Help - Struggling with IR post processing.

[HuntMike]

Hi, I'm new to IR processing, I've had an attempt at some post processing today just to see how to do it but I haven't really had much luck.

So far all I've tried is making the image monochrome, then adding extra layers containing the RGB channels on top of the monochrome image with the blending mode set to overlay, with the red and blue channels swapped over, then finally I adjusted the levels on the monochrome layer.

Here's the original non-IR shot for reference, i used it to check focus:

Here's the IR jpeg straight from the camera:

And here's my IR shot after processing:

Now I know the IR shot composition isn't great and isn't exactly the same as the non-IR shot, I did these shots handheld just as a test so I wanted to include some greenery and some sky as most IR shots I have seen look very dramatic with sky and greenery I've found.

Does anyone else know of any better ways of post processing IR at all? Are there any known PS Actions or workflows which make a good start? I've got this far with some experimentation, and I feel like I'm getting there, but on that shot I posted I think the sky is a little dark and the trees on the right look too bright. Is it possible to make it look a little more natural?

EDIT: Would shooting RAW help here at all? I just left WB on auto and maybe if I could adjust the WB I may get better results?

 

[hairboy]

is this the sort of thing you want? Don't rely on actions unless you know what's going on behind it. This is what i've done.

1. Channel mixer adjustment layer: in Red channel, Red 0 Blue 100, in Blue channel, Red 100, blue 0
2. Curve adjustment layer: instead of RGB curve, go into individual colour curve, and make adjustment. I did mostly everything in blue channel.
3. Another curve adjustment layer to treat the overall contrast

You can adjust locally by using layer masks.

Took all of 3 minutes. Took longer to upload to my webspace.

I would actually shoot in jpg for IR, because most RAW converters won't recognise the extreme WB you'd set in camera. Capture NX does, I believe, but I don't get on with it, so I tend to shoot in jpg.

As for adjusting your WB, yes, do that. Go into custom WB, set custom WB, then take a shot with frame full of green foliage, leaves, or grass. It will make your IR 100 times easier. IR is awesome, but you have to think about it and understand how it all works. I have quite a few examples on my site, if you are interested.

 

[HuntMike]

is this the sort of thing you want? Don't rely on actions unless you know what's going on behind it. This is what i've done.

1. Channel mixer adjustment layer: in Red channel, Red 0 Blue 100, in Blue channel, Red 100, blue 0
2. Curve adjustment layer: instead of RGB curve, go into individual colour curve, and make adjustment. I did mostly everything in blue channel.
3. Another curve adjustment layer to treat the overall contrast

You can adjust locally by using layer masks.

Thanks, that's much simpler than the method I was using before and also gives far better results. I wasn't using adjustment layers before, they're really handy as you can go back to them and tweak the settings unlike a one off adjustment...

I tried out your method on another shot and I seem to be getting the hang of it;

I would actually shoot in jpg for IR, because most RAW converters won't recognise the extreme WB you'd set in camera. Capture NX does, I believe, but I don't get on with it, so I tend to shoot in jpg.

I'll try some JPG's next time, once I get my WB situation sorted.

As for adjusting your WB, yes, do that. Go into custom WB, set custom WB, then take a shot with frame full of green foliage, leaves, or grass. It will make your IR 100 times easier. IR is awesome, but you have to think about it and understand how it all works. I have quite a few examples on my site, if you are interested.

Thanks, I've had a look on your site and there are some great photo's there, I'm using a recently acquired D50 for my IR stuff so I'll be sure to use a custom WB next time I do some IR shots... After seeing the RGB histrogram of my IR shots I think it should help a lot.

 

[HuntMike]

As for adjusting your WB, yes, do that. Go into custom WB, set custom WB, then take a shot with frame full of green foliage, leaves, or grass. It will make your IR 100 times easier. IR is awesome, but you have to think about it and understand how it all works. I have quite a few examples on my site, if you are interested.

Ok, I forgot to ask this before, when doing a white balance shot of the grass, does this need to be done with the IR filter on or off?

Thanks.

 

[AJQS]

Ok, I forgot to ask this before, when doing a white balance shot of the grass, does this need to be done with the IR filter on or off?

Thanks.

On, and it may or may not work depending on camera. It doesn't on mine. You need a white balance set to about 2100k, then invert the red and blue channels in PP. IR focusses on a different plane to normal colour, so no point in focussing without filter. Filter on for focussing or use IR index mark with hyperfocal distances if your lens has it.

 

[HuntMike]

On, and it may or may not work depending on camera. It doesn't on mine. You need a white balance set to about 2100k, then invert the red and blue channels in PP. IR focusses on a different plane to normal colour, so no point in focussing without filter. Filter on for focussing or use IR index mark with hyperfocal distances if your lens has it.

I've now got a photo of nothing but well lit grass taken with the filter on which I can choose as a WB photo.

I know what you mean about focusing, it can be a bit of a pain. I have find the autofocus sometimes works with the filter on, but you need to have quite a lot of light on the subject.

So what I do when I'm using a tripod is compose with the filter off, focus, the bung the filter on, then open up the aperture fully (a fast prime lens helps here) and amazingly my camera will meter and focus!

I'm still using bracketing however, as I find the metering isn't always ideal...

Now that we've got some decent sun for once, I'm gonna grab some shots while I can, thanks.