FIL 1.7.2 basic documentation
Contents

1. Preamble (updated)
2. FIL usage
3. Launching
4. About FIL's structure
5. FIL options (updated)
6. Pre-processes
   1. Exposure correction process
   2. Vignette process
   3. Defect lenses simulation process
   4. Monocle imitation process (new)
7. Color processes
   1. SOV2 (new)
   2. Monochrome
   3. Lomo
   4. Duotone
   5. Vintage
   6. Photochrom
   7. Dram
8. Grain processes
   1. Grain+
   2. Sulfide
   3. Dram Grain
9. Option indication
10. Batch mode
11. Binary plugins integration
12. From the author of FIL (updated)
13. FIL links (updated)
14. Contact information

Preamble | to contents >>

FIL (Film Imitation Lab) - specialized script for old photo and other imitations. FIL based on modular architecture. FIL's source code distribute under the terms of the GNU GPLv3 license.
Main function of the FIL:

- Using prepared color processes.
- Creating film grain by grain processes.
- Working only with copyes of source layer.
- Pre-processes for additional image effects.
- Batch execution for mass photo processing.
- Optional option indication.
- Binary extensions (plugins) integration support.

Main improvements in FIL 1.7.1:

- New pre-process for monocle imitation.
- New color process "SOV2".
- Port to GIMP 2.8.

FIL usage | to contents >>

Just open image and make layer, which will be processed, active (source layer).

Source image

Launching FIL | to contents >>

(Filters/RSS/FIL)

FIL interface

About FIL's structure | to contents >>

FIL is a modular script. It build with goal to divide image processing on several independent stages. Each stage has it's own filters (processes) which will be launched by user. Stages has static order of execution.
FIL stages:

- Pre-stage - preliminarily image processing stage. FIL can launch more than one pre-procces during this stage.
- Color stage - launching single process to simulate old photo color set.
- Grain stage - launcing single process to simulate film grain.

Since FIL 1.6.0 grain and color processes could be launched with different pre-configured options (profiles). Processes which support profiles have such name as: process name: profile name (for example "SOV: normal" и "SOV: light"is the same process with different launching options.

FIL options | to contents >>

Colorcorrection stage - color stage execution switch.
Color process - choise color process from list to execution (if "Colorcorrection stage" option is active).
Grain stage - grain stage execution switch.
Grain process - choise grain process from list to execution (if "Grain stage" option is active).
Enable vignette - launching pre-process which simulate vignette effect (soft and dark overlay on image borders).
Vignette radius - allow to manualy set a radius of the vignette overlay. Measuring in percents of image dimensions.
Vignette softness - allow to set a softness of the vignette border overlay. Measuring in percents of image dimensions.
Vignette opacity - allow to set a opacity of the vignette overlay on image. If value of this option is 0 (zero) then vignette execution will be skiped.
Border blur - set a value of radial border bluring (simulate of defect lenses). By default this option has "Disable" value and don't execute. Controling by integer steps which not linked to image size.
Exposure correction - set a value of the exposure corrction. If value is 0 then process will be skiped.
Monocle effect - enables monocle imitation pre-process.
Write options in layer's name - activate FIL option output into final layer's name..
Work with visible - recieving source layer from visible. Useful to edit multilayred images.

Pre-processes | to contents >>

Pre-process using for additional effects. Pre-process executing in the first place.
FIL contain such pre-processes:
Exposure correction process - process allow to correct exposure of image, making it darker or lighter. Right now exposure correction value of this process isn't equal to EV value so use this process with caution. Exposure correction process runs very fast.

Image with exposure correction (+1,8)

Vignette process - simulating black-out of image border (typical for low-end wide-angle lenses). Option of processes doesn't linked to image size (radius, softness and opacity). Execution speed may fall during processing of large images.

