False colour IR

[MCWB]

Here is a shot from Tuesday that I shot in both colour and IR. I selected the lighness channel from the IR image and pasted it as a new layer of various different types, giving some cool effects! I posted them as thumbnails so as to not totally kill people on 56 k.

Which do you think works best?

Colour image:
[url=http://www.trentwallis.com/gallery/view_photo.php?full=1&set_albumName=DSLRusersmeet060627&id=DSC_2639resized]
Click to enlarge![/url]

Code: Select all

Colour layer                    Lighten layer

Code: Select all

Normal layer                    Luminosity layer

Thanks for your critique!

[macka]

These are a bit weird for me, Trent. I prefer the B&W style of IR.

[stubbsy]

Trent

I've pondered over these all day before posting since they didn't appeal in any version, but I couldn't quite work out why.

I have now decided the problem is that the original image just lacks punch so overlaying the IR drains even more from the image making it drab and lifeless. I think the concept is great and I'd like to see it tried again, but with a more dynamic image as the base image.

[wendellt]

very scientific approach to post processing
was your intention to lighten the image using highlight data from the IR image
or were you just experimenting?

[MCWB]

Wendell, my intention was to use the lightness data from the IR image and the colour information from the colour image to end up with some sort of interesting effect. I converted the respective images into Lab colour, but couldn't find a way to combine the IR L channel with the colour a and b channels, hence the layered approach. I think the 'normal' layer got closest to this, whereby objects that reflect lots of IR radiation come out close to white, and those that don't reflect IR at all come out as their natural colours.

Peter, I agree that the original image isn't that strong, but I was more interested in the PP technique rather than the end outcome here.

Thanks for the critique guys, will try again!