{"id":12776,"date":"2015-02-10T11:35:23","date_gmt":"2015-02-10T16:35:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/?p=12776"},"modified":"2017-11-09T09:23:24","modified_gmt":"2017-11-09T14:23:24","slug":"tiffen-dfx-v4-ultimate-creative-digital-effects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/tiffen-dfx-v4-ultimate-creative-digital-effects\/","title":{"rendered":"Tiffen Dfx v4 for the ultimate creative digital effects"},"content":{"rendered":"

For more than 75 years, Tiffen has been the professional photographer and videographer\u2019s \u201cgo-to\u201d source for fine photographic filters.\u00a0 Even today, they continue to innovate their glass filter line with the likes of their variable ND filter<\/a> and their new XLE long exposure filters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, unless you are carrying a professional\u2019s large bag of gear, most of those filter effects can be applied after the shoot with software, and Tiffen leads there as well with their Dfx v4 for stills and video<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Note: the only optical (glass) filters that really can\u2019t be truly replicated by software are the polarizer<\/a> and the neutral density filters<\/a>, so you might want to continue to carry those for their specialized purposes.<\/p>\n

Tiffen Dfx4 Photo Plug-in<\/strong><\/h1>\n

If you do your editing in Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom or Apple Aperture, the Tiffen Dfx4 Photo Plug-in<\/a> is for you.\u00a0 With 134 individual filter choices, in more than 2,000 variations, you\u2019ll be able to replicate almost every glass filter in Tiffen\u2019s line.<\/p>\n

Just a few of my favorites in this latest version 4 are:<\/p>\n

Borders <\/strong>\u2013 all sorts of styles from slightly diffused to rough to make your own. The first photo is just a diffused white border, while the second had its color picked up from the sky in the image.<\/p>\n

\"2-10-2015<\/a><\/p>\n

\"2-10-2015<\/a><\/p>\n

Colorize Gradient<\/strong> \u2013 colorizes according to the brightness values of the original image<\/p>\n

\"2-10-2015<\/a><\/p>\n

Radial Tint<\/strong> \u2013 here I just used one hue with a clear spot but you can do multi-color gradients as well<\/p>\n

\"Sheldon's<\/a>

Original<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Copy<\/a>

With Radial Tint filter<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cartoon<\/strong> \u2013 converts any photo into a simulated cartoon character or object<\/p>\n

\"2-10-2015<\/a><\/p>\n

EZ Mask<\/strong> \u2013 while it\u2019s not new, it works even better in this version 4. \u00a0Roughly trace what you want to keep in green (doesn’t need to be precise) and what you want to mask in red and the software takes it from there.<\/p>\n

\"jpeg<\/a><\/p>\n

Notice the hair details it kept.\u00a0 Works on color backgrounds as well. Then drop in a colored background or tint.<\/p>\n

\"2-10-2015<\/a><\/p>\n

And add a gobo design from thousands\u00a0of included .PNG designs. \u00a0This\u00a0whole image took less than one minute.<\/p>\n

\"2-10-2015<\/a><\/p>\n

Note:\u00a0If you want to cut out the masked object or person and use in another program, look at Tiffen\u2019s special package \u2013 EZ Mask by DFT<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tiffen Dfx4 Video\/Film Plug-in<\/strong><\/h1>\n

If you edit in Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Avid or Apple Final Cut Pro, then Tiffen Dfx Video\/Film Plug-in<\/a> is for you.<\/p>\n

Similar to the still version, you\u2019ll be getting 131 individual filters and presets for 288 B&W and color film stocks.<\/p>\n

Gels were formerly used to color-correct film and with this plug-in, you\u2019ll be able to duplicate the entire Rosco and GamColor gel libraries. Most often used to correct lighting temperatures, gels are still great for setting moods or creating special effects.<\/p>\n

Effects like the ones I showed above are all available in video as well. In addition, you can keyframe all the effects including special ones like \u201cRays\u201d which you\u2019ll see in the video clip below.<\/p>\n

I had done an opening for a video about my snowplowing exploits<\/a> and the opening shot was too boring, so with a couple minutes and the Tiffen Dfx v4, I was able to transform it into something much more exciting.\u00a0 I used a combination of Radial Tint, Cartoon and Rays effects. Check it out.<\/p>\n