Color images from B&W film...

[dourbalistar]

Some of my images I've made over the last year. I've really enjoyed exploring and experimenting with the process. It's fascinating how it works and how you can use the technique to create images that are not picture postcards (but you can do that also). I would recommend to anyone playing with it for a while and see what happens. I've learnt so much about my photography doing this. Ask me any questions about this and feel free to critique these images if you like.

These are amazing, @Andrew Keedle, especially the large format 7x17" bluebells.

 

[Bronson Dugnutt]

But lining them up, my dear Mr. Dugnutt?
Aligning the three film channels accurately would be nigh on impossible, right?
Even if you include three or more sync marks at the edge of the frame in tack sharp focus, it could still be a huge problem.
Early three strip Technicolor got around it with sprocket holes and not really giving a huge fuck.

The Maniac Mansion is around the corner, el Tentacle.

 

[Don_ih]

I gave it a try using my not-so-accurate red/blue/green lens filters held in front of the lens (not the right size for the lens).

It would be more fun if the assembly didn't have to happen on a computer....

 

[Helge]

The Maniac Mansion is around the corner, el Tentacle.

View attachment 291428

A tentacle has four suckers, not much to discuss there.

 

[StrangestStranger]

Would it be at all possible to darkroom print these?

It's not that hard. See post #13 (https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/color-images-from-b-w-film.174977/#post-2278099). The photo in the post was printed in a darkroom.

 

[Helge]

It's not that hard. See post #13 (https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/color-images-from-b-w-film.174977/#post-2278099). The photo in the post was printed in a darkroom.

But how did you register the three negatives accurately?

 

[MattKing]

Anyone who has done three colour carbon or even used a fair bit of masking in the darkroom will know that registration is certainly possible, even if one is doing so by eye.

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, AI Nikkor 50mm f/1.8S, Kentmere Pan 400, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 5.5 minutes. Three individual black and white frames shot through Tiffen #25 Red, #58 Green, and #47 Blue filters, respectively, then combined using GIMP to create a trichrome color image.


2021.08.16 Roll #288-06512-positive-trichrome.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[Maxws]

Anyone who has done three colour carbon or even used a fair bit of masking in the darkroom will know that registration is certainly possible, even if one is doing so by eye.

How would that be done though, it’s clearly possible but how so, would the negatives be aligned under a loupe and then have a registration hole punched for alignment in the enlarger or is there something else?

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, AI Nikkor 50mm f/1.8S, Kentmere Pan 400, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 5.5 minutes. Three individual black and white frames shot through Tiffen #25 Red, #58 Green, and #47 Blue filters, respectively, then combined using GIMP to create a trichrome color image.


2021.08.16 Roll #288-06521-positive-trichrome.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[falotico]

Nikon FM2n, AI Nikkor 50mm f/1.8S, Kentmere Pan 400, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 5.5 minutes. Three individual black and white frames shot through Tiffen #25 Red, #58 Green, and #47 Blue filters, respectively, then combined using GIMP to create a trichrome color image.


2021.08.16 Roll #288-06521-positive-trichrome.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

Wonderful !!

 

[dourbalistar]

Wonderful !!

Thank you, @falotico!

 

[dourbalistar]

Epiphyllum oxypetalum. Normally, the flower blooms at night and wilts by morning, but this one endured long enough for me to take a few daylight photos. Since I mainly use B&W, I took full advantage to make a trichrome color image.

Nikon FM2n, AI Nikkor 50mm f/1.8S, Kentmere Pan 400, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 5.5 minutes. Three individual black and white frames shot through Tiffen #25 Red, #58 Green, and #47 Blue filters, respectively, then combined using GIMP to create a trichrome color image.


2021.09.06 Roll #290-06589-positive-trichrome.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[falotico]

Epiphyllum oxypetalum. Normally, the flower blooms at night and wilts by morning, but this one endured long enough for me to take a few daylight photos. Since I mainly use B&W, I took full advantage to make a trichrome color image.

