I got seven techniques on BW conversion. Guess what they are... :D If you got something else, share it!

i bet those are all in PS :)

i just use picasa's focal B&W, & filtered B&W

i bet those are all in PS :)

i just use picasa's focal B&W, & filtered B&W

of course it is. that's why it's under the photoshop section. :Grin:

First i do convert the mode to lab color,select the lightness channel and convert it to grayscale.

okay, I'm game! how do you do this the proper way in CS2? :)

okay, I'm game! how do you do this the proper way in CS2? :)

share your formulas, then i'll share mine.

Image>Mode>Lab

Then go to the channels palette and delete the a & b channel. You will be asked if you want to convert to greyscale and reply yes.

Lab greyscale is almost always better than a simple greyscale conversion. Once this is done, I recommend that you duplicate Background and then change the blend mode to Multiply. Play with the opacity slider if necessary and put a layer mask to mask out areas that become too dark. You will find that this method gives very rich black and whites.

just plain channel mixing with monochrome checked. I'm not so sure about lab color, okay ba?

just plain channel mixing with monochrome checked. I'm not so sure about lab color, okay ba?

estan got one. 6 more!

nino, are plugins included? I used B/W Converter before.

how do you make that 3d like b&w process in photoshop? tia. ;)

Tony,

Got a sample photo to show as reference? I'm certain many of the photoshop experts here will have no problem telliing you how to achieve the look you want. We can start a new thread once you post an example.

My way of BW conversion is the simplest, I think. :Grin:

Image > Adjustments > Desaturate

then

Edit > Fade Desaturate.... (Opacity: 100% / Mode: Color)

:)

I would call the desaturate/color move as the baseline standard black and white conversion. My preference is to use a Hue Saturation layer, reduce saturation -100, and change blend mode to Color. This is my baseline image that I will try to better. I then duplicate the original image and try other conversions and compare them side by side with the base standard. Almost always I come up with something better.

1. convert my image to grayscale ----- image>mode>grayscale
2. then convert mode to doutone ----- image>mode>duotone
3. under duotone options choose duotone (or tritone or quadtone :Grin: ) tweak to taste

I would call the desaturate/color move as the baseline standard black and white conversion. My preference is to use a Hue Saturation layer, reduce saturation -100, and change blend mode to Color. This is my baseline image that I will try to better. I then duplicate the original image and try other conversions and compare them side by side with the base standard. Almost always I come up with something better.

The Russel Brown Technique! Works well for me too. :Grin:

Thanks Nick, I'll get the link of the B&W photo that I like to emulate. :)

Tony,

Got a sample photo to show as reference? I'm certain many of the photoshop experts here will have no problem telliing you how to achieve the look you want. We can start a new thread once you post an example.

My fav way is using a gradient map. It's always more detailed and sharper than just desaturating the image. :D

My fav way is using a gradient map. It's always more detailed and sharper than just desaturating the image. :D

How do you a gradient map? tutorials please...

What I usually do is desaturate (hue/saturation... not direct one-step desaturation), then adjust the colors in selective color... uhmmm, I rarely convert though... but I'm eager to learn the tricks of the trade... the best procedure/technique rather.

How do you a gradient map? tutorials please...

What I usually do is desaturate (hue/saturation... not direct one-step desaturation), then adjust the colors in selective color... uhmmm, I rarely convert though... but I'm eager to learn the tricks of the trade... the best procedure/technique rather.


There's a ying yang button in your layers palette. Click on it, select gradient map. This creates a new adjustment layer gradient map. You do have to select what the colors of the gradient is. Choose black and white.

Another way is through the layers menu... select new adjustment layer, then gradient map.

Another way is selecting the layer that you want to gradienize... then go to the menu.. image... adjustment... gradient map...

Hope this helps Din2x.

how are the monotone photos with a tint of bluish/gray (instead of BW only) processed? thanks

Once you convert your image to B&W stay in RGB mode so that you can use adjustments such as color balance to tone your photo. Play with the sliders to get the tone you want. You can even achieve a split tone using Color Balance.

Or once you convert your image to B&W, convert to Greyscale. Image>Mode>Greyscale. Then go Image>Mode>Duotone. Click duotone and choose the shade of blue/grey that you like.

Hope this helps.

anyone care to mention about the lab mode?

desaturate? ;)

anyone care to mention about the lab mode?

