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A
AlaskaAce
Participant
June 26, 2013
Answered

Inverting negative film strips in LR5?

  • June 26, 2013
  • 3 replies
  • 36821 views

I do invert negatives it in PS CS6 and was wondering if LR5 has that ability?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Rob_Cullen
But the picture is blue.

When you invert the (negative) image of a Color negative, you also have the base color of the film to worry about. Color neg film has an orange base.  Inverted it becomes blue!

For B&W monochrome negatives  just inverting the tone curve is acceptable. Color negatives need a lot more work.

For some good advice read this link-

Camera Scanning | dpBestflow

Inverting the tone curve in Lightroom, also has the side effect of reversing several of the Basic Develop sliders! which can be a surprise. If you make a preset of an inverted tone curve you can also modify it to include contrast (the traditional "S" curve)

3 replies

jpegsexpert
jpegsexpert
Known Participant
July 31, 2017

It's dumb that there isn't a simple invert checkbox.   You can invert the curve, but then shadows are highlights and it's pretty confusing to work with.  

I'm capturing my negatives with a DSLR and it gives results at least as good as a flatbed scanner, and it's so much faster than scanning.   More and more people are working this way as full-frame DSLRs have come down in price.

Rob_Cullen
Community Expert
Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 31, 2017

Can I suggest you add a vote (button- top of page)  and a post at-  Lightroom/Camera Raw: Ability to invert negative scans to positives | Photoshop Family Customer Community

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
D
Dale_Smith
Participant
May 28, 2016

I plan on buying a professional scanner now.  Less work.

JP Hess
JP Hess
Inspiring
May 28, 2016

That is a good choice. I believe scanning with a quality scanner produces a much better image.

T
terenceb71095712
Participant
November 25, 2016

What can be recommended ?

I once had a 35mm negative scanner that actually scanned the negatives and produced very

high quality results.

There is a misnomer in the modern description 'scanner' because they all appear to be just a camera

in a box.

With and old 'camera' model I removed the base and used it to copy medium format negatives placed

on a light box.

It is strange that manufacturers have not worked out that this can be done and produced a

convertible 'scanner'.

D.A.R
D.A.R
Legend
June 26, 2013

You can use the Tone Curve to invert images.

Click the icon to enable Point Curve editing. Drag the corner points to their opposites.

    A
    AlaskaAceAuthor
    Participant
    June 26, 2013

    Thanks David.

    Seems so simple once someone points it out.

    Jack

    Rikk Flohr: Inactive
    Rikk Flohr: Inactive
    Participating Frequently
    June 26, 2013

    If you have a lot of these to do you can save that Tone Curve as a Develop Preset. Then it can be applied with a button click. Or to many images at once via the Quick Develop panel.

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