question for all of u grain lovers...

[deejjjaaaa]

which plug-in (if you have experience) comes close to (or beat ) the real thing :

1) DXO filmpack

2) Nik Silver EFex Pro

3) Alienskin Exposure2

4) B/W Styler (www.thepluginsite.com)

5) something else (like Andy/AndyPro PlugIn for BibblePro)

[Nesster]

I use virtual photographer because it's free, though I'm sure many of those on your list do much better... free works for me.

I am curious as to what people with experience with these have to say though. Thanks for asking!

[séamuis]

I use Exposure2 myself and its amazing and very accurate, with allot of choices in film as well as individual adjustments to the presets: including grains size and strength among many others.I can highly recommend Exposure2, and am very satisfied with it. It very accurately represents both the Ilford HP5 plus 400 and Delta 100 that I commonly use in 35mm, and apply it to all of my digital photos. I cant give a comment on the others but Exposure2 is wonderful.

here is a glimpse of Exposure2's layout and settings.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/2725151290_f3b5618b42_o.jpg<-for full res

Click on the image to view it in a larger size

[deejjjaaaa]

Originally Posted by séamuis

here is a glimpse of Exposure2's layout and settings.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/-signal...51290/sizes/o/ <-for full res

oops - "THIS PAGE IS PRIVATE"

[séamuis]

I fixed the link, should work now.

[deejjjaaaa]

got my hands on that Exposure 2

sleepy one :

[séamuis]

how do you like it so far?

[Nick_b]

Nice looking grain. Do these programs do anything to the dynamic range of a photo? I assume it just mimics the contrast and grain structure right?

[deejjjaaaa]

Originally Posted by séamuis

how do you like it so far?

I did not use it enough so far to say something - and certainly I am not expert
to compare it grainwise w/ Nik Silver Efex Pro that I was using earlier... looks similar, Exposure2 has more "films" vs Efex - but do we really need that much of them ?

[jgredline]

To my untrained eyes, it looks more like noise than grain. It looks pixalated to me. Is there a way to tone it down a tad?

I have read many things on this and from what I have read and seen, this is one of two areas digital can't touch film.

[deejjjaaaa]

Originally Posted by jgredline

To my untrained eyes, it looks more like noise than grain. It looks pixalated to me. Is there a way to tone it down a tad?

I have read many things on this and from what I have read and seen, this is one of two areas digital can't touch film.

may be - here is the original and original -> kodak tri-x 400 (one click in Exposure 2)

[jgredline]

Originally Posted by deejjjaaaa

may be - here is the original and original -> kodak tri-x 400 (one click in Exposure 2)

I guess I don't follow. I was under the impression that Tri-x was only black and white?
I use it often and have never thought to check if I was getting color film.

[deejjjaaaa]

Originally Posted by jgredline

I guess I don't follow. I was under the impression that Tri-x was only black and white?
I use it often and have never thought to check if I was getting color film.

this is the original shot w/ K20D + Sigma 24-135/2.8-4.5 @ 55mm, f4.5, 1/160, iso800 and the same converted to b/w using "Kodak Tri-X 400" emulation in Exposure2 plug-in for Adobe Photoshop.

[jgredline]

Originally Posted by deejjjaaaa

this is the original shot w/ K20D + Sigma 24-135/2.8-4.5 @ 55mm, f4.5, 1/160, iso800 and the same converted to b/w using "Kodak Tri-X 400" emulation in Exposure2 plug-in for Adobe Photoshop.

Oh, I see...It does not look like film to me much less Tri-x.
It really looks like noise to me...

[jgredline]

Here is a pci shot with tri-x400