Why does my infrared-converted Nikon D3100 produce red images, and how should I process them?
Asked 2/1/2020
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My father bought a Nikon D3100 that was converted for infrared photography. The photos come out very red/pink, almost like they were shot under a red light, rather than looking like the dramatic infrared images I expected. Is this normal for an IR-converted camera? If so, what white balance or editing steps should I use to get better-looking infrared results? If not, how can I tell whether the conversion is working properly?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
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If the camera was modified to pass mostly IR light, then this is normal. You need to convert the images to monochrome.
Take a picture of foliage outside. Then desaturate completely. If the foliage is very white giving the image a surreal look, then the filter is working properly.
There are also IR camera modifications that leave more visible light, if you still have the specifications for the modification, please post them.
Originally by user84623. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user84623
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—this is normal for many infrared conversions. With a standard color white balance, IR files often appear red or pink because the sensor is recording mostly infrared light, which maps heavily into the red channel.
A simple way to check the conversion is to photograph foliage outdoors. If, after processing, leaves and grass can be made to look very bright or white with that classic surreal IR look, the conversion is likely working.
To improve the results:
- Set a custom white balance outdoors using a neutral target such as a white sheet of paper.
- This can make the preview and JPEGs look much more usable right away.
- For editing, many IR shooters convert the image to black and white by fully desaturating it.
Keep in mind that some IR conversions are not purely infrared and may allow some visible light through, which affects color and the final look. If you know the exact conversion/filter used, that will determine how much color flexibility you have.
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