Trying to learn how to use "curves"

Someone tell me...am I on the right track? I have an old version of Paintshop Pro (8, I think). All the photos I tried to convert to b/w always turned out gray and then I read a post on here somewhere about using "curves" feature. So, here is my first attempt. I have no idea what I did, really. I just played with it until I liked the result. Can someone tell me, simply, what "output" and "input" means?

Thanks for helping a newbie!!!

Suzie

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I use PSP 8 I can help you out.
When the lines in the very middle diagonally if you pull that line down it darkens pull it up it lightens you can pull up and over then down all sorts of ways to use it just by pulling the line.

OK, 70 views and only 1 comment???? I am trying for constructive criticism here. Does this look ok for black and white, or is it still too gray?

well Sonya gave you some good info. Just get use to the many views and little replies. Your new it happens. Oh and I think it looks nice in b/W

IT looks ok if you try and ajust it to much you will get a bigger hotspot on the forehead
Rob.

Looks alright to me. Agree with Rob - too much and you have blown highlights. I can't comment much on your software since I use a different one.

Btw, make sure your monitor is calibrated regularly. No use spending all that time playing/learning and then getting prints out of whack.

Can you show us the original then we can try and see what we come up with then tell you what we did?


Sonya