With our current family of XeL Products, we have provided vast array of processing options to stimulate your creativity with a touch of traditional film, and today we are proud to announce another chance to squeeze more value out of the X-Equals XeL platform.

Photo by Dominic Thurgood @Scatterfold – using Polaroid 667

Whether you purchase as a standalone, or combine with XeL:Color or XeL:Black and White, The XeL: Film Booster Volume 2 provides you with 12 new film film emulations, adding to our already wide array of film styles for use in Adobe Lightroom 4.

Every preset now offers two Tone presets, a High Contrast and Low Contrast option for each emulation.

1 . Kodak Kodachrome II 25 – This emulation was derived from a collection of slides shot on Kodachrome II from May 1960. There was no color checker, but the photos were taken at a baseball game between the St Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs. I was able to identify the proper Red and Blue balances from cross referencing the images to samples of the uniforms from that time. Green came from estimating the grass. All other colors were balanced based on best guesses to particular shades in the images. We are also providing presets to recreate the aged effect of the old Kodachrome slides.

2. Kodak Ektachrome 400X – High speed staurated slide stock.

3. Kodak Elite Extra Color 100 – Kodak slide film. Technically advertised as a pro film at the time. A saturated film with relatively fine grain and fended off reciprocity failure up to 10 second exposures. Later deemed a mere consumer film, with extended expiration dates with no changes to chemical composition.

4. Lomography X-Pro Slide 200 – Lomography slide film. Actually based off the old Agfa RSXII 200 film, shot and emulated as a normal slide film. Also including the cross-processed effect of the film.

5. Polaroid Polachrome – Polaroid’s experiment into instant 35 mm slide film. A failed experiment. Muted colors and heavy grain.

6. Fuji Superia HG 1600 – Cheap, high speed consumer film. Many years old, found in my freezer, shot and emulated. Heavy grain.

7. Lomography Redscale 100 – A bone stock standard C-41 Negative film that is commercially loaded backwards in the film cartridge. Emulated the film as a standard color negative film, also providing presets for the Redscale effect.

8. Rollei IR Filtered – We have offered up this Infrared film before in the XeL: Black and White Toolkit, but now we have emulated it as it was shot through a standard IR filter, to get an authentic IR rendition.

9. Rollei 80s – A “newer” traditional cubic grained black and white film. Derived from classic Agfa aviation film, brough to market as a standard B&W stock.

10. Polaroid 667 – Classic pull apart black and white film.

11. Kodak Vision 3 5207 – Kodak Vision 3 250D/5207 is a medium speed daylight balanced cine film. Give your images that modern cinema look.

12. Kodak Vision 3 5213 – Kodak Vision 3 200T/5213 is a medium speed indoor film designed for tungsten lighting. Complete your cinema style with the interior cinema stock.

We hope that you find these emulations must haves for your Lightroom workflow. And what is better than fresh, quality presets?

A refreshing low price. XeL: Film Booster Volume 1 is over 50 presets that combine to make 12 film emulations for $4.99 USD. That is less than 50 cents per emulation, a super low price for the best film emulations you will find for Lightroom.

See XeL in action … with our Product Overview Video

Michael Gray walks you through how to use the XeL Tone, Mix, and Grain settings like a pro.

While what you see in this video for XeL:Color it represents the same approach you use across any of the XeL Products!

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_fF4LPHyk8

Grab it Now!

Each of these emulations consist of 4 or more presets that help you nail the look of film. These presets represent the best emulation techniques that we have developed – all done completely within Lightroom. But we have not just sat on our laurels and done the same old thing, we have improved our XeL design. XeL: Film Booster Volume 1 introduces the world to our new XeL 2.0 preset platform.

Every preset now offers 2 Tone presets, a High Contrast and Low Contrast option for each emulation. Previously, we only offered 1 option as far as our Tone presets were concerned, usually a fairly high contrast interpretation. Now we provide two different starting points to help you find what feels best for your image faster.

We have also broadened our horizons and started utilizing more of Lightroom’s power to bring additional effects to our emulations. Be it an aged effect, color shift or redscale effect, we have provided additional presets for our emulations to capture these unique options. We provide more options for your image in a completely non-destructive workflow.

Sample Images

Photo by Donald Brown – using Rollei IR Filtered Tone HC

Photo by Zoe Oelling – using Polaroid Polachrome

Photo by Dominic Thurgood @Scatterfold – using Kodak Vision 3 5213

Photo by Annika Rixen – using Rollei IR

Some geeky details

In this booster we introduce a new folder structure for XeL as well. When installing the presets we highly recommend installing the presets in the folders as they are presented, do not try to integrate these presets with your existing XeL presets. We will be updating the existing XeL releases to the new 2.0 platform in the coming weeks, stay tuned for details.

We will be taking care of our loyal XeL customers, upgrading them to the new XeL free of charge.

If you don’t already have XeL: Black and White or XeL: Color, now would be a great time to do so. You are guaranteed our newest preset platform upgrade and lock in today’s price. It may go up after XeL 2.0 rolls out the gates.

Thank you for taking the journey with us.

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!

X-Equals – Click. Download. Smile.

This fine shopping experience is brought to you by E-Junkie. They rock, and are the only group we trust to deliver you quality X-Equals goods!

Ohhhhhhhhhhh SNAP!

Yep, we did it. Time to go ALL IN on the XeL Platform … which is the best way to get the only COMPLETE digital darkroom and non-destructive toolkit for Lightroom.

If you bought the entire XeL Suite separately you’d drop $60 … don’t do that.

So … what’s included in the bundle?

Easy …

1. XeL:Color
2. XeL:Film Booster
3. XeL:Black and White

See XeL in action … with our Product Overview Video

Michael Gray walks you through how to use the XeL Tone, Mix, and Grain settings like a pro.

While what you see in this video for XeL:Color it represents the same approach you use across any of the XeL Products!

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_fF4LPHyk8

Want more details on each product?

Here you go … starting with XeL:Color which  features 200+ presets with 50+ film emulations, and represents the largest compilation of color film emulations available for Lightroom 4.

XeL:Color

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

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

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_fF4LPHyk8

Learn more …

The XeL:Film Booster

Whether you purchase as a standalone, or combine with XeL:Color or XeL:Black and White, The XeL: Film Booster Volume 1 provides you with 12 new film film emulations, adding to our already wide array of film styles for use in Adobe Lightroom 4.

Every preset now offers two Tone presets, a High Contrast and Low Contrast option for each emulation.

Each of these emulations consist of 4 or more presets that help you nail the look of film. These presets represent the best emulation techniques that we have developed – delivered completely within Lightroom.

Learn more …

XeL:Black and White

XeL:Black and White is the culmination of a year’s worth or research, analysis, development and testing – representing a major milestone release in support of the innovative X-Equals XeL platform.

XeL:Black and White breaks free from the traditional approach to Lightroom presets – utilizing a modular approach that allows users to quickly and efficiently create stunning black and white images in a completely non-destructive RAW-based workflow.

XeL was envisioned to shift the preset paradigm from disparate one click effects, to a set of well defined – targeted presets that can be combined strategically to make specific adjustments.

The soul of the XeL platform, and XeL:Black and White, comes from our passion for traditional film and dark room techniques to bring you a collection of presets that you to quickly create stunning black and white images directly from within Lightroom.

Learn more …

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 – Click. Download. Smile.

This fine shopping experience is brought to you by E-Junkie. They rock, and are the only group we trust to deliver you quality X-Equals goods!

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!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_fF4LPHyk8

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

This fine shopping experience is brought to you by E-Junkie. They rock, and are the only group we trust to deliver you quality X-Equals goods!

All XeL Presets are 100% Lightroom 4 Compatible!

We’re so amped to bring you another innovative addition to the XeL Family!

Sample image from XeL: Black and White Cold Storage Films

XeL:Black and White is the culmination of a year’s worth or research, analysis, development and testing – representing a major milestone release in support of the innovative X-Equals XeL platform.

XeL:Black and White breaks free from the traditional approach to Lightroom presets – utilizing a modular approach that allows users to quickly and efficiently create stunning black and white images in a completely non-destructive RAW-based workflow.

“We noticed a overwhelming interest in black and white processing from the photographic community, and considering the popularity of some Photoshop plug-ins that created black and white images and emulated black and white film, we felt that there should be another option.”

… says Brandon Oelling, XeL Product Manager at X-Equals. “We started to push Lightroom’s capabilities – working to simulate the traditional black and white darkroom experience and approach using only Lightroom.”

“XeL was envisioned to shift the preset paradigm from disparate one click effects, to a set of well defined – targeted presets that can be combined strategically to make specific adjustments.”

