Lighting For Cross Processing

[John Joseph]

Hey All!

 

1. I'm currently shooting a short film for school on 16mm, and we have been considering using cross processing as a stylistic effect. Does anyone know if there is a special way to light a scene if it will be cross processed? Or can we light a scene same as usual?

 

2. Same question as above, but this time with bleach bypass?

 

Thanks

[Michael Nash]

Both cross-processing and bleach bypass will increase your contrast. But you'll have to shoot tests to determine for yourself the visible range left in the image after processing. You may choose to add more fill light to counteract the darkened shadows, or you may choose to embrace the "look." How you light it is up to you.

 

http://www.cameraguild.com/technology/testing_limits.htm

 

Also, there's a difference between bleach-bypass on the print and bleach bypass on the negative. When you bleach-bypass the negative the leftover silver adds overall density, so you usually want to underexpose (roughly one stop) for proper density in the midtones after processing. Bleach-bypass on a print leaves silver in the shadows mostly, and since it's only on the print you can expose the negative however you like.

 

http://www.cinematography.net/Pages%20GB/BLEACH.HTM

 

Test, test, test!

[Brandon Del Nero]

and test some more!

 

In a lot of cases at the student level, you'll find that you can expose normal and color correct to the prefered look.

 

In fact, just the other day I took some Eterna 160 to telecine and transfer wanting a full bleach bypass, but was able to push it a stop in developing and desaturate the colors, which worked perfect. It's cheaper and you don't have to make a print.

 

And as a student, fuji will give you free film and certain telecine houses will comp your test sit in's if you're going to bring the project to them

 

so test!