Colour cast in Black and White photos
Aug 30, 2023 10:01:34 #
Ozychatie
Loc: Melbourne Australia
Hi All,
This sounds like a contradiction in terms but I recently attempted to refine a rather dull and grainy black and white image. The original image was little more than a thumbnail and scanned from an old print off 35mm film.
Overall I'm quite happy with the result however, to my eye anyway there seems to be a bit of a blue cast in the digital image and I can't seem to get rid of it. It is most noticeable in the white part of the image.
I've attached a copy so maybe you UHHs can offer some advice.
This sounds like a contradiction in terms but I recently attempted to refine a rather dull and grainy black and white image. The original image was little more than a thumbnail and scanned from an old print off 35mm film.
Overall I'm quite happy with the result however, to my eye anyway there seems to be a bit of a blue cast in the digital image and I can't seem to get rid of it. It is most noticeable in the white part of the image.
I've attached a copy so maybe you UHHs can offer some advice.
Bluish cast
Aug 30, 2023 10:02:51 #
Aug 30, 2023 10:23:30 #
Aug 30, 2023 10:46:19 #
It might be your monitor calibration. Do you see a bluish cast on a page from your word processor?
Aug 30, 2023 11:05:50 #
Ozychatie wrote:
Hi All, br This sounds like a contradiction in ter... (show quote)
My monitors are color calibrated monthly, and when I view this I see a distinctly red color cast, and Photoshop's info panel also shows more red than the other two colors. Since the original was black and white, my guess is that this RGB image had a color cast introduced in the scanning process.
I don't know how you're editing this image, but in Photoshop I would just use a Black and White adjustment layer to eliminate the cast. Then you can fiddle with the color sliders to adjust your tones, if desired. In this example, after applying the adjustment layer, the info panel shows that the sampled area is neutral. This is the same no matter where the sample is taken.
Aug 30, 2023 11:09:37 #
terryMc wrote:
....when I view this I see a distinctly red color cast.....
. Sounds like a monitor problem.Aug 30, 2023 11:23:12 #
R.G. wrote: . Sounds like a monitor problem.
. Sounds like a monitor problem.Agreed, since Photoshop also shows a red cast. But red or blue, there should be no color cast in a black and white unless you want one there...
Aug 30, 2023 12:37:59 #
Ozychatie wrote:
Hi All, br This sounds like a contradiction in ter... (show quote)
Is there any blue object in your work area that could be reflecting a blue tint onto your monitor?
Aug 30, 2023 13:12:36 #
terryMc wrote:
My monitors are color calibrated monthly, and when... (show quote)
------
Did you scsn it as BW or did you scan it as color? Scanners I have used offered options to scan BW or color depending on what the what the image is. If you scanned a BW original as color you might pick up a color cast.
Aug 30, 2023 13:25:55 #
jamesl wrote:
------
Did you scsn it as BW or did you scan it as color? Scanners I have used offered options to scan BW or color depending on what the what the image is. If you scanned a BW original as color you might pick up a color cast.
Did you scsn it as BW or did you scan it as color? Scanners I have used offered options to scan BW or color depending on what the what the image is. If you scanned a BW original as color you might pick up a color cast.
It's usually a good idea to scan in RGB mode for more control over the final image, but any color cast can usually be controlled in the scanner software. If there is a cast, removing it should be easy in post processing.
Aug 31, 2023 03:30:14 #
Ozychatie
Loc: Melbourne Australia
Hi everyone,
Thanks for the responses. The top image was on my ex dance coach's (real life friend) Facebook page. With his approval I saved the image of him to my HP laptop.
There was no scanning involved on my part and it was already in black and white.
My guess, from reading your responses, is that it is probably my laptop's monitor. However I am surprised that Photoshop picked up a red cast. Incidently I don't use Photoshop.
Thanks for the responses. The top image was on my ex dance coach's (real life friend) Facebook page. With his approval I saved the image of him to my HP laptop.
There was no scanning involved on my part and it was already in black and white.
My guess, from reading your responses, is that it is probably my laptop's monitor. However I am surprised that Photoshop picked up a red cast. Incidently I don't use Photoshop.
Aug 31, 2023 08:28:46 #
Aug 31, 2023 09:15:48 #
StanMac
Loc: Tennessee
Ozychatie wrote:
Hi All, br This sounds like a contradiction in ter... (show quote)
My screen, and eyes, show a sepia-like image. No blue
Stan
Aug 31, 2023 09:20:25 #
terryMc wrote:
My monitors are color calibrated monthly, and when... (show quote)
I see that it said 41 for all R,G and B. No more red than other colors.
Aug 31, 2023 09:20:47 #
Ozychatie
Loc: Melbourne Australia
Well thanks everyone. Interesting that different folk are seeing different colours/casts. I guess this can be attributed to many variables - monitors, eyes, perceptions etc.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.