Film simulation software

B

botty

Member
Local time
12:05 PM
Joined
Dec 9, 2012
Messages
38
I have come across alienskin software that does a good job of re-creating 1930/40s kodachrome film. Is there an equivalent what will produce the same era continental produced film such as agfacolor?
 
Hi,

Well, there was as I remember reading a review of it. It was described as fun but...

If I had any spare time I'd do a search but I just haven't at present.

Regards, David
 
Not exactly what your asking for, but VSCO ( https://vsco.co/film ) do a range of simulated emulsions - classic, modern and instant and the end results are sublime (I have the instant pack). No Kodachrome or Agfa though, sorry.
 
Alien Skin's Exposure 4 is the best software for this that I'm aware of.

DXO Filmpack offers films that Exposure 4 doesn't have, but lacks what you're looking for.
http://www.dxo.com/us/photo/filmpack/available_film_looks

There is Imagenomic RealGrain, but again, I think it lacks what you're after.

Same with Nik Colour Efex Pro 4.

OnOne Perfect Effects should still have Kodachrome and Velvia emulation, though they renamed it a few years back. It isn't as good as Exposure 4, and I find Colour Efex Pro 4 to be more useful, as a result I've not upgraded to the latest version.

I think I may be missing one or two obscure options here.

I wasn't aware of VSCO, it looks interesting, it seems to duplicate what's available in Exposure 4 thought. I'd love to see a comparison between the two, as the Instant Pack is quite tempting based on the examples they give.
 
The alienskin website tantalises by hinting that the software has many emulsion simulators but does not list what those are!

The Kodachrome simulator is almost enough for what I want to do but knowing I was going to get just what I was after if I bought the product would be even better.

If anyone has a link to or can post the full list that would be great.
 
healyzh said:
Alien Skin's Exposure 4 is the best software for this that I'm aware of.

DXO Filmpack offers films that Exposure 4 doesn't have, but lacks what you're looking for.
http://www.dxo.com/us/photo/filmpack/available_film_looks

There is Imagenomic RealGrain, but again, I think it lacks what you're after.

Same with Nik Colour Efex Pro 4.

OnOne Perfect Effects should still have Kodachrome and Velvia emulation, though they renamed it a few years back. It isn't as good as Exposure 4, and I find Colour Efex Pro 4 to be more useful, as a result I've not upgraded to the latest version.

I think I may be missing one or two obscure options here.

I wasn't aware of VSCO, it looks interesting, it seems to duplicate what's available in Exposure 4 thought. I'd love to see a comparison between the two, as the Instant Pack is quite tempting based on the examples they give.
Click to expand...

Advantage of VSCO is that it works on the RAW file non-destructively, unlike the others.
 
The guy who runs Filmbot might be able to help you, if you help him:

"Filmbot is a project about making film emulation aviable for everyone at no charge.

Everyone can contribute to the Filmbot development by:
*Giving feedback
*Spreading the word among your photographer friends
*Taking a picture of the calibration chart with your 35mm film and send it to the developer specifying which film was used so I can calibrate it to a Lightroom preset!"

http://sourceforge.net/projects/thefilmbot/

...so why not send him some samples?

I've been using his emulators recently, and they're pretty good. The b&w wet plate simulation is one of my favourites, as a starting point for bw conversions of high contrast subjects.
 
Is there any software up there, that can simulate the color palette of Lascaux cavemen?
Actually, having thought a bit longer, I would prefer that of Monet.
 
I use Alienskin Exposure 4 and it has the old Kodachrome looks. They seem pretty accurate and I also like the old cinema looks. It works as a plugin to LR and PS.
 
Is there any software up there, that can simulate the color palette of Lascaux cavemen?
Actually, having thought a bit longer, I would prefer that of Monet.
Click to expand...

I hate the idea of using film simulation software but as agfacolour is no longer made and I have a specific need for a specific use I have asked for help. Sarcasm is not needed.

