Trying a new B&W technique! What do you think?

[michillebaker]

Hello everyone,

I decided to try a different was a doing black & white's. I used to use just the gradient filter, curves, and brightness and contrast but now have been also using the channel mixer. What do you think? Does it look like a good contrast black & white or do I need to tone it down a bit?

Thanks,

Michille

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/3116022801_53e01f2676.jpg

[Svetlana]

I think it's perfect!!

[michillebaker]

Thanks! I really like the results i have been getting from using the channels layer for black & whites. I think I have finely found my new way of doing them.

[S-Man]

Looks great! Care to share the process?
I posted my steps HERE. (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=611940)
The action is in there too...

[melissaandkris]

I think it looks great too. She is such a cute little girl. That's have I have started doing B&Ws too. I have paint shop pro though so none of the directions or actions for photo shop work on there. Maybe one year santa will bring me the real deal!

[michillebaker]

Thanks everyone for your wonderful comments.

S-Man : This is how I did it. Also thanks for your post i will have to go and try your technique out.

1. I opened the photo i wanted to use

2. I duplicated the layer and added a high pass filter to the duplicate layer and changed the layer mode to soft layer.

3. I then added a channel mixer layer and kept the settings at default ( i plan on going back to this layer later so thats why i left it at basic)

4. Next i added a b & w gradient map layer.

5. I went back to the channel mixer layer and just adjusted to my liking and came up with the photo that you see here.

6. Once, i got what type of B&W i was trying to achieve I then flatten the whole image.

7. From here you can add a fill color layer to a slight color tent to it or something I do also is add more contrast by using the brightness and contrast layer.

Thanks,

Michille