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  1. #1

    Join Date
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    Converting to black and white

    Any recommendations on good plugins for photoshop to convert color to black and white?

  2. #2

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    Re: Converting to black and white

    One I have seen reviewed is Convert to B+W Pro:

    http://www.luminous-landscape.com/re...ust-have.shtml

    I find using the LAB colorspace does all that I need. See if your local library has The Canyon Conundrum, lots of useful info.

    http://www.amazon.com/Photoshop-LAB-.../dp/0321356780

  3. #3

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    Re: Converting to black and white

    Hi Ed,

    I think the NIK plug-ins has a very good one. it comes bundled with other filters.
    I don't think you need a plug in to make good B&W conversions.
    Make 2 seperate Hue/sat layers
    ON the top sat. layer slide the sat. slider all the way to the left
    on the sat layer that would be between the top sat. layer and the background layer
    slide the sat. slider to the right at about 50
    set the blending mode to soft light on this layer
    now use the hue slider and slide either left or right until the desired effect
    use some curve layers to fine tune
    Hope this makes sense this assumes you have photoshop.

    BR

    www.brianreedphotography.com
    Last edited by brian reed; 6-Dec-2006 at 16:12.

  4. #4

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    Re: Converting to black and white

    The best---and least expensive (free)--I have used is from TLR (The Lights Right Studio). Google the name and go to the site--full of great photoshop scripts and actions. I use thier pro sharpener with great results.

    Hope this helps.

  5. #5

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    Re: Converting to black and white

    You don't really need a plugin at all, you can do very simple and yet very effective conversion yourself:

    1. Create an empty layer above the image
    2. Fill it with pure black
    3. Change blending mode to "Color"
    4. Create a "Hue and Saturation" adjustment layer between that layer and the image
    5. Adjust tonality by using Hue slider on this layer.
    5a. As a variation, you can try checking "Colorize" box on.
    5b. As another variation, you can also play with Saturation slider

    That's all to it, no more complicated than learning how to use a plug-in.

    Once that is done, you can do the following:

    1. Convert to Grayscale
    2. Convert to Duotone and pick the duo/quadtone you like
    3. Convert back to RGB
    4. Adjust saturation - usually in the range of -15 to -30, but this is entirely optional and a matter of taste and of selected duo/quadtone.

  6. #6

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    Re: Converting to black and white

    I sometimes have to convert color to B&W for clients, and the best plugin I`ve found is B/W-styler. Works with familiar darkroom terms.

    B/W-styler
    Amund
    _________________________________________
    Digital is nice but film is like having sex with light.

  7. #7
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
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    Re: Converting to black and white

    I have a good PS action from Caponigro. It is what he describes in his book. Email me if anyone wants it.
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

  8. #8
    Jack Flesher's Avatar
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    Re: Converting to black and white

    Lots of options here for sure. However, if you are used to working in a traditional B&W darkroom I feel you will find Convert to B&W Pro a very useful tool:

    You choose lens filtration color and strength; then choose your film color response (several presets to match Tri-X, FP4, Delta, etc or you can create your own); then you adjust negative exposure, paper exposure and contrast; then you can tone the final result if desired. All of this is done on the active layer, so it is easy to blend/mask different versions done on different layers for maximum control over the final result.
    Jack Flesher

    www.getdpi.com

  9. #9
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
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    Re: Converting to black and white

    By the way this conversion action is 87 steps long. I own most all the plug=ins, Convert to B&W Pro, Fred Miranda's etc and this action is the best, quick and it gives you maximum possible easily. As someone who spent twenty years shooting nothing but Tri-X and the next ten shooting T-Max, I found Convert to B&W Pro to not even come close to appoximating those films and really no conversion program will. It is an entirely separate medium.

    The key to dramatic conversions is saturation. For instance the more saturated a blue sky is the darker you can render it in B&W.
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

  10. #10
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
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    Re: Converting to black and white

    If you asked for and didn't get the action already, email me again. So many people asked for it that I may have missed a couple.
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

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