Introduction to SilkyPix Classic Tastes

Being an avid user of SilkyPix for a number of years, I decided to develop a set of Classic Tastes to provide creative effects normally associated with photography of a bygone era.

The Classic Taste collection is available for purchase and subsequent download from my eShop.

Ok, so you’ve just bought the Classic Taste collection and now you want to start using them. Well here’s some pointers to get those retro images rolling off the digital press mill.

Getting Tastes into SilkyPix

First thing to do is unzip the “SilkyPix Taste.zip” file into a directory of your choice and then fire up SilkyPix. I have provided two sets of Tastes, one set for JPG and TIFF file development (denoted by the filename xxxxx JT.STF) and one set for RAW file development.

Next thing to do is to select an image and click the + icon next to the taste drop down list in the Development tab.

A Taste dialogue window pops up and then one selects the import button. A second open dialogue window pops up and one can then navigate to the folder where the zip file was previously uncompressed and choose a Taste. The Taste then appears in the drop down list for subsequent use.

Tip: To save time one can continue to import all Tastes before closing the Taste dialogue window.

Please note that if the image selected is a JPG or TIFF then only choose a Taste file named xxxxx JT.STF.

This process must be repeated for Tastes related to RAW file selection, although these Tastes do not have a modified filename.

All tastes are partial presets, which means they overwrite parameters for all functions except those associated with Sharpness / Noise Reduction, Lens Aberration, Rotation/Digital Shift and Development. Hence, any adjustmenst made to Exposure, Saturation, Tone Curve, Fine Color Controller and White Balance functions.

About Creative Tastes

All Tastes are optimised for use on evenly exposed images and were developed using GretagMacbeth / IT8 colour charts and countless RAW, TIFF and JPG files.

These Classic Tastes make extensive use of parameters asscociated with the Tone Curve, Fine Color Controller, Saturation and White Balance functions. If subsequent adjustments are made to these functions then their effect will change.

Depending upon image application it may be necessary to adjust exposure and contrast levels after applying the taste. Therefore the best approach is to consider these Tastes as a baseline and then creatively add adjustments to suit individual image requirements.

Taste Details

300 style is a preset that emulates the colourisation of the movie 300. This preset is provided without additional corner vignetting, use the Lens Aberration Controller - Shading function to add drama to the effect (see footnote).

Aged Photo is a SilkyPix preset that emulates an old and faded photograph. To fully utilise this preset it may be neccessary to adjust the lens shading (vignetting) function. Aged photos can look more authentic if the corners of the image are darkened or lightened.

Antique is a more traditional sepia tone SilkyPix preset. To fully utilise this preset it may be neccessary to adjust the lens shading (vignetting) function. Antique photos can look more authentic if the corners of the image are darkened.

Antique Light is a softer, warmer and brighter sepia tone SilkyPix preset. To fully utilise this preset it may be neccessary to adjust the lens shading (vignetting) function. Antique photos can look more authentic if the corners of the image are darkened.

Black & White High Contrast is a punchy and dramatic black and white SilkyPix preset which differs to the standard Black White Color Modes, as it is based on a colour profile rather than than the default B&W profile. To fully utilise this preset, adjustment to contrast may be necessary in order to effect shadow detail. Similarly adjusting saturation and the lightness levels of red, greem or blue in the Fine Color Controller has a similar effect of adding B/W lens filters.

Black & White Solarize - A tone curve based B&W solarised preset.

Burnt Sepia is a full-on golden sepia tone SilkyPix preset that has a timeless quality. To fully utilise this preset it may be neccessary to adjust the lens shading (vignetting) function. Sepia photos can look more authentic if the corners of the image are darkened. Due to the nature of this effect, images which are underexposed will look even darker, hence adjusting the exposure level after applying the Taste will help compensate.

Cold Tone is a classic cold tone developer SilkyPix preset. To fully utilise this preset it may be necessary to adjust the overall saturation levels to yeild a more pleasing image. Adding more saturation intensifies warm colours while reducing saturation makes the image look even colder and more monochrome.

Copper - A copper toned preset that emulates tetenal copper dye print.

Cross Processed Agfa is a SilkyPix preset that emulates Agfa slide film being processed in C-41 chemicals. The nature of this preset is solely dependent on how saturated specific colours are within the target image. Users may prefer to desaturate the image (after applying the Taste), if the subject matter already comprises of highly saturated blues, since the cross processed Taste emphasises the coolness of these tones.

Cross Processed Kodak is a SilkyPix preset that emulates Kodak slide film being processed in C-41 chemicals. The nature of this preset is solely dependent on how saturated specific colours are within the target image. Users may prefer to desaturate the image (after applying the Taste), if the subject matter already comprises of highly saturated yellows and greens, since the cross processed Taste emphasises the warmth of such tones.

Cyanotype is a subtle steel blue SilkyPix preset emulating the 19th century cyanotype process. Similar to the Cross Processed Agfa Taste in make-up, users may prefer to increase the Red mid-tone curve (after applying the Taste), if the image already comprises of highly saturated blues, as this Taste emphasises them. This also give the effect of tri-toning. In additon, certain flat images may benefit from increased contrast adjustment, depending upon the effect required.

Golden - A golden granular effect preset.

Lomo Velvia - A preset that emulates a Lomo loaded with Velvia film.

Negative - A preset that emulates a film negative.

Polachrome is a SilkyPix preset that emulates Polachrome instant slide film. The Polachrome Taste results in a more stark, contrastier and denser image with creamy whites. Since the effect significantly reduces dynamic range, target images with high contrast may require a mid tone boost. This can be achieved through using a reverse S-curve in the Tone Curve Function or by pushing the Gamma level in the contrast function. If one chooses to adopt the reverse S-Curve approach then adjust the RGB curve relative to existing settings.

Selenium 1 is a subtle purple SilkyPix preset that emphasises the tonality of a black and white images. Adding contrast helps boosts the perceived tonaility, while pulling down a Blue mid-tone curve reduces the amount of selenium tint.

Selenium 2 is a subtle brownish purple SilkyPix preset that emphasises the tonality of a black and white images. Adding contrast helps boosts the perceived tonaility.

Note: The Lens Aberration Controller - Shading function in SilkyPix is relative to the full size mage and therefore cropped images will require post processing vignetting in a 3rd party image application.