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Welcome to XeL: Color!

XeL: Color features 200+ presets with 50+ film emulations, and represents the largest compilation of color film emulations available for Lightroom 4 – including numerous auxiliary presets that allow you to further develop your images in the style of traditional film techniques.

We take great pride in our emulations, they’re the best out there, and we want you to love these as much as we do! XeL attempts to provide the most accurate emulations possible, utilizing only the tools made available in Lightroom.

No need for round trip editing in a plug-in or Photoshop. XeL utilizes Lightroom’s native preset capability to rapidly process your images in the style of classic film stocks. All edits are lossless and XeL never requires you to render your image into TIFF -  this is a completely RAW friendly workflow.

XeL: Color represents to largest compilation of color film emulations available for Lightroom 4

Each of our emulations are handmade by Michael Gray. Utilizing his film analysis and emulation methods, he converts countless test rolls of film to the most accurate emulations possible within Lightroom.

Keep in mind, each batch of film is unique, and there is no true appearance for any film stock. Results can vary between batches and even between rolls. Exposure technique, processing and age also have an impact on final results from any roll of film, from color shifts to grain size and intensity. What we are trying to say is that XeL emulations are based upon his choice of film, exposure and processing thereof. Each emulation is emulating his end results from a given film stock.

Some emulations in XeL:Color also recreate the look of numerous film stocks that are no longer available. In these situations, Michael gathered physical samples of these stocks, and performed a intensive blind emulation to match the feel of those long lost films.

Ok, onto the reason you’re here.

Here you go …

We have installation details, a breakdown of the whole Preset Collection, and Sample Images below.

Product Overview Video

Michael Gray walks you through the XeL:Color Product along with some sample workflows to get you started!

For the full HD experience, be sure to play the video at full screen!

Everything you need is right here.

Previously, we released our toolkit with a PDF manual. However we are eschewing the PDF in preference for a live web page. We have done this for two reasons.

First, the manual is not a product own its own, and is put together more as a guide to the toolkit than a full blown reference. An HTML document allows us to correct any errors we may inadvertently create quickly.

Secondly, we may find it necessary to add to or alter XeL: Color as Lightroom evolves. While not as detailed as our prior PDF manuals, an HTML document allows use to rapidly make changes to the guide and ensure users have both the most current documentation available and be made aware if we are required to alter or add to the XeL: Color download in the future.

XeL utilizes Lightroom’s native preset capability to rapidly process your images in the style of classic film stocks.

Anyways, enough babbling, let’s get into use of XeL: Color.

Installation

Installation of X-Equals Presets is a snap! … we even have a video that shows you how!

After you have received your downloadable Zip file containing XeL: Color, you must manually install the package into Lightroom before you can use the presets. Start by extracting the Zip file to your computer. We highly recommend keeping the XeL presets in their folders. This will sort them properly by family and effect, and we will be adding to these folders as time goes on with booster packs and free presets.

Now open Lightroom to start the installation process. Lightroom can point you to the folder you need to install your presets to for you. We will use the Preferences dialog to locate our presets folder.

Lightroom’s Preferences dialog can be found in the Edit menu (Windows) or Lightroom menus (Mac) of the menu bar. Simply look towards the bottom of the drop down and choose Preferences… Alternately, you can also use the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl/Cmd + ,) to launch the Preferences dialog.

Once the dialog opens, click on the Presets tab. Look toward the middle portion of the dialog in the Location section. First, notice if the Store presets with catalog option is enabled. If it is, you will need to install the presets into each catalog you wish to use. If not, presets will be installed into the Lightroom settings folders and will be available in any catalog.

Now, click the Show Lightroom Presets Folder… button. This will open up a Mac Finder or Windows Explorer window, navigate to the destination folder for Lightroom settings.

Open the Lightroom folder.

Once this window has opened, you will need to navigate to the Develop Presets folder.

Open your extracted folder to prepare to copy. Copy all of the sub-folders from the XeL: Color folder to the Develop Presets folder, keeping all presets in their proper folders. Do not simply copy over the root folder.

Now close all your OS Explorer/Finder windows and exit Lightroom. Upon opening Lightroom anew, XeL: Color will now be made available.

XeL: Color Contents

XeL: Color is made of a series of preset families, contained within their own folders. Each family of presets has a specific focus, which we will briefly cover. These families will appear in your Presets panel as such.

Each family is contained in a preset folder with a title that starts with XeL-CL. Each family focuses on one particular type of preset.

XeL-Cl Archaic Processes – Contains presets that enable a processing style reminiscent of old fashioned photographic methods or products.

XeL-CL Cold Storage Instant Films – Contains sets of presets that emulate specific instant film emulsions.

XeL-CL Cold Storage Print Films – Contains sets of presets that emulate traditional negative (print) film stock.

XeL-CL Cold Storage Slide Films – Contains sets of presets that emulate traditional reversal (slide) film stock.

XeL-CL Cross Processing – Contains presets that utilize the new RGB curves to give a cross processed effect.

XeL-CL Curve Kick – Contains a selection of tone curves to help you think outside the box.

XeL-CL Special Effects – Contains presets that facilitate you in recreating traditional darkroom tricks, amongst other effects.

