Colour filters on B&W

[Tom Pinchenzo]

The film simulations offered by Fuji allow you to add green, yellow or red filters to B&W images. Apparently the effect of the green filter is 'pleasing skin tones in portraits'.

How is this the case when there's no green in skin tones? And when I play around with the green filter on the B&W conversion in post it has no effect on skin...

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

Apparently the effect of the green filter is 'pleasing skin tones in portraits'.

I've never come across that claim before. The main use for a green filter with monochrome film is to lighten green foliage. See the Ilford filter guide here: https://www.ilfordphoto.com/colour-filters/

 

[Tom Pinchenzo]

I've never come across that claim before. The main use for a green filter with monochrome film is to lighten green foliage. See the Ilford filter guide here: https://www.ilfordphoto.com/colour-filters/

Yeah, when I took down the greens, expecting to see some difference in the sub's skin the bush in the background got darker

 

[Harlequin565]

A rule of thumb I use for filters is that the filter colour gets passed through and it's opposite colour gets darker.

With a green filter I would expect to see reds get darker which is not usually a good look for skin.

More detail: https://hoyafilterusa.com/pages/how-black-white-filters-work

 

[Petrochemist]

The film simulations offered by Fuji allow you to add green, yellow or red filters to B&W images. Apparently the effect of the green filter is 'pleasing skin tones in portraits'.

How is this the case when there's no green in skin tones? And when I play around with the green filter on the B&W conversion in post it has no effect on skin...

Its the tone or relative brightness of the image that's altered not the colour these are not the same.
IIRC the filter tends to darken skin tones compared to the rest of the scene, giving the appearance of a healthy tan.

Yeah, when I took down the greens, expecting to see some difference in the sub's skin the bush in the background got darker

Adding a green filter will bring UP the greens, as it transmits green light while partially blocking other colours. You moved the slider the wrong way.