The Trichromial Era

I have known about this process for a long time. It came about in my studies of photography techniques of the 1800s. Reading about how the first color images were developed, no using color film. But rather 3 layers of black and white film. This is oneof those things to me that seems so ingenious, and yes so simple. I'm sure if Photoshop was around back then it would have come about much quicker once someone accidentally clicked onthe "channels tab" and realized that all color images are made of 3 different black and white channels that provide the color information. One red, one green and one blue. Sound like the RGB color space we are all so familiar with?

Paddys - Nate Matos 2011

The process is actually rather simple. Out in the field with a tripod mounted camera loaded with black and white film you shoot three frames of the same thing. However, each image will have a different color filter in front of it. And here we go back to the RGB. Once these images are processed you can then scan them and let the fun begin!

However, they didn't have photoshop, rather a projector. Once the photos had been taken, each image was projected onto a screen through the color filter it was shot through (red for red etc.) These three projections were then lined up forming a color image! But, we do have photoshop, so hold off on buying those three projectors for a minute because things are a bit easier today.

Park - Nate Matos 2011

I won't go into the whole process, frankly because it is quite lengthy, and also I have already talked about it including showing a step by step process of how it is done in this Youtube video I made!

If you watched that and now are clearly an expert in how it is done! Then what are you waiting for? Go out and shoot. But if you'd rather look at a few more examples why not scroll down?

Waterfront - Nate Matos 2011

Waterfront Tree - Nate Matos 2011

All images shot with a Canon AE-1, Canon 28mm 2.8 with Kodak Plus-X film developed in HC110.