How to get the BEST B+W out of a CR2 file?

[I Simonius]

Whenever I convert to greyscale the resulting image looks flat, none of the vibrancy I used to get when shooting B+W on film

So I'm guessing <concert to greyscale> is not the best way to ghet the best from the CR2 files for B+W

I'm sure I remember reading in a book or magasine that there are better ways , anyone on this forum know what they are?

Thanks

[PhotosGuy]

There's a 'Sticky" somewhere with several ways to do it. Maybe in "Post Processing"?

[I Simonius]

There's a 'Sticky" somewhere with several ways to do it. Maybe in "Post Processing"?

Thanks - found it
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=34977
but some of the pic links don't work - just out of date ?

[Rense]

Simon,
I do the folowing:
(0) download/buy the following filter: ConverttoBW pro (http://www.theimagingfactory.com/)
(1) proces from RAW to TIFF (16bit) with your favourite RAW converter, do not convert to B+W in this step
(2) load the TIFF in photoshop
(3) apply the filter in the following steps:

make pre filter color active and not the other boxes choose a color and fine tune the percentage
make only color response active and choose the best option (i use ILford very often)
Set the tonal response by setting the negative exposure, exposure and multigrade factors (this gives you a complete darkroom setup in PS!)
Optional give a color tone

[tim]

Even better, buy the book "Adobe CS2 for photographers" by Scott Kelby. He has about 5 different methods of converting to B&W, one will suit you fine, and the book will teach you a lot more too. I usually use calcuations (image menu) on the red and green channels, and play with the blending mode.

[I Simonius]

Simon,
I do the folowing:
(0) download/buy the following filter: ConverttoBW pro (http://www.theimagingfactory.com/) SNIP.

thanks for that ...Hmmm more money to pay out...looks promising though:D

Even better, buy the book "Adobe CS2 for photographers" by Scott Kelby. He has about 5 different methods of converting to B&W, one will suit you fine, and the book will teach you a lot more too. I usually use calcuations (image menu) on the red and green channels, and play with the blending mode.

Thanks also,
I have an ealier version of that book somewhere - I just never got a chance to look at it - now I have a good reason to :D
edit_ OK I just looked and there are 4 methods, is there an extra new one in the lastest version?

[Rense]

Simon,
You could also look at the book: Digital black and White Photography (http://www.beardsworth.co.uk/abt_writing.php)
It covers the whole range from shooting, digital tricks, simulating darkroom and printing.

[I Simonius]

Simon,
You could also look at the book: Digital black and White Photography (http://www.beardsworth.co.uk/abt_writing.php)
It covers the whole range from shooting, digital tricks, simulating darkroom and printing.


Thanks - I went out and bought the updated vewrsion of Scott kelby's book as the one extra tut on his own B+W conversion looked worth the cost