Digital BW, The Print

> f) For split toning, I use two layrs adjusted with two different
> curves. I then cut out a feathered section of the top one. Is this
> the best way to do it ?

I like my tones to split, not along object lines, but a long luminosity
lines. In other words, rather than used tone to isolate one entire object
from another, I split to give shadows a different color from the rest, in
the same way selenium effects shadows more than midtones and highlights in a
silver print. I don't split tone a lot, but for this effect this is how I do
it.

Use your layer blending sliders. Stack your two different Roark's VT curves
on top of each other at the top of your Layers stack. Say you want your
shadows cool and the rest of your image neutral. Double click the Roark
Neutral curve layer, which opens the Layer Options dialog box. Use the lower
blending slider, and pull the right slider to (arbitrary number) 110. This
will have this curve only effect the image for the tones 0-110. Double click
the Roark Neutral layer, to open it's options dialog, and pull the left
point of the lower slider to 111. This will have this curve affect the image
from the tones 111-225. You now have a hue split along tonal lines. Cool
shadows thru lower mids (0-110), neutral mids and highlights (111-225).

Where you set that break point should vary image by image, depending on
image content, and tonal content. Don't option click your sliders to feather
the transition, or you'll cause your curves to overlap, and befuddle each
other.

If I got my sliders backwards forgive me, but you get the idea.

Todd