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


Oops, I've been caught writing from (an incorrect) memory.  When you create
the curve adjustment layer it automatically creates a blank layer mask for
the layer. Therefore substitute below for steps 2 and 3:

Go to channels, highlight the curves channel, go to the edit menu, select
fill, choose black in the "contents" box, click ok. Continue to step 4



 
-Bruce

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