Digital BW, The Print

I have PhotoKit Sharpener and use it fairly frequently for my color 
images.  I often use unsharp mask in Photoshop, since I get to see 
the results while I work, instead of waiting for PhotoKit to finish 
its new layer.

I usually prefer to save sharpening as my final step in the editing 
process.  Since PKS only works on RGB images this is a bit of a 
problem.  I don't really like converting back and forth between modes 
if I can avoid it.  

I do my B&W sharpening in Photoshop by creating a sharpening layer 
(Alt-Shft_Cntrl-N, followed by Alt-Shft_Cntrl-E).  Then I use unsharp 
mask and add a layer mask, painting where I want to add or remove 
sharpness.  I can also adjust the layer opacity to decrease the 
effect if desired.  It gives a lot of control and works nicely.  On 
very fuzzy images, I will sometimes I will use the the High Pass 
filter, set the mode to Overlay or Soft Light and vary the opacity, 
using a layer mask for paint sharpness in where needed.  

Another option, depending on what software you use to print, is to 
leave the image in RGB mode, convert to B&W (channel mixer, 
desaturate, etc) then sharpen with PhotoKit Sharpener since the image 
remains in RGB.  I use IJC/OPM for my B&W, and it accepts RGB images, 
and also has a neat channel mixer of its own for blending channels 
for different effects (at least in the Windows version).

Regards, Lou

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "aaashapiro" 
<ashapiro@y...> wrote:
> 
> Photokit sharpener works only on RGB images. So what is the best 
way 
> to apply it for black and white images?
> 
> One could scan in greyscale, then change mode to RGB, apply capture 
> sharpening and then do all adjustments and finally output 
sharpening 
> and then, before printing, convert back to greyscale.
> 
> Or, one could scan in RGB, capture sharpen, convert to black and 
> white through desaturation or channel mixer but keep in RGB until 
> all adjustments are made, then output sharpen, convert to greyscale 
> and print.
> 
> With digital camera capture one could follow the latter procedure 
> after converting the raw file in rgb, or one could desaturate 
> (presuming Adobe Capture Raw)prior to converting and then capture 
> sharpen etc. with, again, the last step before printing being the 
> conversion to greyscale.
> 
> What workflows do people use? Have I omitted some possibilities?