Random Filter Question

[kforde]

Hi,

Just hoping for some clarity on an issue. I am well aware of the properties of coloured filters when applied to B&W film, but am really not too sure how this would translate on a digital sensor. I understand that if you put a red filter in front of your lense your colour image will be very very red, but will it have an effect when the image is converted to B&W in PP? This is more just to satisfy a personal curiousity without actually having to purchase coloured filters and try it out, so any and all ideas are appreciated!

Thanks,
Kf

[argyle]

Actually, you can pretty much try that out in Photoshop. Open a color image, then select Image/Adjust/Channel mixer...there's a drop down in the channel mixer preset dialog box to select the "Black and white with red filter" option. (CS3 version...not sure about others)

[LarryD]

Yes, it will.............the sensor does not know that you have a filter on........it will digitize the scene, comnplete with the color-tone.......... On conversion to B&W, the same tones that are enhanced with the different colors will also be enhanced on the final image........

But, it would be silly to do this in todays world........ Your proceessor can handle the task better and the initial image will not be unecessarily tinted.....

Some filters, such as a skylight, will intentially "warm" the colors as it has a rose tint... so it can be the best of both worlds if used all the time..

[kforde]

Thanks for the information, pretty much satisfied my curiousity without me having to go and buy some. ;) Its not like I planned on going out with my DSLR and throwing a red filter on to darken the sky when I could shoot in RAW, convert in PS using any number of methods and still retain all the detail in the original CR2 file...lol! But at any rate...thanks again for the help.

Cheers,
Kf