Film print look

[RicoC]

Hello all,

I enjoy old looking photos like those you can achieve by developing film, I will elaborate if needs be but I think you all know what I mean.

Try a Google search of 'Peter Lindbergh portraits' for inspiration, I like the colour examples too.

What is the best way I can achieve this 'old' look in Photoshop? (in the least amount of time)

Reducing the saturation seems to help.

Examples would be very helpful. Thank you in advance.

(I don't have access to the internet everyday so please discuss between yourselves if I have been away for a while. I shoot in RAW)

[Manfred M]

Google's Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 is the best I've found.

[loosecanon]

Have to agree, Niks software produces the effect quickly, but is still adjustable to individual preferences. The new selling price deserves to be supported.

[rpcrowe]

I really like NIK Software and I am gradually learning how to use it. It is not terribly difficult, in fact the software seems quite intuitive to me. However, there are just so many aspects to what you can do with this software (monochrome conversions are just a small slice of the total) that I am not sure if I shall ever master the entire range of capabilities. However, it is fun learning. There are loads of instructional videos, both from NIK and independent photographers, available on YouTube. Just search with the parameter "NIK Software"...

This is how I worked with the "Mountain Man" image before I had NIK...


This is what I did with the NIK software...


Another experiment...

[Shadowman]

This is a very severe crop of a candid photo. Edited with Elements Quick Edit, Urban Snapshots-adjusted for tonality, added noise, then increased saturation.

[Ady]

Hi Rico,

if you are after the aesthetic qualities of specific film types I would heartily recommend DxO FilmPack, there is a trial download and it can be used as a Photoshop plugin. Personally I think it does the best job of any film emulation software, but I may be biased as I'm also a fan of DxO Optics (apart from the hideous UI).

Cheers,
Ady

[RicoC]

Shadowman, I really like this one, thanks.

Thanks eveyone for the good advice, il be sure to check all of these techniques out.