A Blog of ICE

You have a new high tech  camera, it relies on a computer chip to balance your color in some ‘electronic’ method.

But what if you do not like the results that the camera provides on the output, or the input into your image editing program?

i.e. adobe photoshop, adobe elements, paint shop pro etc. every program has the same basic features,

let me let you  in on a little known secret for today’s generation of instant photography;  the same rules still apply, that applied to working with film. Although the methods used to color correct any image, are different, the principles to achieve the results are the same.

In the darkroom,  in photography;  There are only six colors you must understand, and how they work with each other.  this is extremly simple to learn and to master in no time.

If you want to learn the Art of Photography, this is essential.

In the darkroom, when you made a color print, it was a guarantee, that the finished print would be one of six different colors wrong.  One color would be seen in excess,  A color shift it was called. You can determine what color is in excess in any of your photographs by using CC filters (color correction). or by looking at the white / neutral areas in your image in the shadows, looking for ‘grey’.  Whites should be white and grey’s should be grey!  this is simple to achieve now. once you understand which colors react to which secondary color.

RED – GREEN – BLUE are the three primary colors in photogaphy

Opposite of Red is Cyan

Opposite of Green is Magenta

Opposite of Blue is Yellow

(color theory for “paint” is different). But we are speaking about photography, and the methods used to correct any print. This works the same if your in *raw mode or *jpg, *tiff,  or any other options you may have to choose from.

Colors have specific properties that always act in predictable ways.

for instance, If I have a round circular piece of cardboard such as comes with a pizza, If I divide that circle into exact thirds, and paint each of those sections Red, Green, Blue.  when I spin that circle very fast by putting a pencil or needle in the center,  what color will I see? when that wheel is spun very fast ?

Black is not a color, Black is the absence of ALL  color(s). !   We are using all the primariy color(s). Therefore

We shall see  “white” !! White is the presence of ALL color(s). !!

This can also be illustrated by using lights, in real life or in a 3D program .

by using a red , green and blue light(s). and aim these lights at a common center point. where these three lights over lap and come together, we will see  white, and in the overlapping outside layers, the secondary or opposite colors are clearly shown also.!! In the darkroom, when you viewed a finished color print and it was too yellow. to fix this next print you would add more yellow to the filter pack to get the yellow out of the next image. If that print was too blue, you would subtract yellow to get rid of the blue. And it is the same using photoshop. At the top of the menu bar under the heading of “image” > adjustments> color balance ; . –  If you have a print that is too yellow, just move that yellow slider towards blue and see the changes instantly.  The only time you might get confused is when you mistake blue for cyan; or cyan for blue. the other colors are less confusing to work with.

With a little practice you will achieve amazing results in no time !!