How to Use IR on Color Film

Camera Equipment

• 1

  Use an older manual single lens reflex (SLR) camera. The lenses will have an IR mark on them for focusing. It is usually indicated by a red dot, line or diamond with a red "R" next to the symbol. IR light focuses differently than visible light so you must use these settings or the prints will be blurry.

• 2

  Set the lens to F 8 or F 11 and use the sunning 16 rule --- the shutter speed is 1 over the film speed. For example, film with a 100 ASA speed would require a 1/125 shutter speed --- the closed one to that film speed.

• 3

  Use different filters to obtain different colors on the film. Color IR film is often referred to as false color, it does not reproduce color accurately; instead it records colors as it "sees" them. Using filters will change the final colors you get. For example, a green filter will reproduce green foliage as magenta but a red filter will show foliage also as magenta but the sky will be yellow.

• 4

  Use a tripod. Even when shooting in bright daylight, filters will block even more light so a tripod will ensure you get sharp, clear photos.

• 5

  Load IR film in complete darkness. Since IR film is sensitive to high wavelengths of light, it can be fogged or exposed to very low levels of light. Use a film changing bag or a light-sealed room, such as a dark room. Reverse the process when unloading exposed rolls. Take the roll out in complete darkness, put it back in the original canister and seal lid with duct or electrical tape.