Film photography is experiencing a resurgence, especially among younger photographers drawn to its unique aesthetic and tactile appeal. One common way to digitise film negatives is using a DSLR camera with a macro lens, capturing the negatives on a lightbox. Others (like myself) prefer a dedicated film scanner for more precise outcomes. However, converting scanned colour negatives into accurate, true-to-life digital images can be challenging. But not any more! Here’s how to convert colour negatives in Photoshop and get professional-level results in four easy steps.
Why Converting Colour Negatives is Important (and Tricky)
Colour negatives are distinct from digital images because they have an orange tint caused by the film’s base material. This tint is necessary for balancing colours during printing but needs removing when converting negatives into digital formats. Basic methods such as Photoshop’s Auto Tone or manually subtracting the orange tint can lead to poor results, often leaving colour casts. However, a better approach is to use Photoshop’s Colour Balance tool to adjust the RGB channels, which allows for more accurate correction across shadows, mid-tones, and highlights.
With that in mind, here’s how to remove the orange tint and restore true-to-life colours to your film scans using Photoshop’s tools.
Four-Step Guide to Converting Colour Negatives in Photoshop
Follow these steps to convert your colour negatives and achieve vibrant, natural-looking digital images:
- Adjust Colour Balance (Neutralises the Orange Tint)
- Apply Auto Tone (Enhances Brightness and Contrast)
- Alter Image Density (Optimises Tonal Range)
- Invert the Image (Reveals Natural Colours)
For this guide, I’ll use an example scan of the X-Rite ColorChecker colour reference tool captured with Fuji Superia 200 35mm film so you can see the before-and-after results.
Step 1: Adjust Colour Balance to Neutralise the Orange Tint
Start by opening your film scan in Photoshop. The negative will appear with a noticeable orange tint (see Figure 1). To remove this, go to Image > Adjustments > Color Balance and make the following adjustments:
- Shadows: 0, 0, 0
- Midtones: -35, 0, 35
- Highlights: -90, 45, 90
These settings are a good starting point, but you may need to tweak them based on the specific film stock and your scan method. Once adjusted, the RGB values should be more balanced, giving the scan a more neutral tone (see Figure 2).
Step 2: Apply Auto Tone to Enhance Brightness and Contrast
Next, apply Auto Tone to refine the brightness and contrast. Go to Image > Auto Tone and select “Auto Neutrals” to neutralise any remaining colour cast (see Figure 3). This step helps ensure that the colours appear more accurate and vibrant.
Step 3: Alter Image Density to Optimise Tonal Range
To fine-tune the tonal range, use a curve adjustment layer. Lift the mid-tone value from 128 to 186. This adjustment enhances the scan’s overall contrast and gives it a professional finish (see Figure 4). Note: this step is crucial for linear TIFF files but works well, with minor tweaks, on most digital captures when you convert colour negatives.
Step 4: Invert the Image to Reveals Natural Colours
Finally, invert the negative to turn it into a positive, viewable image (see Figure 5). Go to Image > Adjustments > Invert or press Ctrl+I (Cmd+I on Mac). Your scan will now display natural colours, and you can further tweak any remaining colour issues to your preference.
Optional: Fine-tuning After Converting Colour Negatives
After completing these four steps, you may want to fine-tune your film scan based on the aesthetic you’re aiming for (see Figure 6). For example, a slight contrast boost, exposure adjustment, or saturation tweak can make a big difference in achieving a polished and professional look.
Key Points: Four Steps for Converting Colour Negatives in Photoshop
- Adjust Color Balance: Neutralise the orange tint by modifying RGB values in the Colour Balance settings.
- Apply Auto Tone: Enhance brightness and contrast with Auto Tone.
- Alter Image Density: Optimise tonal range by adjusting the mid-tone curve.
- Invert the Image: Convert the negative into a positive for natural colours.
Lab vs. Home Scan: A Side-by-Side Comparison
By following this simple process, you can achieve results that rival those produced by a professional film lab. To demonstrate, in the side-by-side comparisons below, the photos processed at home in Photoshop (right) are nearly identical to the lab-developed images scanned with a Fuji Frontier SP-3000 scanner (left). In some cases, the home-processed images may appear more refined, demonstrating how easy it is to convert colour negatives in Photoshop.
Summary: Master How to Convert Colour Negatives in Photoshop
In brief, converting colour negatives in Photoshop doesn’t have to be complicated. With these four simple steps, you can remove the orange tint, adjust brightness and contrast, and invert the negative to bring your film photos to life. Mastering this technique will open up endless creative possibilities in your film photography journey.
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Thank you for reading, and happy shooting!