3 layer technique

3 layer technique is where you take 3 images containing the same composition each one using a different coloured filter. One using red, one using green and one using blue.

What you will need:
- 35mm film camera
- Black and white film (appropriate ISO to the weathers condition)
- Red/ green/ blue filters
- Tripod

Part one:
1) Find and expose a scene using black and white film. Shoot in daylight for best results. Use a tripod and cable releaseto ensure that the composition does not change from shot to shot.

2)When you are happy with the composition expose the scene using each filterseperately.
1st shot using red
2nd shot using green
3rd shot using blue
(use this order RGB to remember what image you need to use first)
leave a blank frame inbetween each image.

3)As you are going to superimpose the negatives you need to make sure the composition is the same in each shot. Try to keep the tripod as still as possible as the tripod moving will make it difficult to line up later on.

4) Process the film and make a contact sheet. Identify which filter was used with each make sure you make this clear on your contact sheet.

5)Scan the negatives in making sure you have a resolution of 1200, remember to save them according to which filter has been used i.e red filter for the image that useda red filter etc.
We worked in a group of 4 and we used a light metre to work out what our camer settings should be. The ISO of the film was 400 therefore we set the light metres ISO to 400. I decided to use an aperture of F5.6 and the light metre gave me me a shutter speed of 1/125. 


Part 2: converting the scans

Each layer gets converted to the colour of the filter’s complement. This means that the red scan becomes the cyan layer, the blue scan becomes the yellow layer and the green scan becomes the magenta layer.

1) To prepare the red scan to show the cyan information, open the file that was shot with the red filter. If it is still a negative, select the image, adjustments, invert option to make it a positive.

2) Convert the grey scale file to RGB colour by going to image, mode and clicking the RGB colour option.

3) Create a new layer by choosing the layer, new, layer option. Name this layer CYAN in the dialogue box.

4) Select the colour for this layer. Open the colour swatches palette by selecting windows, show swatches. If you let the cursor rest over a colour square it tells you the colours identity name. Find and click on ‘CMYK Cyan’ which will be located in the upper left area. The foreground colour in the colour picker will change to this colour.

5) Make sure that the new layer ‘Cyan’ is active. Select the paint bucket tool and fill the image with cyan. The entire image will be filled with this colour.

6) Open the layers palette by selecting windows, show layers menu (if it isn’t already open). Change the blend mode from normal to screen.

7) You now have the equivalent of the cyan dye layer in a conventional colour photo print. Save the file and leave it open.

 FOLLOW THE STEPS AS BEFORE HOWEVER YOU NEED TO CHANGE GREEN TO MAGENTA

FOLLOW THE STEPS AS BEFORE HOWEVER YOU NEED TO CHANE BLUE TO YELLOW

8) Create a new file by going to file, new. Give the file a name and have a width of 10inches and the height of 7 inches.

9) Set the resolution to 300 ppi and set the mode to ‘RGB colour’, set the background to white.

10) Copy the first layer, do this by clicking select, all then chose edit, copy merged.

11) Go to the new empty window. Click on the canvas and insert the new layer by going to edit, paste.

12) Repeat the copying and pasting process for the green/magenta and blue/yellow files.

13) When you are finished the blue/yellow layer should be on top. In the layers palette, make this layer active and change the blending mode to multiply.

14) Repeat this step for the green/magenta layer. You do not need to change the blending mode on the red/cyan layer.

This is the final result:

I have added a bit of contrast to this image:

I really enjoyed using this technique. I have never enjoyed combining film with digital techniques so much. I feel my image worked well as I remembered to keep my images in order when it came to editing. I should have been closer to my subject because you can’t even see the colourful drawing pins on the wall. This is definitely a technique I would like to try again.