Nikon FM2n, AI Nikkor 50mm f/1.8S, Kentmere Pan 400, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 5.5 minutes. Three individual black and white frames shot through Tiffen #25 Red, #58 Green, and #47 Blue filters, respectively, then combined using GIMP to create a trichrome color image.


2021.09.06 Roll #290-06589-positive-trichrome.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

Beautiful!!!

 

[dourbalistar]

Beautiful!!!

Thank you very much, @falotico!

 

[Europan]

Fantastic. I find this the most interesting thread of the forum. Just brilliant

 

[Algo después]

Epiphyllum oxypetalum. Normally, the flower blooms at night and wilts by morning, but this one endured long enough for me to take a few daylight photos. Since I mainly use B&W, I took full advantage to make a trichrome color image.

Nikon FM2n, AI Nikkor 50mm f/1.8S, Kentmere Pan 400, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 5.5 minutes. Three individual black and white frames shot through Tiffen #25 Red, #58 Green, and #47 Blue filters, respectively, then combined using GIMP to create a trichrome color image.

Accidentally around here but I`m gratefull with you guys and with this amazing thread. Superb results. Let me ask you a dummy question: Have you tried this process with X ray film ? Guess it`s possible but you would have just 2 channels, right? I´ll get my filters asap and to try this !

Ilich

 

[Andrew Keedle]

I'm still having a lot of fun with this process. You never know exactly what you'll get. The sweet spot for me is with MF or LF pinhole cameras and Ilford FP4. With the 3 stop filters it gives long enough exposures to capture the moving elements in a scene to induce some wacky colours

Willis Building, Ipswich - Framed with trees (real and reflected)
Harman TiTAN 4x5
Ilford FP4 (x3)
Lee Filters Tri Colour filters

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, AI Nikkor 50mm f/1.8S, Kentmere Pan 400, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 5.5 minutes. Three individual black and white frames shot through Tiffen #25 Red, #58 Green, and #47 Blue filters, respectively, then combined using GIMP to create a trichrome color image.


2022.01.01 Roll #298-06946-positive-trichrome.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

Blue hour trichrome in Joshua Tree National Park.

Nikon FM2n, AI Nikkor 50mm f/1.8S, Kentmere Pan 400, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 5.5 minutes. Three individual black and white frames shot through Tiffen #25 Red, #58 Green, and #47 Blue filters, respectively, then combined using GIMP to create a trichrome color image.


2022.02.17 Roll #299-06987-positive-trichrome.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[Molli]

Just because I wanted to have a craic. I couldn't find/afford the correct filters, so just used some cheap eBay Cokin knock offs. Like a poster above, I simply held the filters in front of the lens. Not because I couldn't fit them to the lens, but because they're a tad tight in the holder and swapping them out between frames would likely have moved the camera.
While I do have a colour enlarger, I don't have the paper and chemicals to print colour. So, these are a quick Photoshop assembly.

 

[Molli]

Blue hour trichrome in Joshua Tree National Park.

Nikon FM2n, AI Nikkor 50mm f/1.8S, Kentmere Pan 400, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 5.5 minutes. Three individual black and white frames shot through Tiffen #25 Red, #58 Green, and #47 Blue filters, respectively, then combined using GIMP to create a trichrome color image.


2022.02.17 Roll #299-06987-positive-trichrome.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

This is beautiful!

 

[koraks]

While I do have a colour enlarger, I don't have the paper and chemicals to print colour.

You'd have to calibrate your workflow to get such separation negatives to print well onto RA4 paper. Frankly, I wouldn't bother with it. The results from the kind of digital assembly you've been making are great! Those should be compelling enough for anyone

 

[Helge]

There is something special about the colour achieved with this method.
Can anyone take a stab at explaining why exactly that is?
Is it the additive nature? Is it the relative steep/peaky nature of the filters?

 

[Don_ih]

There is something special about the colour achieved with this method.

I was thinking the same thing. When the registration is 100% accurate, and the filtration and light are good, it seems like this process generates a more realistic reproduction of colours. Perhaps "realistic" is not exactly the right word - because the photos retain their distinctive character even if the colours are not faithful.