In this episode of Alchemy Color, we'll explore the process of accurately scanning and inverting a color negative with readily available tools inside Adobe Camera Raw. This is a long-form tutorial, so stick around until the end for the reveal of a unique emulation for digital stills.
Thank you to Aaron Buchler (u/Ab_film_92) for the inversion technique and Jack Whitaker (u/jrw01) for his informative article on scanner backlights. Both were fundamental in helping me understand where to go with my methods.
► See more: https://alchemycolor.com/film-emulation/
► Get the film emulation here: https://alchemycolor.com/product/alchemy-color-emulation-standard-kodak-gold-200/
► GitHub repository: https://github.com/alchemy-color/color-negative-inversion
► Download my Canon PowerShot G12 Negative Emulation samples: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EjCKxJXnUbueI0giEC7UcIA3411RKvF5?usp=drive_link
► Support Negative Lab Pro: https://www.negativelabpro.com/
► Support FilmLab: https://www.filmlabapp.com/
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:50 - The film look as a cumulative sum of variables
02:14 - Film development
03:10 - Film scanning
04:55 - Printing
05:56 - Review: The uncertain acrobatics of the analog signal path
06:50 - The film emulation market
08:06 - Accurate Color Negative Inversions
08:56 - Color Negative Scan and Inversion - Universal Method
09:03 - 1. Capture
11:06 - 2. Processing the raw files
12:16 - 3. Inverting the negative
12:37 - Method 1: Invert in Photoshop, edit in Lightroom
14:26 - Method 2: Invert and edit in 32 bits in Photoshop
16:39 - 4. Turning the inversion into an XMP profile
18:39 - Color Negative Scan and Inversion - A Specialized Method
20:59 - Universal vs. Specialized Method
22:09 - A Better Editing Color Space
22:55 - Inversion Accuracy Metrics
23:21 - NEW PRODUCT: Alchemy Color Standard Film Emulation
26:36 - Automated Frontier Scan vs Dedicated Method Inversion vs Digital Emulation
27:48 - INNOVATIVE PRODUCT: Color Negative Emulations
30:30 - Negative Emulation Accuracy Metrics
30:44 - Takeaways
32:18 - Conclusion
33:40 - Credits