We discussed lab mode in post #7. One of the more effective B&W conversions.

as for me, i am not doing much b&w conversions. but, when i do i am very comfortable with using channel mixer.

using "L" channel of the LAB mode is not that good, imho, as i have read somewhere about this technique.

I am using LAB mode in color correction and sharpening. instead of going via mode>lab route, it is advisable to use edit>convert to file>lab route. i have read this in dan margulis book about using LAB mode in color correction.

I usually use the channel mixer and play around with the red and green channel.

Malloy,

i would sure love to know where you bought your Dan Margulis book. it's a $11 shipping if i buy from Amazon, and it takes a month to ship. Been looking for that in every bookstore i go to, and i can't find it.


Stan

or maybe if you're done you could sell it to me at half the rate? =) Is that "Photoshop LAB Color"?

how are the monotone photos with a tint of bluish/gray (instead of BW only) processed? thanks
or you could:
1. duplicate original.
2. desaturate.
3. select luminosity mask.
4. fill with blue color. =)

Stan

let me guess: (photoshop cs2)

1. desaturation
2. conversion to grayscale
3. Using the Channel Mixer, clicking on monochorme and tweaking the level
4. Using the hue/saturation image adjustment to modify the hue/color to create a
monochrome image
5. Using the Color Balance tool

arrgghhh...don't know the 6th, just ran out ouf ideas :-)

Let me guess: (photoshop cs 2)

1. desaturation
2. convert to greyscale
3. Using the channels mixer, click on monochrome then edit using levels
4. Using the Hue/Saturation to neutralize the color to create a monochrome image
5. Using the Color Balance Control
6. ???

Arrrgggh...I guess this is it, ran out of ideas hehehehe :D

For toning, I use a selective color layer mask on top of a channel mixer layer mask and adjust the neutral color.

another way to convert to bw, although this does not give flexibility.
1. duplicate original.
2. set foreground/background color to default. (press d on keyboard)
3. apply neon glow. filter>artistic>neon glow
4. set settings to desired.

Hmmm interesting. Never thought of this one Stanley so I'm going to give it a try later today!

i just stumbled upon it before, it's not ideal for bw conversion since there is no flexibility. still it converts to bw. =)

I have another one!
The calculations method - allows you to combine several or fractions of their intensity to make the BW conversion.

Go to image > calculations menu
I select the red channel for source 1
green channel for source 2
blending i use either the default multiply or overlay
opacity 80-100%
once you're happy with the image, go to result and select new document!

Of course you could also do this manually by cutting and pasting the RG channels

I just stumbled upon this thread... very interesting ideas! =) gave most of them a try and i find that the gradient map gives the most flexibility IMO (set saturation to -100 for comparison as what nick said) =)

Any more ideas? i'd love to hear more of them! =)

camera raw... set saturation to negative. gives you easy black and white.

I use photoshop elements where Channels is not available so I separate color components. You can find the steps here http://www.webreference.com/graphics/elements3/index.html. It's a rather long but simple process. :)

Errr.. I like applying gradient maps. You can control exposure by adjusting how much white/black you have in your gradient. :)

Hmm, i used to use the following: see thread (http://www.digitalphotographer.com.ph/forum/showthread.php?t=3489)

Now I pretty much stick to filter selection or back to channel mixer presets that I've made...

If shooting raw, sometimes I just desaturate there, then play with exposure, shadows, white balance and contrast before modifying it more in PS.

Here's my own simple way in Photoshop:

1. Ctrl+U, then move the middle lever to the left to desaturate. Press OK!
2. Ctrl+L, and play with intensity of the black and white. Press OK!

What I do is I change image to greyscale mode then change it to duotone mode... then a duotone options winodow will pop up... change type on the dropdown menu (top-left) to quadtone and there 4 Inks to choose from... choose different Inks or colors that suites you... then change it back to RGB Color for internet posting or CMYK color for printing...

BTW, got the idea from kenrockwell.com

i sometimes use the gradient map tool... its a bit interesting because it really brings out the blacks and the whites..

Making A Fine Art B&W Image
http://www.thelightsright.com/tutorials/MakingAFineArtB&WImage.pdf

Here's my own simple way in Photoshop:

1. Ctrl+U, then move the middle lever to the left to desaturate. Press OK!
2. Ctrl+L, and play with intensity of the black and white. Press OK!

Great Tip! Very simple yet great :)