… says Michael Gray, XeL Technical Director. “These tools, used in unison, allow you to quickly prototype your black and white image, focusing on the effect you desire rather than continually moving sliders around.”

Sample image from XeL: Black and White Solarize

The soul of the XeL platform, and XeL:Black and White, comes from Michael’s passion for traditional film and dark room techniques. By melding this passion with the capabilities of Lightroom, he created this collection of presets that allows users to quickly create stunning black and white images directly from within Lightroom.

What’s included in the download?

XeL: Black and White is a massive collection of over 300 presets, consisting of:

• Antiquated process emulations
• Over 50 classic film emulations
• A selection of digital color filters, emulating the use of filters in film photography.
• A full range of presets simulating variable contrast paper effects
• A selection of toning presets, to add that special touch.
• Solarization, custom tone curves, basic B&W color mixes, and ND filters
• Special graphic arts effects, including 2-Tone and Reduced Tone images.

Unlike other black and white toolkits, XeL:Black and White is not a stand alone application or a plug-in, but rather a collection of finely tuned presets that support a completely nondestructive workflow, while retaining all the benefits and flexibility of working in RAW.

Sample image from XeL: Black and White Curve Kick

Grab the User Guide and take a peek.

Here’s a full copy of the XeL:Black and White User Guide, which includes installation details,  some sample workflows, samples of the Presets included in the download, and tips on their usage!

Want to dig deep?

Here you go, all the details about each Preset family, their unique identifiers, and sample images!

XeL is the next logical extension of the X-Equals Preset Platform. We wanted to change the way people think about presets. It seems too many presets available are simple one-click fixes, adjusting a lot of the image and generally not playing well with other presets. Sometimes you want a specific effect, not a complete image style. Other times you want to combine aspects of multiple presets to create your vision. XeL makes this easy.

We at X-Equals feel presets should be modular tools that take the monotony out of making specific adjustments. So we have developed XeL to provide specific image adjustments and effects that you can combine to create the exact effect you desire.

XeL is modular, each group of presets in XeL focus on adjusting a specific set of adjustments in an effort to recreate specific photographic effects. Every XeL preset is designed to be used in unison with other XeL presets, used much like building blocks to create the desired effect.

This takes preset use from a simple stylistic choice to a collection of actual tools. By making modular presets, each application alters a specific part of the image, without altering any existing adjustments. Often you will find presets will adjust just about every slider in Lightroom. We strive for each preset to only change a few items.

So let us break down what XeL: Black and White has to offer, what each preset family adjusts and how to use these tools to bend your images to your will.

First, every preset in the XeL platform has a preset ID. This is a 6-7 character long alphanumeric ID, along the lines of XBA03C. The first 3 character denote the family in which the preset belongs. XBA means this preset belongs in the Antiquated Processes family. The following 2-3 numeric digits denoted the actual preset. 03 means this is the Ambrotype preset. If an ID ends in a letter, it denotes it is a single component of a preset. C in this id means it is the Toning preset for the Ambrotype emulation.

These ID’s are primarily used to facilitate in preset organization. When a preset is an emulation, it will usually have multiple components, and the letters at the end keep them in the desired order. You can also use the ID’s to help you note what presets were used, without writing down the full preset name.

Also, as we add presets to XeL, either as free downloads from the blog or digests or released in new collections, these ID’s will help you properly place the preset into the proper families.

Now let’s look at each group of presets in XeL. Below we list the preset family folder and family ID abbreviation, followed by details.

XeL-BW Antiquated Processes [XBA]

This family of presets attempts to emulate 4 different archaic photographic processes. The emulations consists of 4 unique presets; one for the color mix, one for image tone, one for image toning and one for lens effect.

The Antiquated Processes family currently consists of a Tintype, a Daguerreotype, a Cyanotype and Ambrotype emulation. The preset components break down as such:

-A- Mix: This preset sets the B&W Mixer settings in the Develop Module, allowing for the proper emulation of color response in the black and white conversion.

-B- Tone: This preset sets the Clarity and Tone Curve needed to produce the proper image tone and density required for the emulation.

-C- Toning: This preset sets the Split Tone settings required to produce the proper toning or color cast over the black and white image to facilitate emulation.

-D- Lens: This preset completes the emulation of the archaic style. It first applies Grain and Post-Crop Vignette settings to add some depth to the image and follows up by applying a dual Graduated Filters, creating an adjustment layer over the image allowing alteration of Local Settings, completing the overall appearance of the emulation.

