CF Systems ColorNeg

The German ColorNeg site really is good. Perhaps they should assume world wide marketing since the CF Systems site looks as if it was written by an engineer (it was).

 

I'm not aware of a tutorial. I've read the manual a few times, and I've payed around with many of the settings. And I've sent a few email to the author - he's been very helpful and generous with his time.

Hello all,

I see there are people who are satisfied with ColorNeg. Me not.

I cannot get the good results with ColorNeg with 80% of my negatives. I invert negatives manually after scanning as slides. Here is uploaded one of scans: http://www.box.net/shared/sgtqfpin7q

ColorNeg process gives greenish look and too highlighted face. I set Fuji Superia Xtra 400 profile. Other profiles also not help. Here is the result I get manually: http://album.foto.ru/photo/311076/

The reason that I want to use ColorNeg is that in 20% it gives better results than I manually(and in no-time in comparison with my work). I want to get more or less good results with ColorNeg. I read ColorNeg manuals and tried modification of parameters in the plugin but could not reach good result. If somebody of you can get better results with my scan (again http://www.box.net/shared/sgtqfpin7q) please write to me how to do it.<div></div>

I downloaded your scan - it doesn't look as if you've set gamma = 1. Take a look at the following page for directions:

 

http://www.c-f-systems.com/Scanners.html

 

I used your scan and processed using ColorNeg set to Fuji Superia XTRA 400. I used the black leg of her pant to set a neutral point, and I adjusted the lightness down to minimize clipping.<div></div>

Make sure that you click on the radio button 'Color Adjust' before you set the neutral tone.

This was just a 'quick and dirty' adjustment. It still needs a bit of work, but it's much closer than before.

Robert,

 

Your version is a big improvement with a more realistic rendering with regards to color and tone.

 

A simple adjustment in Hue/Saturation can fix the woman's overly pink skin.

 

Was it that easy? If so, ColorNeg looks like a useful tool. Just hope it's consistent applying it to other images on the same roll of film.

Tim - All I did was open the image in ColorNeg Filter (Photoshop Filters menu), select the 'Color Adjust' radio button, and then I clicked on a neutral color (her pants leg). I then clicked on the 'Lightness' radio button and adjusted the slider to minimize clipping. Finer color adjustments are easy, but I just did a quick 'n dirty to get it close. It took only a few seconds.

 

I've been very happy with ColorNeg.

Hi guys!

First of all - the image was scanned with 1.0 Gamma.

After I wrote my question here I asked author of ColorNeg about this.

He answered immediately and helped me.

What I did I lowered lightness and began searching appropriate neutral point by clicking possible areas. The good point I found on head. it was black hair that yield color MUCH better.

So now I know what to do. What is rest of correction after ColorNeg filter is orange or magenta cast which is easy to correct. I found that colors are better than made manually. Here is one example I got after http://album.foto.ru/photo/337146/ - with ColorNeg.

Things get better now.:) Thanks to all !<div></div>

George - the scan above looks excellent!

Yep,

what I enjoy now is the full tonal range, esp. improved dark tones.

Highlights are not the best, I got better highlights on scans from Noritsu(but shadows there leave more to be desired)

And skin tones are more pleasant.

 

Rob, I got your answer by e-mail. By the way, it's me on a photo 3 years ago:)

George - you can make localized adjustments, too, with ColorNeg. I'm still exploring, but my understanding is that I can get the equivalent of dodge & burn.

Robert, I have read manual for ColorNeg, according to it there is a possibility to create a mask in Photoshop. Also Dunthorn mentioned this possibility when I asked him. I found creation of a mask on non-inverted negative not simple and did not try it. If you find how to do it you are welcome to share

I've started a ColorNeg Flickr group for anyone who would like to pose questions or share tips and suggestions. Example photos are encouraged!

<p>Could you provide a link? I tried doing a search over at flickr using your name and got nothing.</p>

<p>My bad. Here's the link:</p>

<p>http://flickr.com/groups/977912@N23/</p>

<p>Here's a recent review of the ColorNeg plug-in.</p>

<p>http://dpanswers.com/content/rev_colorneg.php</p>

<p>Finally a decent thorough review of ColorNeg.</p>

<p>Just wish there was a way of getting rid of the cyan patina as evidenced in this thread and in that review. Other than that ColorNeg is supreme at squeezing as much color detail and depth out of a negative over anything I've seen. Note the two tone color effect in the back hills detail where both the Nikon camera and scanner software renders them with a single monochrome type color effect.</p>

<p>Thanks for posting this link, Robert.</p>

<p>As mentioned, the preview sizes are selectable. I thought I put up a screen shot of the ColorPerfect interface PrefectPCSizes on a 1920 x 1200 screen. For me 1600B works best. The image is a straight conversion without any processing, Fuji 800 ASA - hence a bit grainy - shot with bounce flash METZ 45CL-4 TTL as main light, ambient -1 or -2 stops (can't remember), Minolta 700Si with 50 mm at f1.4. Scanned with Minolta Dimage Elite 5400 at 2700 dpi, 16 bit linear as required.<br>

-- Jan de Lange</p><div></div>

<p>A quote from the review:</p>

<p>"I used the Colorneg calibration without adjustments and spent perhaps a minute or so tweaking the colour balance and tone in Lightroom."<br>

It really makes sense to make all color and tone corrections in ColorNeg/ColorPerfect. That would really be the true measure of performance.</p>