Image with vignette

Defect lenses simulation process ("Border blur") - process simulating image border bluring. Such blur typical for defected or untuned lenses. Process options doesn't linked to image size and user able to choise three modes of bluring strength ("Border blur" option). Process able to use binary plugin (look section "Binary plugins integration") Fix-CA for creating more realistic bluring with chromatic abberation. Execution speed may fall during processing of large images.

Bluring example (test fragment) | Bluring example with plugins (test fragment)

Monocle imitation process - process creates intensive glow around light parts of image imitating shouting with monocle lenses. Image which will be processed by that process became brighter with soft focus.

Monocle imitation example

Color processes in FIL | to contents >>

Color processees desighned for additional image stylization by processing in color process (user can choose only one process). Color processes executing after pre-processes.
FIL contain such color processes:
SOV2 - color process for imitation old color photos. Introduces significant color distortion in the final image (red vail in shadows). SOV2 process has two profiles: "SOV2: normal" (default options) and "SOV2: user color [fore/background]" (user color for toning). Fast execution.

Profile "SOV2: normal" example | Profile "SOV2: user colors [fore/background] example"

Monochrome - process convert to monochromatic image. This process is unified version of "B/W" and "Sepia". Monochrome process has two profiles: "Monochrome: b/w" (black and white image) и "Monochrome: sepia" (light brown toned image). Fast execution.

Profile "Monochrome: b/w" example | Profile "Monochrome: sepia" example

Lomo - lomographic stylization process (direction of amateur photography). Lomo process has three profiles: "Lomo: XPro Green" (yellow-green tone), "Lomo: Soft yellow" (yellow tone) and "Lomo: Golden autumn" (warm colors and blue in shadows). The fastest color process in FIL.
"Lomo" process bases on Lomo Script.

Profile "Lomo: XPro Green" example | Profile "Lomo: Soft yellow" example

Profile "Lomo: Golden autumn" example

Duotone - duotone stylization process (photographic toning with different tones for light and dark areas). Duotone process has three profiles: "Duotone: normal" (high contrast with beige-blue tone), "Duotone: soft" (low contrast with beige-blue tone) and "Duotone: user colors" (normal contrast with foreground and background colors). Fast execution.

Profile "Duotone: normal" example | Profile "Duotone: soft" example

Profile "Duotone: user colors" example

Vintage - old color photo simulating color process. The final image is pale and has purple tint in the shadows. Execution speed depends from image size.
"Vintage" process bases on Vintage Look script.

Process "Vintage" example

Photochrom - color process for photochrom printing simulating. Process has four profiles: "Photochrom: normal" (contrast image with orange gradient below), "Photochrom: retro" (simular to normal profile but has descreased contrast and purple gradient), "Photochrom: bleach" (like normal profile but with source layer desaturation) и "Photochrom: user colors" (like normal profile but with ability to set your own colors for tone by using foreground and background colors). High speed of execution.
"Photochrom" process bases on Photochrom script.

Profile "Photochrom: normal" example | Profile "Photochrom: retro" example
Profile "Photochrom: bleach" example | Profile "Photochrom: user colors" example

Dram - color process for creating dramatic atmosphere in photo by using black fading and tone. Process has two profiles: "Dram: normal" (dark blue tone) and "Dram: user colors" (toning by using foreground color). One of most fastest proceesses.

Profile "Dram: normal" example | Profile "Dram: user colors" example

Grain processes in FIL | to contents >>

These processes desighned for simulate film grain on output image. Grain may significant increase total quality of simulation. Grain processes executing after color processes. This is last stage of FIL.
FIL contain such grain processes:
Grain+ - this grain process bases on "Simple grain" process but more functional. After grain processing process will blur hole final image for additional old film grain simulatioon. "Grain+" process has two profiles: "Grain+: normal" (default options) and "Grain+: amplified" (grain amplification options set). Execution speed may fall during processing of large images.