I will explore filmbot. Thanks for the link.
 
To this date there's no digital emulation of old Agfacolor or Agfachrome films anywhere. I doubt there will be a rigorously made emulation (like VSCO did for Polaroid or Kodak Portra 400 for instance). It's not impossible but that would demand gigantic efforts of gathering information from Agfa, patents, find some old films, reproduce a bunch of them, find a way to develop them again, etc and process the software digital for VSCO like software. Same problem with Kodachrome or early forms of Kodacolor. I'm sure someone at some point in the future will be passionate and crazy enough to try doing that but it may not happen at all.

I'm obsessed with old color films and other color processes like Carbro, Dufay, etc. I find these colors beautiful and fascinating. So out of this world and familiar at the same time. I reckon the best thing is to try emulating their tone directly in Photoshop of Lightroom. That's what Alien Skin did with Exposure. I think they did an interesting job, but their Kodachromes (1936, 1962, 1974) don't really look like Kodachrome. The 1962 Kodachrome is my favourite form of Kodachrome color but its brownish skin tone is a caricature in AS Exposure. Mad Men TV series shows much more convincing retro orange skin tones than Alien Skin Exposure. Anyway I digress.
 
cyberprimate said:
To this date there's no digital emulation of old Agfacolor or Agfachrome films anywhere. I doubt there will be a rigorously made emulation (like VSCO did for Polaroid or Kodak Portra 400 for instance). It's not impossible but that would demand gigantic efforts of gathering information from Agfa, patents, find some old films, reproduce a bunch of them, find a way to develop them again, etc and process the software digital for VSCO like software. Same problem with Kodachrome or early forms of Kodacolor. I'm sure someone at some point in the future will be passionate and crazy enough to try doing that but it may not happen at all.

I'm obsessed with old color films and other color processes like Carbro, Dufay, etc. I find these colors beautiful and fascinating. So out of this world and familiar at the same time. I reckon the best thing is to try emulating their tone directly in Photoshop of Lightroom. That's what Alien Skin did with Exposure. I think they did an interesting job, but their Kodachromes (1936, 1962, 1974) don't really look like Kodachrome. The 1962 Kodachrome is my favourite form of Kodachrome color but its brownish skin tone is a caricature in AS Exposure. Mad Men TV series shows much more convincing retro orange skin tones than Alien Skin Exposure. Anyway I digress.
Click to expand...

Process a digital image according to what you think is a close approximation of Kodachrome 64 or 200, don't sharpen it, give it a pinch of magenta color cast and increase the contrast. Show it to some 'expert photographers' and tell them these are Kodachrome shots...

They'll be getting emotional and nostalgic and will be going through all those fuzzy emotions - provided you can keep a straight face -- then throw some cold water and tell them its digital.

Its good for a laugh, try it.
 
Exdsc said:
Process a digital image according to what you think is a close approximation of Kodachrome 64 or 200, don't sharpen it, give it a pinch of magenta color cast and increase the contrast. Show it to some 'expert photographers' and tell them these are Kodachrome shots...

They'll be getting emotional and nostalgic and will be going through all those fuzzy emotions - provided you can keep a straight face -- then throw some cold water and tell them its digital.

Its good for a laugh, try it.
Click to expand...

This seems a good thing to do with your life. If you haven't got one.
 
It's funny how threads about film simulation software always get very picky!

My post processing software has a couple of rather cheesy settings one of which is 'cross process' and an appropriate slider. First time I used it for a laugh and posted the image in the gallery someone commented that the image (which came from my DP2M) looked like cross processed film.

:eek: :D
 
I never really understood the why of cross processing when I was using film. I do like the film simulations because it gives just a nice touch to my photos without overdoing it. The new Alien Skin Exposure 5 will be out soon and has some new film simulations but they would not tell me if Agfa Color was one of them.
Pete
 
The nice thing about the digital emulation software, one can always subtly reduce or enhance the effect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom