Cross processing technique in Photoshop (number 1 in a series)

This is the first in a series of photographic tips and techniques for you try, including picture taking techniques, Photoshop and Sagelight.

Do you remember taking a slide film and processing it in C-41 or a negative film and processing it in E-6? And all those strange colours and contrasts you used to get?  Well this is the first of our techniques that emulates this cross processing effect in Photoshop.

STEP 1
Open the image of your choice in Photoshop then click the "Layer/ new adjustment layer" in the top menu and select ‘Curves’. From the Channel drop-down box, select the Red channel and drag the curves so it looks like the image below.

STEP 2
Select the Blue channel and drag the curves so it looks like this image. It doesn't need to be much — just enough to take some blue out of the highlights.

STEP 3
In the Green channel, add another gentle  ‘S’ curve — increasing the contrast, especially in the highlights.

STEP 4
Fine-tune each individual channel curve to suit your image, but leave the combined RGB curve untouched. Focus on the colour balance rather than the contrast.

STEP 5
One final step is to add a yellow colour cast to the picture. Click the "Layer/Create new fill" and choose Solid Colour. Select a yellow-green and click OK, then reduce the new layer's opacity to just 10%

And that’s it!  A simple way of producing a crossed processed effect.  Great for portraiture and fashion shoots.

Before

 After