Silver Efex vrs Red Filter

[larryj]

I previously posted this image in color and followed with images taken with various color filter in front of the lens. Alan asked me if me to use Solver Efex color filter simulation to see the difference between a physical filter in front on the lens to a electronic red filter use in Silver Efex! I have not use Silver Efex for several years, but I found an old copy of Silver Efex on my hard drive and here are the results.

Red Filter image

Silver Efex image

 

[AlanLichty]

Thanks for trying this. Looks like you could easily get the same result in software with less hassle in the field. My objection to the screw on filter lies in the fact that the image you take is dedicated to the red filtered B&W whereas an image that gets converted in post can be converted into whatever suits your fancy when you sit down in front of your computer.

 

[larryj]

Thanks for trying this. Looks like you could easily get the same result in software with less hassle in the field. My objection to the screw on filter lies in the fact that the image you take is dedicated to the red filtered B&W whereas an image that gets converted in post can be converted into whatever suits your fancy when you sit down in front of your computer.

Thanks Alan and I agree with you, but sometimes old school habits still come up and bite you. I still remember my b&w photo days and visualizing the effect I wanted to achieve and selecting the filter I needed. Ah, those were the good old days!
I find that LightRoom has a very nice black and white conversion system and is easier to use then Silver Efex, IMO.

 

[Ad Schaafsma]

I'm particularly fond of SilkyPix, a Japanese RAW developer that comes with Panasonic cameras. The more advanced v11 was on offer some time ago, and like SE it offers multiple colorchannels and variable strenght for about any B&W filter you can find. It makes B&W development a lot of fun. Besides, having this flexibility in post means I'm not likely to ever buy a monochrome sensor camera; it would take away a lot of options I currently have.

 

[JimFox]

Thanks for trying this. Looks like you could easily get the same result in software with less hassle in the field. My objection to the screw on filter lies in the fact that the image you take is dedicated to the red filtered B&W whereas an image that gets converted in post can be converted into whatever suits your fancy when you sit down in front of your computer.

It's probably similar to how we had to use ND Grads back in the day, but now our digital processing tools are so capable that's not needed.

 

[JimFox]

I'm particularly fond of SilkyPix, a Japanese RAW developer that comes with Panasonic cameras. The more advanced v11 was on offer some time ago, and like SE it offers multiple colorchannels and variable strenght for about any B&W filter you can find. It makes B&W development a lot of fun. Besides, having this flexibility in post means I'm not likely to ever buy a monochrome sensor camera; it would take away a lot of options I currently have.

That would be a really cool option Ad. I like the variable strength option.

 

[JimFox]

This is fun to see Larry, thanks for doing it.

I would say the Red filter and Silver FX are very similar in look with the silver FX looking like it's a slightly stronger Red filter.

 

[larryj]

This is fun to see Larry, thanks for doing it.

I would say the Red filter and Silver FX are very similar in look with the silver FX looking like it's a slightly stronger Red filter.

Hi Jim, thanks for the comments. I think the current B&W conversion engines in Lightroom or Camera Raw are very good and offer great flexibility in processing. I think I can match the red filter effect through processing in LR or CR and have the choice to use other color filter options. Digital processing keeps getting better ad better!

 

[dan swiger]

I've been using Silver Efex for quite a while. I prefer it to trying different B&W types in PS. Gives me a good/quick comparison of the contrast & tonal range