Using all 4 presets from a single emulation will create a complete emulation on your image.

What’s included in the download?

XeL-BW Cold Storage Films [XFB]

This family of presets features 54 presets emulating different black and white film stocks. These are all fresh emulations create using my current emulation process and feature grain presets. There is some variation from the original Cold Storage releases, and this is due to the change in my emulation process and the fact these are emulated from rolls I have recently shot.

Each of the 54 emulations consist of 3 presets; Mix, Tone and Grain. The Kodak HIE pseudo-infrared preset includes a 4^th preset that uses local adjustments to produce a glowing halation effect. The component presets break down as such:

-A- Mix: This preset sets the B&W Mixer settings in the Develop Module, allowing for the proper emulation of color response of the original film.

-B- Tone: This preset sets the Clarity and Tone Curve needed to produce the proper image tone and density required for the emulation.

-C- Grain: This preset adjusts the Grain settings to simulate the grain structure of the original film stock. The accuracy here is not as precise as I would like, as the tools in Lightroom are rather limited, but it closely approximates the grain results I received in my test rolls.

-D- Halation: This is a special preset, just for the Kodak HIE emulation. It utilizes a dual Gradient Filter to apply a Local Adjustment across the entire image, attempting to simulate the glowing halation effect of the original film stock.

The use of all the components from a single emulation will produce a close approximation to the appearance of my test roll. However, feel free to mix and match between emulations to create your own look, by swapping a B for another B and so on.

XeL-BW Color Filters [XBL]

The Color Filter family of presets uses a hack to simulate the use of a Colored Filter in traditional B&W film photography. By adjusting White Balance to generate a specific color cast to the overall image, we can duplicate the function of a colored filter fairly reasonably.

The Color Filter family consists of 13 presets, which will provide a given color cast to an image. To fine tune the effect, simply adjust the two White Balance sliders, but be warned, you will quickly change the shade.

XeL-BW Color Mixes [XBM]

This family of presets allows you to generate a generic color mix, based on basic film concepts or upon some of our more popular past presets, Straight Muggin and Stark Raging Black.

7 presets are in this family, 5 of which emulate generic film styles and 2 duplicate the color response from prior presets.

Each of these presets adjusts only the B&W Mixer, to generate the desire color response.

XeL-BW Contrast Papers [XBP]

This family of presets is designed to simulate the effect of printing out on differing grades of traditional printing papers. The effect is created by hacking Lightrooom’s Graduated Filter tool, over laying two grad filters across the entire image, one from the top and one from the bottom (or left and right in portrait orientation).

By laying the two filters, we create a virtual Adjustment Layer, which provides a consistent amount of alteration to the image. Where one filter is weakening, the other is growing stronger, averaging out to a constant level of adjustment. This technology is also utilized in the Archaic Process Lens presets and The HIE Halation preset.

Once the layer is created, these presets proceed to alter Local Clarity, Local Contrast and Local Sharpness to simulate the effect of printing in the darkroom. There are 14 levels of effect from very soft, low contrast to very sharp high contrast.

While these presets are based off of actual paper prints I have made, I did not attempt to properly emulate the effect of different paper stocks. That is a project of greater scope, and I am still working on a process to simulate each paper’s tendencies. These presets are essentially an average of about 30 different prints I made. I need to develop a more refined process to call them proper paper emulations.

XeL-BW Curve Kick [XBC]

The Curve Kick family of presets consists of 30 unique, custom Tone Curves. Nothing else is modified besides the Tone Curve.

The family offers a wide selection of High and Low Contrast curves, as well as some defined S-Curves, Darkening and Brightening curves and a few designed to pop Shadows or Highlights.

XeL-BW Grad ND Filters [XBN]

This family of presets offers you a quick option for dropping in a Neutral Density Graduated Filter on your image. The preset will lower Local Exposure in the area covered by the filter, darkening that section of the image whilst leaving the lower portion of the frame alone.

There are 24 presets in this family, 12 for Portrait images and 12 for Landscape images. There are 3 coverage levels of application, 2/3 frames, 1/2 frame and 1/3 frame coverage. Each level of coverage offers 4 presets adjusting the Local Exposure; -0.5, -1, -1.5, and -2.

While adding a Graduated Filter to an image is not difficult, these presets allow you to add it with one click whilst prototyping you image, leaving you only needing to further tweak placement and Local Exposure.

