Digital BW, The Print

Hi John,

There are probably dozens of methods for converting color to B&W. Basically, what it comes down to is that you'll have to try a number of 'em and see which works best for you or fits your working style better.

I have tried several different methods--B&W via nik's Color Efex 2.0, Powerretouche's B&W Studio, Channel Mixer, etc--and have downloaded demos of others such as Silver Oxide's filters. Ultimately, though, I came back to Channel Mixer using the techniques described by John Paul Caponigro on Adobe's website. For me, John's methodolgy seems to offer the most flexibility and control.

Another useful technique that seems to work out well for me is an action that creates a "ring around" of channel mixer settings. After running it I have a folder of images that I create a contact sheet of within PS CS's browser and print out onto a single 8.5x11 sheet of paper. I find this very helpful to study the effects of different channel mixer settings on the colors of the image. Generally, after a bit of careful study I can easily pick out which channel mixer settings will give me the conversion that I want.

So, jump in there and start playing! Experience will be your best guide.

Alan Huntley

> 
> From: "John M." <moodymz3@...>
> Date: 2004/12/14 Tue AM 08:13:29 EST
> To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Digital BW] Convert color to BW techniques
> 
> 
> 
> I have raised my knowlege of converting color to BW sufficiently to 
> realize that I don't know anything!
> 
> Is the best route to immerse myself in techniques such as those 
> presented by Russell Brown, or are there truly good tools/software 
> that I should investigate as well?  I am interested in fine art 
> landscape images primarily.
> 
> john