Digital BW, The Print

I use the Topaz B&W tool (and with the installation of a separate, free,
app from Topaz it can be used from Lightroom). I took a quick look at
Silver Efex when trying Topaz out and decided that I could understand the
Topaz UI better. My current B&W workflow starts in Lightroom (4.0) for most
images (RAW originals) and usually gets into Photoshop Elements (9.0)
quickly where I can work on multiple layers and even use the Topaz tools on
multiple layers.

There is a trial version of the Topaz tools, although the one thing I
dislike is that they expect you to evaluate all of them in the same time
period (I may end up buying more than the Topaz B&W, Adjust, and Detail
tools I already have, but I tend to add on tools as my skills expand). I'd
recommend lining up a half dozen images that span the range of your
interests and dedicate a couple of hours to each one using each tool. I
found it hard to gauge the full tool in less than 10-15 hours of work.

Pete

On Thu, Apr 26, 2012 at 11:27 AM, Bill <bill-lewis@...> wrote:

> A very good article I do see Silver Efex mentioned more than silver
> shadows which is seldom mentioned and has fallen from my list. In the
> process of watching Utube videos on Silver Efex I saw videos for Topaz B&W.
> It also looks to be a good product for much less than Silver Efex.
>
> Does anyone on the list use or have an opinion on Topaz B&W. This is one
> of several products from Topaz Labs that look similar to OnOne products.
> Needless to say the more I read and look the more confused I become I have
> Lightroom 4 and curently feel like I am standing in a pit at the base of
> the learning curve. I have watched a dozen or more videos on converting to
> B&W in Lightroom. I have just received Martin Evening's Lightroom 4 book
> and will look at what it has on B&W.
>
> So far the half dozen photos I converted in Lightroom are not what I would
> get from my darkroom. The blacks look black and the whites white but they
> seem to have too much in the midtones. This is my ability with the software
> and while I want to use lightroom properly for the immediate time I am
> looking for something that will assist in this so Silver Efex or Topaz B&W
> Silver Efex has an academic discount so for me retired and returning to
> College Classes the actual price is not that much more. I understand that
> Silver Efex will work stand alone or as a Photoshop plug-in while Topaz is
> only a plug-in. Probably either program would do more than I want but I am
> just trying to avoid buyers remorse.
>
> Bill Lewis
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, and other resources as
> they are often being updated.
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
>
> If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you wish to
> unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by visiting this same
> page.
>
> Please follow these basic guidelines:
> - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep
> them short.
> - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or flames.
> Hostile, aggressive or argumentative users may be removed from the
> membership without notice.
> - Keep your posts and threads related to the group topic of digital B&W
> printing. Users who persistently make off-topic posts may be removed from
> the membership.
> - By posting on this forum you agree to abide by the group rules and
> guidelines, and to abide by the actions and decisions of the group Owner
> and Moderators. See �Group Topic, Rules and Guidelines� in the Files
> section:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/
>
> BY PARTICIPATING IN AND/OR POSTING MESSAGES TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT
> YAHOO! GROUP YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THE �OWNER� AND
> �MODERATORS� OF DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO
> YOU FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR
> EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF
> PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF THE
>  �OWNER� AND �MODERATORS� OF DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP HAVE BEEN
> ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), RESULTING FROM: (i) THE USE OR
> THE INABILITY TO USE THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP; (ii)
> UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (iii)
> STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTY ON THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO
> GROUP; OR (iv) ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO
> GROUP.
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]