Profile "Grain+: normal" (image fragment) | Profile "Grain+: amplified" (image fragment)

Sulfide - is grain process which bases on "Grain+" process. It differs from the original process by presense grain scale control. "Sulfide" process has four profiles: "Sulfide: normal" (normal grain), "Sulfide: large scale" (large grain), "Sulfide: grunge" (normal grain with additional fractal overlay) and "(G'MIC) Sulfide: scrathes" (creating film scathes by using G'MIC plugin). Execution speed may fall during processing of large images.

Profile "Sulfide: normal" (image fragment) | Profile "Sulfide: large scale" (image fragment)
Profile "Sulfide: grunge" (image fragment) | Profile "(G'MIC) Sulfide: scrathes" (image fragment)

Dram Grain - is a grain process which is based on the "Sulfide" process. The main difference is that the "Sulfide" after processing slightly blurs the final image. This process makes it different. Conversely, it improves the sharpness of the final image using a "highpass sharpening" algorithm. Also, the "Dram Grain" uses binary plugin G'MIC to create a scratches (scratches orientation is now dependent on the orientation of the image). Dram Grain has two profiles: "(G'MIC) Dram Grain: normal" (strong sharpening and scratches) and "Dram Grain: light" (light sharpening and no scratches). Execution of the process can be very slow in processing large images.
The "Dram Grain" process uses an algorithm and code of Highpass sharpening.

Profile "(G'MIC) Dram Grain: normal" (image fragment) | Profile "Dram Grain: light" (image fragment)

Option indication | to contents >>

When "Write options in layer's name" option is active FIL enable option indication. This means that after processing FIL will write options which user has been set for FIL processing. This feature can be useful to compare the results and to work with multi-layer images.

Example of complex processing

For this example were used such processes as exposure correction, vignette, "Duotone" and "Sulfide". After processing final layer's name became like this: "-p Exp. +2 (V) -c Duotone: soft -g Sulfide: grunge".
Option indication output looks like this:
-p pre-processes list -c color layer: profile -g grain process: profile

Batch mode | to contents >>

(Filters/RSS/FIL Batch)

FIL batch mode interface

FIL may execute in batch mode processing large amount of images at once. User may choose folder with images which will be processed by script. FIL supporting input with file mask (*.jpg and etc). User can define format and output folder for all images in quene.
Also in FIL 1.7.0 added a new function in batch mode - Random mode. This option generates a random value to select the color process and grain for each run cycle. That is, each picture at the output will be processed with different settings. This can be useful for introducing diversity in the photo processing.

Binary plugins integration | to contents >>

One of the main novelties in FIL 1.7.0 is the ability to use third-party binary extensions (plugins). This means that processes can call the necessary plugins if core verified its availability. Now only two of FIL processes use third-party extensions: a edge bluring process and profile "Sulfide: scratches".
Using plug-ins done safely as possible. In the absence of the necessary plug-in process will use a secondary algorithm or emergency notify users that process cann't reproduce the desired effect without the extension. In batch mode this warning will also break script execution (if random mode is disable).

Warning message of the absence of the necessary plugin.

FIL also has built-in tool to check the availability of the necessary plug-ins.To do this, run a check script (Filters/RSS/FIL Check plugins).

Check script message.

This tool allows you to quickly determine not only the absence by plug-ins and to get the address through which you can install them.

From the author of FIL | to contents >>

The regular updating of the script is almost too late for two years. I've been waiting for GIMP 2.8, which is finally released. Now the project is practically not developed, but this should not affect on it's usage. The script is stable and can be used as before. This release is intended to ensure that the user got what I was planning to introduce in FIL 1.8.0.
Also this release is for introduce native GIMP 2.8 version of script. Support of GIMP 2.6 branch is no longer priority.
I will update script if I would have enough time. But I can't promise any major changes.
Best regards,
Nepochatov Stanislav aka spoilt_exile

FIL links: | to contents >>

FIL at GIMP plugin registry (english release)
FIL at Gimp.Ru (russian release)
FIL repo at GitHub

Contact information | to contents >>

Contact to FIL author:
email: spoilt.exile@gmail.com
jabberID: spoilt_exile@draugr.de