Some of these families feature individual presets that perform a specific task. Others utilize a series of presets designed to be used in unison to garner a certain emulation or effect. Either way, each preset wil only adjust a small amount of sliders within Lightroom. This allows for modular presets that can be mixed and matched as desired, or entire steps left out of the process if needed.

As you can see in the image above, single click presets simply have an ID and name (XCP05 – E6 in C41 E). Whereas presets designed to be used in unison feature an ID ending with a letter (XFS252A – Agfa RSX II 200 Mix). Presets with letters ending the ID are designed to be used together, or mixed with other like presets in the same family with the same letter designation.

The ID is drawn from a code denoting the preset family (XCP, XFFS) and a number designation (05, 252A). This can be used to quickly take note of preset combinations if so desired. In actuality, it assists the designers in maintaining a semblance of organization.

Now let us take a closer look at each family of presets and see a few samples from each.

XeL-CL Archaic Processes (ACA###X)

This family of presets attempt to capture the unique look of photography past. XeL: Color includes the following Archaic Processes.

• Handpainted

• Autochrome

• Olde Postcard

Both Autochrome and Olde Postcard are designed to use the Mix preset from a Cold Storage Film Emulation. Handpainted has a custom Mix preset, but can also use film emulation mixes.

XeL-CL Cold Storage Instant Films (XFI###X)

This family features a selection of some of the best known instant films and a few different versions of the same stock.

• Fuji FP-100C

• Polaroid 600
• Polaroid 669 Warm

• Polaroid 669 Cool
• Polaroid 600 V.2

• Polaroid 669 Expired

XeL-CL Cold Storage Print Films

This family of presets feature preset groups emulating many color print films from the past to modern day.

• Kodak High Definition 400
• Kodak Gold 100

• Kodak Gold 200
• Kodak Gold 200 Crossprocessed
• Kodak High Definition 400 shot at 1600
• Kodak Ultra Color 400
• Kodak Portra 160 NC

• Kodak Portra 400 NC
• Kodak Portra 160 VC
• Kodak Portra 400 VC

• Kodak Portra 160 VC Bleach Bypass
• Kodak Ektar 100

• Fuji 160C
• Fuji 160S
• Fuji 400H

• Fuji 800z
• Fuji Press 800 Expired
• Fuji 160C Crossprocessed
• Konica Super XG 100

• Konica Super XG 200
• Polaroid High Definition 200

XeL-CL Cold Storage Slide Films (XFS###X)

This family features some of the most important chromes (slides) from days past.

• Kodak Kodachrome 10
• Kodak Kodachrome 10 V.2
• Kodak Kodachrome 10 V.3
• Kodak Kodachrome 25

• Kodak Kodachrome 64
• Kodak Kodachrome 200
• Kodak Kodachrome ASA 10 (4×5)
• Kodak Ektachrome 100VS

• Kodak Elite Chrome 100
• Kodak Elite Chrome 200
• Kodak Ektachrome 100 VS Crossprocessed
• Kodachrome Bleach Bypass (Theoretical, not really possible)
• Fuji Velvia 50
• Fuji Velvia 50 V.2

• Velvia Classic
• Fuji Velvia 100
• Fuji Velvia 100F
• Fuji Velvia 100 shot at 80
• Fuji Velvia Crossprocessed
• Fuji Sensia

• Fuji Provia 100F Crossprocessed
• Agfa RSX II 50
• Agfa RSX II 100

• Agfa RSX II 200
• Kodachrome Memorial Special Preset

XeL-CL Cross Processing (XCP##)

Although some of the emulations feature a crossprocessing effect, primarily through split toning, not all emulations feature that option. However, using these presets, you can give any image a crossprocessed effect, utilizing Lightroom 4′s new RGB curves.

• 6 presets based on Slide Film (E6) processed in Print Chemistry (C41)

• 6 presets based on Print Film (c41) processed in Slide Chemistry (E6)

XeL-CL Curve Kick (XCC##)

This family of presets is a collection of replacement Tone Curves designed to provide a variety of results, from random, to controlling contrast. Nothing to show sample wise, as each curve is unique, and only look correct on the right image.

Xel-CL Special Effects (XCX##X)

This family of presets uses Lightroom in uncommon ways to generate unique effects.

• Bleach Bypass

• Redscale

• Center Focus
• Holga Lens
• Light Leaks
• Mute Primary Colors

• Negative
• Tonal Cutoff

• Solarize

This is XeL

XeL: Color and XeL: Black and White together represent the most flexible and expansive collection of film emulation and supplementary tools available anywhere, for any platform. This is just the beginning of XeL, and we fulling plan on expanding both XeL Collections in the future through additional smaller releases. This is the master set that all future releases will integrate into.

XeL is the preset platform that will evolve with you and you needs, and adjust with Lightroom as changes come our way. Let us know what you would like to see in future releases. We are doing all this for you and your art.

So let’s get you setup!

Grab the whole XeL:Color toolkit right here for only $29.99

Thank You!

All of us at X-Equals welcome your feedback and comments as we continue to focus on delivering no-nonsense advice and innovative products to keep you inspired!

My personal thanks goes out to you for taking the journey with us.

|Brandon Oelling – Editor in Chief
X-Equals – image, workflow, technology, business

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