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When working with color film, we both enjoyed crossprocessing
color film, which entailed processing slide film
in color negative chemistry or color negative film (shot with
a 2 stop over-exposure) in E6 chemistry. This resulted in
higher contrast, very saturated, and intriguing false color,
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Using Photoshop to create a similar
effect, as seen here, requires a lot less luck and
can be refined at any time. The three primary characteristics
to emulate are: contrast, color shifts, and highlights and
shadows that lack detail.
When experimenting with cross-processing
effects, we recommend working with colorful
and graphical images with large surfaces. In our
experience, images with fine detail tend to be less
successful for this technique because the added
contrast obliterates the delicate details.
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You can work along with this tutorial by downloading and opening the CrossProcess.jpg file. Start by adding a Curves adjustment layer and, in
Photoshop CS3, use the Preset Strong Contrast. If
you’re working with an earlier version of Photoshop
you can achieve a similar effect by adding a strong S
curve that emulates the curve seen at right.
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Cross-processing requires ruining the real color, which
is achieved by changing each color channel. Add a new
Curves adjustment layer used to modify the individual
color channels. In the red channel increase the contrast
by pulling the darker 3/4 tones down and the lighter
1/4 tones up, as seen in here.
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In the green channel pull the midtones up to offset the
strong red cast.
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Use the blue channel to make the shadows and
highlights murky and give them a color cast by
moving the shadow point up and the highlight down.
Bumping the midtones, as seen here, changes
the color of the light towards the blues.
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Add a Solid Color layer and choose a deep rich yellow.
In this example, Seán used RGB 255, 215, 100 and,
after clicking OK, changed the Blend Mode to Color
and reduced the opacity to 20%. To create the effect
seen at left, Seán used the Blend If slider to
allow the deeper values of the underlying layer to
show through. Of course you can experiment with the
color and the opacity, as it feels right to you.
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Add an additional Curve layer and pull down the red
curve to push the image into an otherworldly color
mood. In this example, Seán also pulled down the
blue channel ever so slightly, to let the yellow shine
through, as shown here.
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To deepen the shadows further, add a new Curves
adjustment layer, use the Preset Strong Contrast, and
reduce the layer opacity to 75%.
Cross-processing may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for
pop-art, graphical-effect aficionados it can be very appealing
and, when used carefully, can imbue images with an edgy,
retro feeling.
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Excerpted with permission from The Creative Digital Darkroom by Katrin Eismann and Sean Duggan. Copyright © 2007 Katrin Eismann, Sean Duggan. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
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