Photoshop Actions for Infrared

Info Version 3 of these Photoshop Actions is now available at Updated Photoshop Actions for Color Infrared v3.

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Download the Photoshop Actions

About

These Adobe Photoshop Actions are designed to speed the process of color swapping Infrared photos. They work best on infrared color photos taken with a camera converted to a 550 nm to 720 nm internal filter or with a full-spectrum camera when used with an external filter of similar value.

This collection contains the following actions.

• IR Channel Mixer* - This method uses the Channel Mixer adjustment layer to swap the colors in the Red and Blue channel, converting orange/yellow sky to teal/blue and converting teal/blue foliage to orange/yellow.

• IR Channel Mixer + H/S* - Same as above, with the addition of a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (with no values set) if you wish to tweak the color values.

• IR Invert - This method duplicates the image layer, inverts the duplicate layer, and applies a color blend mode. This method may produce a more naturally colored sky than the channel mixer method.

• IR Invert + H/S - Same as above, with the addition of a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (with no values set) if you wish to tweak the color values.

• Orton Effect - This action creates a glow layer, creating a nice effect for woodland or infrared images. Be sure to select your main image layer before running this action. Be sure to adjust the opacity of the newly created layer for the desired effect. Less is more.

* Photoshop Elements does not support the Channel Mixer adjustment layer. Therefore, you should use the IR Invert method when using these actions with Photoshop Elements.

Installation

1. Unzip the file by double-clicking on it and saving the included *.atn file to your desktop.

2. In Photoshop, open the Actions panel by selecting Actions under the Window Menu.

3. Click the menu icon in the upper right corner of the Action dialog and select Load Actions. Select the action from your desktop and click the Load button.

Usage

1. Open the infrared image you wish to edit in Lightroom or Adobe Camera Raw with Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.

2. Select a color profile for your infrared camera. Download the Infrared Profile Pack, watch this video, or follow these instructions on creating a profile for your camera.

3. Once you have selected a color profile, you will need to set the white balance for your image. The following video contains tips for setting the white balance for color infrared images.

4. If you completed the above steps in Lightroom, right-click the image, and select Edit in Adobe Photoshop. Select the Open Image button if you completed the above steps in Adobe Camera Raw.

5. Run the desired action by selecting the action and clicking the Play selection button at the bottom of the action dialog window.

Enjoy!

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