XeL-BW Solarize [XBS]

Solarization is the partial reversal of image tone created from white light of a partly developed sheet of film or paper. The effect causes highlights to go dark and shadows to go bright, often with thick black or white lines between solid areas.

This family of presets alters the Tone Curve drastically, simulating this effect. No other adjustments are made. This process is done for graphic effect, and can be heightened by adding subtle colors with the Local Adjustment Brush, simulating the Sabbatier Chromoskedasic effect, where the image is reversed and color is artificially introduced to the image.

There are a total of 11 Solorize curve presets in this family.

What’s included in the download?

XeL-BW Special Effects [XBX]

The Special Effects family of presets is more varied in its application of adjustments. Currently, the Special effects family contains Detail Enhancement presets, 2 Color High Contrast presets, Tonal Cutoff Presets and Negative presets. There is a total of 14 special effect presets in this family.

The Detail Enhancement presets alter Clarity, Contrast, Fill, Recovery and Blacks in unison to enhance detail. There are 4 presets that vary the level of enhancement. These presets directly affect the Basic Tone adjustments and create an effect much like an HDR image or work by Dave Hill.

The 2 Color High Contrast presets utilize a hard cutoff Tone Curve, in concert with Clarity, Contrast, Fill, Recovery and Blacks to create a stark black and white image, using only black and white in varying levels of detail. This is hard core graphic art stuff here.

The Tonal Cutoff presets are much like the 2 Color High Contrast presets, but allow for a moderate level of tonality between black and white. Again, the preset uses a highly modified Tone Curve, in concert with Clarity, Contrast, Fill, Recovery and Blacks to create images with an almost line art feel, with varying levels of tonality.

Finally, the Negative presets invert the Tone Curve, creating a negative image within Lightroom. One is a flat negative curve; the other is an S-Curve. The negative image can be used for graphic art needs or if you wish to print negative on transparency to print in a traditional darkroom. But keep in mind, the Lightroom adjustment sliders respond in the opposite manner you are used to when working with a negative tone curve.

XeL-BW Toning [XBT]

This family of presets presents 17 options for toning of your black and white images. By using the Split Toning adjustment in Lightroom to simulate the appearance of classic darkroom print toning.

This XeL family offers differing renditions of the following classical toning methods: Sepia, Selenium, Copper, Palladium, Cyan, Polysulphide and Uranium.

Using XeL: Black and White

Now that we covered XeL’s current offerings, let’s have a quick detail on getting results quickly. I am going to share with you my XeL workflow, but you may find a differing process that works best for your needs.

Phase 1: Black and White Mix

My first step in perfecting a Black and White image in Lightroom is to find the color mix that best suits my needs. I would start with the Cold Storage Films applying the Mix presets until I find one that fits my image. You can also use the Color Mix or Archaic Process Mix presets.

Once I find what I like I move on.

Phase 2: Tone and Grain

The next step is tone and grain. If I chose a Cold Storage Film, I will go ahead and apply the Tone and Grain presets at this time. If I like the mix, but not the toning, I will try other film tones or try the Curve Kick tone curves. With the Grain presets, I may try a few others as well, especially if I desire coarse grain.

Phase 3: Toning and Detail

Now that I have the basis for my image ready, I will start considering its further enhancement. First, I will apply a color tone, if I need one, by selecting one from the Toning family.

Now, I will apply any special effects I desire from the Special Effects family. Often this will be a simple Detail Enhance, but I often find myself using a Tonal Cutoff as well.

Phase 4: Paper

Finally, to complete my image, I will try a few presets from the Contrast Papers to find my final look.

If I am looking for an archaic look, I will simply apply only the 4 presets from a given Archaic Process preset. You can mix them up, or switch out their Mix or Tone with that of another process or film stock as well. Throw in a Solarize curve or a 2 Color High Contrast preset for that unique look.

Once you get the look about where you want it, then its time to do your final tweaks. Adjust the tone curve, basic tone adjustments sharpen and so forth.

As you play around with the XeL presets, you will start to get a feel for what you can do with these tools and how you can utilize them to expedite your workflow. When you find a combination that really works for you, you may want to consider saving that combination as a new preset to further speed your editing.

We really hope these tools will unlock your creativity and get you away from simply presets and basic black and white conversions. We believe that XeL will change the way you think about presets and possibly the functionality of Lightroom itself.

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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