In this video, I’ll step through my workflow for editing color infrared photography in Lightroom Classic, including white balancing, color swapping, and the new Lightroom Classic masking tools. These methods work for color infrared images taken with a converted camera using a filter from 550nm to 750nm or an unconverted camera with a 720nm filter.
590nm color infrared image after edit

I recently completed a couple of trips, including a cross country road trip, in which I was able to put some clip-in flange filters to the test. In this video, I’ll compare the different form factors for filters, the pros and cons of flange filters, and my recommendations.

On Friday, November 26th, 2021, I’m pleased to be participating in a talk on infrared photography with Long Exposure Photography Magazine, along with esteemed National Geographic photographer Nevada Wier and LEMAG editor Derek Michalski. Please join us!

In this video, I take a look at the “orange” filter, a 550nm filter that passes near-infrared, red, orange, yellow, and some green light, while blocking blue, purple, and violet. I’ll addresses custom white balancing the 550nm filter on grass, color swapping, and how it compares with a 590nm filter.
550nm infrared image

In this video, I’ll introduce my Lightroom Infrared Color Swap Profiles. These profiles allow you to swap colors for your infrared images directly in any modern version of Lightroom. Watch the video to learn more.

Infrared image shot with IR Chrome filter

I’ve updated my Color Infrared LUTs. These LUTs are designed to color swap infrared video shot with a 470nm to 720nm filter. This version includes multiple channel mixer variations for more color options.
Infrared color swap methods applied to a 590nm infrared still image

I’ve updated my Photoshop Infrared Actions with more color swapping methods for color infrared images. These are designed for infrared images shot with a 470nm to 720nm filter. This version includes multiple channel mixer variations for more color options. I’ve included a set of extra actions if you wish to explore beyond the main set.
Infrared color swap methods applied to a 590nm infrared image

My first attempt at shooting portraits in Ultraviolet light using a Full Spectrum camera and a UV bandpass filter.
Ultraviolet portrait

Recording of Live Stream where I take viewer questions and edit viewer images live.

In this video, I’ll show you how to edit color infrared images with Adobe Photoshop for shots taken with a 590nm to 720nm filter on a converted camera or with a 720nm filter on an unconverted camera. This includes the latest interface changes to Camera Raw, using Smart Objects to retain flexibility in White Balance control, two popular methods for swapping colors, using Hue/Saturation adjustment layer, using Color Balance adjustment layer, and various tips.

Infrared image before processing

What is color space and how can it impact the colors of your image? Which color space should you use in Lightroom and Photoshop? In this video, I’ll explain what color space is. I’ll cover the four color spaces available in both Lightroom and Photoshop: sRGB, Adobe RGB, Display P3, and ProPhoto RGB. I’ll show you which you should be using for editing, for printing, and for sharing. Plus, where to set the correct color spaces in Lightroom and Photoshop.

590nm infrared image with Kolari IRND 10-stop and 5-stop filters

I have a new eBook available titled Getting Started with Your Converted Infrared or Full-Spectrum Camera. This book is designed for new infrared photographers who have a converted a camera to infrared or full-spectrum. This book covers the styles of infrared photography, using external filters, selecting lenses, settings for shooting with your converted camera, and how to process your infrared images. This book will help to get you started. When you are ready for more, this eBook references blog articles and videos covering more advanced topics.

iPhone 12 Wide Lens, 720nm

On May 9th, I hosted an Infrared Photography Live Stream Q&A. I answered questions from viewers, answer questions from previous videos, and did some troubleshooting on viewer images. Below are some of the questions addressed in the stream with the approximate timestamp for each.

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Yosemite National Park, shot with unconverted Fujifilm X-T2, B+W 093 830nm deep infrared filter

Introducing the free Infrared Profile Pack which contains infrared camera profiles for Lightroom and Photoshop.

I was invited to present to the Santa Clara Camera Club on the subject of Infrared Photography. This was a great opportunity to share some of the topics that I’ve been working on in a new format. Thanks to Tim Cuneo, Luke Lang, and all of the members of the Santa Clara Camera Club for their hospitality.

Here are the vintage lenses and adapters that I have used for Infrared Photography. All have no hot spots in infrared.

