How to Create Velvia Color With Digital

Velvia is a term that refers to a type of film by Fujifilm that balances daytime or brightly lit color, giving an image a better overall color harmony and balance. Unfortunately, digital cameras cannot always automatically adjust images for really great color and contrast. Creating Velvia color with digital images is something that eludes many would-be photographers. But it doesn't have to. Digital photographers can get the same great velvia style color that 35-mm film guys get.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Have a digital image ready to work with. It doesn't matter what it is. If you need stock images to work with you can visit the link in "Additional Resources," below, labeled Stock.xchng.

2. Download the Velvia-Provia plug-in for Photoshop (see the Velvia Provia link in "Additional Resources," below). Select to save the file and download it to your default download location. You can find this by clicking "My Documents" then choosing "Downloads," but this may vary depending on your operating system configuration.

3. 
    
   Extract All Files Reference

   Open your default download location and locate the file titled "velvia_provia2.zip." Double-click on the file to open the contents. Select "Extract all files" from the top of the left -hand menu. See the image for reference. This will extract the file from the compressed folder and place it in the same location as your download.

4. Select the velvia_provia2.atn file that extracts. Press "Control" + "x" to "cut" the file rather than copy it and open your Photoshop program folder. It will be located at C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4. If you are using the Technical Communications Suite 2 version of Photoshop CS4, it will be in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Technical Communication Suite 2\Adobe Photoshop CS4.

5. Double-click the "Presets" folder and then double-click the "Actions" folder. This will open your Photoshop Actions folder. Press "Control" + "v" to "paste" the file in your folder.

6. 
    
   Original Image for Velvia Color

   Close all windows and programs that are open. Open the image you are going to work with in Photoshop to create velvia color. See an original in the image.

7. Make sure you have your Actions palette open. If you do not, click on "Window" in the top navigation bar and select "Actions" from the drop-down menu.

8. 
    

   Click on the small "options" button in the top right of your Actions palette. You can see the button circled in red in the image here. Select "velvia-provia 2" from the list of actions available. This will load the action set into your palette so you can run it.

9. 
    
   Starting the Action

   Open the folder containing the velvia-provia action in your palette by clicking on on the small arrow just to the left of it. Click on the second section titled "velvia" (highlighted in the image) and select the "Play" button (circled in red in the image). This will start the action.

10. 
     
    Velvia Adjustments

    Select "Continue" when the message pops up about adjusting the opacity of the action. This will open a window where you can make some adjustments as to how opaquely the velvia action will render. You can see it here.

11. Adjust the opacity by moving the "Opacity" slider left for less opaque and right for more opaque. Click "OK" on the right-hand side when finished.

12. 
     
    Velvia Final Image

    Save your image by pressing "Control" + "S" on your keyboard. You can see an example of the final image.

Tips & Warnings

• Also try using the Provia portion of the action, which can be found at the end of the Velvia action.
• Do not distribute, post or otherwise use copyrighted digital images without permission

References

• Adobe Digital Image Support and Knowledgebase

Resources

• Velvia Provia Download
• Stock.xchng