Understanding the Goal:
Before we start, let's understand what we're trying to achieve. Infrared photography typically:
* Changes Color Tones: Foliage turns white or very light. Skin often has a milky, porcelain look. Blue skies darken and become more dramatic.
* Increases Contrast: There's a greater separation between light and dark areas.
* Creates a Dreamy, Ethereal Feel: The overall image takes on a surreal quality.
Steps:
1. Open Your Image: Open the photo you want to edit in Photoshop. A landscape or outdoor portrait usually works best for this effect.
2. Create a Channel Mixer Adjustment Layer: Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Channel Mixer. Name it "Infrared".
3. Adjust Channel Mixer Settings: This is the most critical step. You'll be manipulating the red, green, and blue channels to mimic the IR effect. Here's a starting point (experimentation is key!):
* Red Output Channel:
* Red: Around +100% to +120%
* Green: Around -60% to -80%
* Blue: Around -10% to -30%
* Green Output Channel:
* Red: Around +20% to +40%
* Green: Around +40% to +60%
* Blue: Around -20% to -40%
* Blue Output Channel:
* Red: Around +40% to +60%
* Green: Around +30% to +50%
* Blue: Around -30% to -50%
* Important: Make sure the "Monochrome" box is NOT checked.
* Adjust Constant: The "Constant" slider at the bottom of each channel allows you to fine-tune the overall brightness. Adjust it carefully to avoid clipping highlights (making areas completely white). Keep the total values in each channel near 100%.
Why these settings? These adjustments emphasize the red channel (for the whited-out foliage) and reduce the impact of the green and blue channels, mimicking how infrared light affects different colors.
4. Create a Curves Adjustment Layer (Optional):
* Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves.
* A slight "S-curve" can enhance contrast. Gently pull the upper portion of the curve up and the lower portion of the curve down. Avoid harsh curves that will create banding.
5. Optional: Color Correction with a Selective Color Adjustment Layer:
* Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Selective Color.
* Adjust the following:
* Reds: Increase cyan and yellow slightly to give the skin a more milky appearance.
* Yellows: Decrease yellow and increase magenta slightly to give the foliage a brighter, almost glowing look.
* Blues: Decrease cyan and magenta to darken the sky and give it a more dramatic feel.
* Neutrals: Add a small amount of cyan and/or magenta to taste.
6. Optional: Adding a Glow (Gaussian Blur):
* Duplicate Background Layer: Select your background layer and press Ctrl/Cmd + J to duplicate it.
* Convert to Smart Object: Right-click on the duplicated layer and choose "Convert to Smart Object." This allows for non-destructive filtering.
* Apply Gaussian Blur: Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Set a small radius (around 5-15 pixels, depending on the image resolution) to create a subtle glow.
* Change Blending Mode: Change the blending mode of the blurred layer to "Screen" or "Soft Light". Experiment with opacity to control the intensity of the glow.
* Add a Layer Mask: Click the Add Layer Mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel. Paint on the mask with black to remove the glow from areas where you don't want it (e.g., faces, sharp edges).
7. Optional: Vignette: A subtle vignette can draw the viewer's eye to the center of the image. There are several ways to create one:
* Gradient Fill: Create a new layer. Use the Gradient Tool (G) with a black-to-transparent radial gradient, centered in your image. Change the layer's blending mode to "Multiply" and adjust the opacity.
* Lens Correction Filter: Go to Filter > Lens Correction. Under "Custom," adjust the "Vignette" sliders.
8. Fine-Tune and Experiment:
* The most important part is experimentation. Tweak the Channel Mixer, Curves, and other adjustments until you achieve the look you want.
* Consider using layer masks to selectively apply the effect to certain areas of the image. For example, you might want to reduce the effect on skin to keep it from looking too washed out.
* Don't overdo it! A subtle effect is often more convincing than an overly processed one.
Example Settings Breakdown and Rationale
The Channel Mixer settings are the heart of the infrared look. Here's a slightly more detailed explanation:
* Red Output Channel: We *emphasize* the red channel and *reduce* the others. Infrared light strongly reflects red wavelengths, which is why foliage appears so bright. The negative values for green and blue further enhance this effect.
* Green and Blue Output Channels: We *reduce* the intensity of these channels, but *introduce* some of the red channel into them. This helps to shift the overall color balance towards the infrared look without completely eliminating the other colors.
Tips and Considerations:
* Start with a good image: The better the original image, the better the final result. Look for images with good contrast and interesting textures.
* Save as a PSD or TIFF: This preserves your layers and allows you to make further adjustments later.
* Non-Destructive Editing: Using adjustment layers ensures that your original image remains untouched.
* Practice: The best way to master this technique is to practice on different images.
* Color Profile: Work in a standard color profile like sRGB or Adobe RGB for consistent results across different devices.
Example Values - Keep in Mind These Are Starting Points!
```
Channel Mixer (Infrared):
*Red Output Channel*
Red: +110%
Green: -70%
Blue: -20%
Constant: 0%
*Green Output Channel*
Red: +30%
Green: +50%
Blue: -30%
Constant: 0%
*Blue Output Channel*
Red: +50%
Green: +40%
Blue: -40%
Constant: 0%
```
Troubleshooting:
* Image Looks Too Washed Out: Reduce the positive values in the Red Output Channel or increase the contrast with a Curves adjustment layer.
* Image Looks Too Dark: Increase the Constant value in the Channel Mixer (be careful not to clip highlights). Also, brighten with the Curves adjustment layer.
* Colors Look Strange or Unnatural: Re-evaluate your Channel Mixer settings and try different values. The Selective Color adjustments can also help.
* Effect Is Too Strong: Reduce the opacity of the Channel Mixer adjustment layer or use layer masks to selectively apply the effect.
* Banding Issues: Smooth gradients with noise (Filter > Noise > Add Noise). Be subtle.
By following these steps and experimenting with the settings, you can create a convincing infrared effect in Photoshop and transform your ordinary photos into something truly unique. Good luck!