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photoBRA
Participating Frequently
March 2, 2023
Answered

Convert negatives to positives

  • March 2, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 7550 views

I have PSE 19 and I can't see how to convert 35 mm negatives to positives.

Please can you help? Thanks.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Greg_S.

Try using Ctrl+I to invert the image.  Here is your photo with a quick Levels adjustment too.

 

2 replies

Greg_S.
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 4, 2023

Inverting the negative can create a somewhat flat image with low contrast.  As you can see from the histograms of the two versions of your Christmas photo, your image is more compressed:

One technique that will improve such a low contrast image is to use the Levels tool (Ctrl+L) or create a Levels Adjustment layer.   You can move the sliders on each end of the histogram to adjust the black and white points to the place on the histogram where there is actually some information.  And you can also play with the middle slider to improve the image to your taste.

 

Here you can see some improvement:

 

 

I have overdone it a little but I think you will see what can be done to improve the contrast.

photoBRA
photoBRAAuthor
Participating Frequently
March 4, 2023

Many thanks Greg, I'll give it a try.

Mike

Greg_S.
Community Expert
Greg_S.Community ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
March 2, 2023

Try using Ctrl+I to invert the image.  Here is your photo with a quick Levels adjustment too.

 

photoBRA
photoBRAAuthor
Participating Frequently
March 2, 2023

Thanks Greg, I've tried Ctrl+I followed by Enhance/Auto Smart Fix and then Enhance/Auto Colour Correction and I'm getting great results!

Mike

photoBRA
photoBRAAuthor
Participating Frequently
March 3, 2023

Hello again Greg

My wife has found a professional print of one of the negatives, which she has scanned into the computer on the flatbed scanner, and there is a marked difference between that and my attempt with converting the negative to positive by the method described in my previous post.

So I've got a lot to learn if I'm going to match the professional prints!

Mike