Black & White Photos

[portraitsbytracy]

What are the various methods people can use to convert color photos to black and white in Photoshop? (I'm using 5.0) Currently, I go to the channel mixer, select monochrome and then adjust the three levels accordingly. (my lab does not accept files in grayscale.) I'd also like to try to achieve more of a soft, warmer black and white. I've seen some black & white shots where it almost has a chocolaty feel to it, not sepia, but definitely a warmer black/white. Is there a way to easily do this?

[g-money]

I use the channel mixer also for my BW conversions. You might checkout the actions thread stickied at the top of this fourm for one that rihinotherunt posted. I am not sure it will run on 5.0 or not. As for getting the chocolate tone you might want to post a photo of what you are looking for. Is probably a filter of some sort. You may want to check out Action Central (http://www.atncentral.com) they have lots of actions that will give you different effects. Once again not sure how many will run on V5 as that is pretty old.

Greg

[liza]

I cheat and use various Photoshop plug ins, like Fotomatic and Virtual Photographer.

[jfrancho]

A few different ways to convert (http://www.photocamel.com/forum/image-editing-color-management/20227-b-w-conversion-methods.html)

There are some others in the Kelby book (http://www.amazon.com/Photoshop-Digital-Photographers-Voices-Matter/dp/0321330625/sr=8-2/qid=1172499377/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/105-0857294-0034007?ie=UTF8&s=books) that are worth checking out.

[kevin_c]

I either use the channel mixer or the 'B/W Styler' plugin I have, although I've been messing around with Lightroom recently.

[Dchemist]

I have used quadtones to achive this warm B&W feel and it does add a lot to many images. Here is a good tutorial on how to do it:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/duotone.shtml

Good Luck, Dennis

[jfrancho]

I have used quadtones to achive this warm B&W feel and it does add a lot to many images. Here is a good tutorial on how to do it:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/duotone.shtml

Good Luck, DennisYou bring a good point about another alternative. Since you're already doing duo/tri/quad tones, you should try usign a gradient map for this. It has a little more sensitivity, and allows you to easily shift the midtones around.

[portraitsbytracy]

I have used quadtones to achive this warm B&W feel and it does add a lot to many images. Here is a good tutorial on how to do it:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/duotone.shtml

Good Luck, Dennis
I tried the duotone and quadtones features (which I didn't even know existed!) and they really do add a lot to my photos. Thank you for the tutorial link!

[JaneDorn]

I just use regular convert to grayscale.

[Alissa Morris]

Hey, to follow up on this, a moderator on photocamel is giving away a very nice b&w conversion filter (http://www.photocamel.com/forum/downloads/21529-free-photoshop-plugin-photocamel-members.html) the he created for photoshop. Definitely a keeper.

[scalletti]

Hey that's a pretty cool plugin! Thanks for the link.

[canoflan]

go to http://www.thelightsrightstudio.com/TLRB&WToning.htm and download his actions for BW

[SWPhotoImaging]

I have been a long time advocate for using channel mixer in PSCS for creating B&W photos from color originals, but lately, I have been experimenting a lot with Lightroom's "Grayscale" tool, and am liking the adjustability it offers. A LOT!

[ohtoberich]

Another vote for Lightroom! There's an auto-gray scale conversion. Then you can adjust the tones using either sliders or the targeted adjustment, which is a tool you can click on areas of the photo and make them darker or lighter and it adjusts the channel mixing to do it.

It also has split toning capabilities.

[davidcrebelxt]

I'll (third?) Lightroom. That TAT is wonderful. I'm sure all those film die-hards are decrying it as brainless, but I've never claimed to be over-endowed in that area.

I also liked the Virtual Photographer plug-in, when I was doing it in Photoshop on my jpegs (but I'm guessing I'll be doing it in LR for jpegs too.)

Also if you're shooting RAW, don't forget DPP has monochorome picture style, and you can simulate as if you used various color filters over your lens.

[jdvita]

I've not found lightroom to be user friendly at all. I must be in the minority, though.