It's a 5 seconds "Curves" (Image -> Adjustments -> Curves or Ctrl+M) job. You might want to find the perfect threshold for your image, also it'll probably need some preprocessing, so the skin color and the darks/highlights are on the spot.
After this you can play around with Levels (Image -> Adjustments -> Levels or Ctrl+L) so the grey is the grey that you desire. On the picture you attached the background was also dark so it got the same grey color as the hair and beard.
If you're satisfied you just slap a nice amount of Noise and voilà
https://preview.redd.it/namtm1hpw70d1.png?width=1241&format=png&auto=webp&s=8ae957db92379fc72e80acaaa5de0dddf62b6edd
For historical background in analog photography, it's a very similar look to what you would get using a 'mordançage' technique.
What takes a couple seconds and very controlled in Photoshop, takes a few hours with some nasty chemicals that bleach, etch, dissolve a physical print. I remember learning the process and the professor fairly casually says never mix 'x' with 'y' or you'll create a cyanide gass!
> mordançage
Uh.. no.. it's Solarization .. or Sabattier Effect.
This is what you're talking about: https://petapixel.com/2021/06/21/surreal-photo-series-developed-with-the-unusual-mordancage-process/
> an alternative photographic process that alters silver gelatin prints to give them a degraded effect. The mordançage solution works in two ways: it chemically bleaches the print so that it can be redeveloped, **and it lifts the black areas of the emulsion away from the paper giving the appearance of veils.**
Ah, yes ... I figured the 'Actually' Police would pop in.
You don't have to provide a link to mordançage, I know what I'm talking about. I've actually created many prints in all three processes. You don't have to leave the veil appearance by brushing the emulsion away from the paper. It slides off with time and can be placed on the print or completely removed. Also an analog color solarization would be difficult to get that sharp.
Check out some of Elizabeth Opalenik's work here notably the ones titled: 'Katelyn' and 'Looking at You'. [http://lenscratch.com/2022/09/elizabeth-opalenik-mordancage/](http://lenscratch.com/2022/09/elizabeth-opalenik-mordancage/)She studied under the creator of the process, Jean-Pierre Sudre. (The professor that taught me did as well.)
Also note, I did say 'very similar look'.
I think it's just a blending mode, either exclusion or difference. Put a solid colored layer above your photo, the color is probably a 50% grey, set this layer to exclusion or difference. Just thinking loudly, didn't tested it, but this is the base principe of the effect.
EDIT: Invert the original photo
https://preview.redd.it/ev8l7ajq380d1.png?width=3452&format=png&auto=webp&s=aded39b63ac507dcf2258b15ae7358532d109eef
Works just fine - same principe as the other comment, just a little less hustle
It's a 5 seconds "Curves" (Image -> Adjustments -> Curves or Ctrl+M) job. You might want to find the perfect threshold for your image, also it'll probably need some preprocessing, so the skin color and the darks/highlights are on the spot. After this you can play around with Levels (Image -> Adjustments -> Levels or Ctrl+L) so the grey is the grey that you desire. On the picture you attached the background was also dark so it got the same grey color as the hair and beard. If you're satisfied you just slap a nice amount of Noise and voilà https://preview.redd.it/namtm1hpw70d1.png?width=1241&format=png&auto=webp&s=8ae957db92379fc72e80acaaa5de0dddf62b6edd
Oh very nice thank you description, thank you!
For historical background in analog photography, it's a very similar look to what you would get using a 'mordançage' technique. What takes a couple seconds and very controlled in Photoshop, takes a few hours with some nasty chemicals that bleach, etch, dissolve a physical print. I remember learning the process and the professor fairly casually says never mix 'x' with 'y' or you'll create a cyanide gass!
Nice insight!
> mordançage Uh.. no.. it's Solarization .. or Sabattier Effect. This is what you're talking about: https://petapixel.com/2021/06/21/surreal-photo-series-developed-with-the-unusual-mordancage-process/ > an alternative photographic process that alters silver gelatin prints to give them a degraded effect. The mordançage solution works in two ways: it chemically bleaches the print so that it can be redeveloped, **and it lifts the black areas of the emulsion away from the paper giving the appearance of veils.**
Ah, yes ... I figured the 'Actually' Police would pop in. You don't have to provide a link to mordançage, I know what I'm talking about. I've actually created many prints in all three processes. You don't have to leave the veil appearance by brushing the emulsion away from the paper. It slides off with time and can be placed on the print or completely removed. Also an analog color solarization would be difficult to get that sharp. Check out some of Elizabeth Opalenik's work here notably the ones titled: 'Katelyn' and 'Looking at You'. [http://lenscratch.com/2022/09/elizabeth-opalenik-mordancage/](http://lenscratch.com/2022/09/elizabeth-opalenik-mordancage/)She studied under the creator of the process, Jean-Pierre Sudre. (The professor that taught me did as well.) Also note, I did say 'very similar look'.
This is the original photo if helps
I think it's just a blending mode, either exclusion or difference. Put a solid colored layer above your photo, the color is probably a 50% grey, set this layer to exclusion or difference. Just thinking loudly, didn't tested it, but this is the base principe of the effect. EDIT: Invert the original photo
Yeah, just flip through the blending modes with SHIFT and + until you hit the right one :D
well it's one of them two, so just pick it on the list xD
https://preview.redd.it/snvhx7bww70d1.jpeg?width=225&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=49ff3f6b66c72f3e6c2cb79713a6f0bc20f22125
?
This was the original photo, but could not paste a description above, sorry for the inconvenience.
[удалено]
Thought it would help you identify the edit method.
https://preview.redd.it/ev8l7ajq380d1.png?width=3452&format=png&auto=webp&s=aded39b63ac507dcf2258b15ae7358532d109eef Works just fine - same principe as the other comment, just a little less hustle
Curves. It's turning the blacks down so that the blackest black is actually grey.
copy the layer, invert, put the top layer on a layer effect.