Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "michael3442" 
<michael3442@...> wrote:
>
> Newbie here. I'm learning digital B&W printing using PSE 4 and a 2200
> (1st trying B.O.) and was poking around the Adobe site when I came 
> across some info. on the new version of Elements. This might be of some 
> interest. There's a new Convert to B&W function that offers six 
> conversion presets along with a variety of intensity sliders and color 
> channel options. In addition there's a Color Curves function that looks 
> pretty interesting (at least to a newbie). Apparently these functions 
> have been missing from PSE 4.0. Paul Rourke has mentioned an interest 
> in Elements as a lower cost way to get many of the features of PS; 
> perhaps these new features bring PSE significantly closer to the big 
> leagues. I'd be very interested in opinions on these new features and 
> an overview can be seen at the following link; click the "Edit and 
> Enhance" link and then click the two short tutorials at the bottom of 
> the blue box. Thanks.
> 
> http://www.adobe.com/digitalimag/ideagallery/ 
> 
> Michael
>
Hi Michael,

It looks to me like the new curves function allows a little bit of control over a picture's 
quarter tones and three-quarter tones, which is good. Still not as rich as PS curves, of 
course, which allows you to place points wherever you want on the curve and make very 
precise local contrast adjustments.

I'd also want to know whether you could make these adjustments while the picture is 16 
bits. In my Mac version of PSE4, you needed to change to 8 bit to enable adjustment 
layers. This can get a little destructive. It's generally better to edit in 16 bits all the way up 
to the time of printing.

The B+W feature is useful. Without PS's channel mixer or a third-party plug-in, I think 
you're pretty much limited to grayscale conversions in elements.

Hope that helps a little...

Mike