Soligor Wide-Auto 35mm f/2.8 on 590nm-converted Fujifilm X-T20

In this video and article, I’ll show you how to shoot and edit infrared images with your existing DSLR or mirrorless camera. You don’t need to modify your camera to take infrared photos. I’ll cover the equipment you need and the settings to shoot with. Then, I’ll cover multiple ways to edit your infrared images with Lightroom and Photoshop.

Featured on fstoppers.com.

I get inspiration and ideas through the work of other infrared photographers. One source of such inspiration is Kolari Vision’s annual “Life in Another Light” photo contest. This contest features infrared and visible light photography in categories such as photo essay, aerial, black and white, IRchrome, landscape, long exposure, portrait, and Kolari Pocket. The 2020 “Life in Another Light” winners were recently announced.

7artisans 18mm f/6.3 cap lens with 590nm-converted Fujifilm X-T20

Color infrared images edited with Photoshop

590nm infrared image edited with Exposure X6

In this video, I’ll cover using LUTs in infrared video and photography and show you how to create your own LUTs.

In this video, I’ll take a look at using DxO PhotoLab 4 for editing infrared photography. I’ll walk through who DxO PhotoLab is good and who it’s not good for.

590nm Infrared Image with Color Grading

In this video, I’ll describe how to deal with the top pitfalls when shooting and editing infrared photography; hot spots, focus, diffraction, white balance, and post processing. At the end of this video, I’ll share why it’s worth it for you to overcome these pitfalls.

590nm-converted Fujifilm X-T20, XF 23mm f/2

Nikon Nikkor-N Auto 24mm f/2.8, adapted to 590nm-converted FujiFilm X-T20

Pixelmator Pro is a raw image editor for the Mac with good support for editing infrared Photography. Here is the process for editing a 590nm infrared image with Pixelmator Pro. In a previous video, I covered Pixelmator Photo for the iPad, which has a similar feature set, but without layers.

In this video, I’ll recap the best raw infrared photo editors. This covers the best free open source software, best low cost editor, easiest to use editor, and best ecosystem for editing in infrared.

When I started shooting in infrared, I noticed a lack of sharpness when using apertures that I had associated with sharpness in visible light photography. I started using lower f-stop values when shooting in infrared, but wanted to determine the cause. That cause was diffraction.

Canon new FD 24mm f/2.8 adapted to 590nm-converted Fujifilm X-T20

590nm Infrared image with hot spot corrected

Bixby Creek Bridge, Fujifilm X-T20, 14mm, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/600 second, vertical panorama

Fujinon 23mm f/2 R WR

Comparison of infrared images before and after using subtractive color

Canon AE-1, 24mm f/2.8, Rollei Infrared film, Hoya R72 filter, f/11, 1/8 second

FujiFilm X-T20, XF 23mm f/2, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/180 second, Neewer 850nm external filter

Fujifilm X-T20, 23mm f/2, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/1100 sec

Here are some considerations and recommendations for selecting a camera to convert to infrared (IR) or full-spectrum. When selecting a camera to convert, you have all of the normal factors involved in selecting a camera, the permanent modification of the camera, and the limitations of infrared photography. This can be challenging, especially if you’ve never converted a camera before or if you obsess over such decisions like I do. I’ve converted two cameras to infrared and purchased an already converted camera. Here is what I’ve learned.

This video compares the LUT-based profile and the Local Hue Adjustment in Lightroom. These are fast ways to color swap infrared images in Lightroom, without a round-trip to Photoshop. Both methods work in Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Lightroom mobile for the iPad.

While exploring ways to simplify the infrared workflow in Lightroom, I considered writing a Lightroom plug-in. This plug-in would replace the round-trip to Photoshop, by performing a red/blue color swap, and then returning the output to Lightroom.

Kolari Pocket with IR Chrome filter

Update 2021-March-07 - Version 2 of the Color Infrared Photoshop Actions now available

Lightroom’s white balance temperature slider doesn’t offer enough range to effectively set a white balance on raw color infrared images. The same issue exists in Adobe Camera Raw in Photoshop, which uses the same raw processing engine. In order to set a good white balance for color infrared images, it’s helpful to create a custom color profile. The guide below will step through the process. This video also covers the process.

Free eBook: Getting Started with Your Converted Infrared or Full-Spectrum Camera
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Lightroom Infrared Color Swap Profiles

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