YOUR B&W Conversion Technique

[drisley]

I am often amazed by the good quality of the black and white conversions some people post. I've done a lot of reading on the subject.
I was wondering if users here would mind sharing what techique they use for b&w conversions from digital, and maybe post a sample picture or two?
Thanks guys.

[InskiP]

No one ever replied to this? Bummer, I'd like to know as well.
I've tried most of the various methods-channel mixer, calculations, saturation adjustment, etc. I haven't tried Lab though...But I don't think I have a favorite method, nor am I experienced enough w/ B/W conversion to really comment on it...yet

[yb98]

I am often amazed by the good quality of the black and white conversions some people post. I've done a lot of reading on the subject.
I was wondering if users here would mind sharing what techique they use for b&w conversions from digital, and maybe post a sample picture or two?
Thanks guys.

Just use this B&W profile (http://www.outbackphoto.com/artofraw/raw_08/profile_BW.zip) while converting in Capture1.
The technique is described here (http://www.outbackphoto.com/artofraw/raw_08/essay.html)

Yacine.

[CyberPet]

I Mix channels and start off by setting it to Monocrome and my start values are 30 - 60 - 10, and from there I play around with the different slider. Often depends on which colors are the most prominent in the picture.

[Mernya]

I've seen various tutorials on this, and that would be a little hard to recapture in a quick post. However, many of them involve color modes and channels. Your mileage may vary. Also, the bulk of the colors in the composition will require each image to be evaluated independently.

1. Convert the image to LAB mode. Generally, the L mode is a better black and white image than simply desaturating an RGB image.

Or

2. Look at the Channels in RGB Mode. See if one channel provides you with the overall range you are looking for. In general, Blue is usually not going to be the channel you keep because you lose the sky. If you need more refined channel control, use the Channel Mixer command in the Image Adjustments menu to balance it. On some quickies I just did to remind myself how it all works, I lowered the blues and bumped the red and green.

[mgbeach]

I've seen all the different methods and tried a few of the more exotic ones, but I like the results I get from changing to greyscale mode and adjusting levels and curves. Some of the ones I've done recently are in the post below, and I'm happy with them.

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=80234

[cmM]

I use various techniques depending on photo. I use a BW filter from Nik, and also quite often I use the lightness channel in lab mode and disregard all others.... and a couple more :D
This one was done with the Nik filter
http://www.cmuntean.net/image_04.jpg

[Baadil]

Hi Cmm, Excellent image. Would mind telling me which BW filter from NIK did you use? They seem to have tons of them.

http://www.nikmultimedia.com/colorefexpro/usa/entry.php?view=samples

Thank you.

[cmM]

the b/w conversion filter

[gasrocks]

Have you looked at a free program called Virtual Photographer? a plug-in that does many "effects," including a lot of B&W.

[blue_max]

All these give different results. Different images seem to respond better to different techniques. I don't think there is an 'always the best' solution. It must be down to the person making the conversion to decide what works best for them.

It's an aesthetic judgement at the end of the day.

Graham

[Baadil]

I have almost always had decent luck with Bill's BW conversion action. Here is a link to it.
http://www.outdooreyes.com/photo51.php3

[cmM]

All these give different results. Different images seem to respond better to different techniques. I don't think there is an 'always the best' solution.
Exactly!