Digital BW, The Print

on 3/29/2002 8:50 PM, DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com at
DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com wrote:

> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 29 Mar 2002 17:40:22 -0800 (PST)
> From: "S. Colson" <merkur86@...>
> Subject: Naive Photoshop Plug-in Question?
> 
> Folks,
> 
> I am somewhat new to Photoshop but not totally.
> 
> Question: Does anyone make/sell a plug-in for Photoshop that acts like a
> "Variable Contrast" B&W enlarger head?
> 
> Why doesn't someone make a plug-in that makes it easy to punch in varying
> contrasts and densities?   I am used to printing with Ilford VC heads on
> 4x5 and 8x10 enlargers.
> 
> It would also be nice if one could easily increase and decrease contrast
> and density selectively in different areas of a B&W print.
> 
> Sorry, but it is easier for me to think and work in these terms.
> 
> Stan in Pugetopia

Stan,

No need for a plug-in here. Here's what to do:

1.  Create an adjustment curves layer.  While looking at the part you want
to change, add or decrease contrast with the curves.  This will change the
appearance of the entire image but we'll change that in a minute.

2. with the curves layer highlighted, go to the layers menu and choose
"create layer mask", "hide all".  There should appear a black box next to
the curves symbol in the curves layer in the layer pallet. The effect of the
curve you just made should dissapear.

3.  with the curves layer still highlighted, go to the channel pallet and
highlight the curves channel.

4. go to the tools pallet and choose the paint brush and set the color to
white.

5. paint on the part of the image you wanted to change in the first place
and you should see the effect of the curve appear where you paint with the
white paint brush.  To get a partial effect set the opacity of the paint
brush to less than 100% such as 33%.

6.  If the effect is not yet perfect, go back to the curves adjustment layer
and double click and reset the curve, or change the opacity of the curves
layer until you achieve the desired effect.


If all this is a little too advanced for you yet, obtain the book "real
world photoshop 6" and learn about adjustment layers and masks.  Then go
back and try out the above recipe.  You will soon find that you use
adjustment layers for almost all your corrections.  It's wonderful because
you can always go back and change the corrections without altering the
original file or image.  And using curves in this way is far more effective
than using the dodge or burn tools, and it's far more effective than dodging
or burning in the darkroom.

good luck! 
 
-Bruce

Visit my website at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~smthopr