Digital BW, The Print

Hi Paul:

 

Many of the analog crowd who are using digital in our work flow(s) are faced with similar issues as yours, i.e., the need to understand and learn some of the more arcane ( and dare I say daunting? ) features of Elements, LR, PS, etc., etc.  Consequently, you are hardly alone.  In addition, some of us are not as knowledgeable as others and hence computer editing can be off putting.

 

I have found that a simple way to learn some digital editing programs is to obtain a second monitor ( rather inexpensive now ) and set the new monitor next to your calibrated or "go to" monitor.  The second monitor need not be calibrated…read on!  Open the image to be edited on the calibrated monitor and decide upon the task to be accomplished.  In the current instance, masks.  Open the second monitor use your favorite search engine to find the task that you need to address, i.e., again layer masks.  You will find scores of videos and presentations that illustrate the solution or method on YouTube or similar.  Play the instructions on the second monitor, and execute them on a new layer on the image on the calibrated monitor.  Voila!  You have a personal instructor providing the steps needed!  Needless to say, be sure that you have saved the original image on your hard drive.  Within a very short period of time you will have become familiar and comfortable using PS, etc and you can begin to teach others…..:}

 

Seriously.  Not calculus…:}There is no longer the need to feel intimidated Paul.  Let me know if you would like to private message.

 

Elliot

 

From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2014 12:06 PM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] Re: scanning b/w negs vs converting color digital file to b/w

 

  

Jimbo and Randall,

Thank you... and good analogy to the darkroom. I only have PS Elements but it's version 9 - that's when masks began to be included in Elements. I'll have to do some studying, which will add one more tool to my beginner's arsenal. Thanks for that lesson!

Paul