B&W filters vs software

[j j]

Hi

For best results when I'm using b&w film (XP2) for scanning, should I use actual coloured filters or keep the film low contrast and process my scans?

Thanks

 

[pellicle]

Hi

just to make sure, you're talking about the filters at the exposure time aren't you?

 

[j j]

On the lens glass filters at the time of exposure. I'm thinking of the coloured ones, typically yellow, red etc. I realise that polarisers produce effects that cannot be replicated in software.

For example, if I was going to use a darkroom I might put a yellow filter on the camera to boost contrast and make it easier to print. But my intention is to scan the negative, so I imagine my workflow choices as being:

1) Use a filter to get as near to the final image as I can, then scan with the aim of matching the negative closely.

2) Not use a filter and produce a low contrast negative. Scan that and use software to replicate how it would have looked had I used a filter in the first place.

Either way seems plausible to me and I guess I may have to suck it and see.

 

[Loris Medici]

The density of the negative will be always manageable (in context of scanning) in case of C41 process B&W films. Therefore the choice is purely aesthetic - as long as you expose the film correctly.

Regards,
Loris.

 

[pellicle]

Hi

I'm thinking of the coloured ones, typically yellow, red etc. I realise that polarisers produce effects that cannot be replicated in software.

if you're after effects like dark sky and cloud high lighting or altering how a red brick building appears against other colours you'll only be able to do it at capture

unless you capture colour and work on that

Personally I've never used the C-41 black and white films, but as they're panchromatic it should be the same as regular ones

 

[Russ - SVP]

The B/W chromogenic (C-41, Ilford XP-2, Fuji Neopan 400CN) respond quite well to filtering on the camera at the time of exposure.

Neopan 400CN with Orange filter. No post processing.

Kiron Kid

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

If you want traditional black and white effects with black and white film (C-41 or conventional B&W), like increasing contrast between the sky and clouds with a yellow, orange or red filter, then you have to filter on the camera lens (or do something more complicated like selecting out the sky, adjusting the curve for the sky only, and hoping you can get what you want without making it look too obvious). If you want to filter something out, like improving the contrast in a dupe of an old photo by using a filter to match the color of the aged paper base, or lessening the prominence of skin blemishes in a portrait, then it's easiest to do this with a filter on the camera.

If you would rather not use filters on the camera, then shoot color film and convert it to B&W and adjust the three color channels to filter in post.

 

[j j]

Thank you Loris, pellicle, Kiron Kid and David for clarifying that the choice is either use filters with b&w film or channel mix scans from colour film.

PS Nice skull pic KK.