first photo.

Yes my friend, I always do Pre-Set White Balance before start capture my first photo for setting a color start point in Camera. To achieve what specific color in post processing without push bar in channel mixer into 100% or push the hue bar to the right (+180) in hue & saturation bar to get yellow gold. The reason is when I get specific color, the noise/grain will reduce, because I move the starting point of color.
This make you clear or confused?

Conclusion with this method, I will get specific False Color Infrared exactly what I want, with less noise/grain on my photo, and guarantee the photo will less noise when the customer see it on large print. Combine this method with Focus Shifting to increase the sharpness as well

I believe valentine is the best moment to say I love you, more and more each day to the inner beauty of Infrared Digital Photography. Sorry a bit melancholic, but that’s me! lol

For clear concept in mind, i recommend you read my journal “Infrared Digital Photography – Basic Concept” as well.

Open for discussion, feel free to ask a question
Happy Valentine everyone. Please accept this journal as “Valentine gift” from me,
Anwar Salim