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Digital BW, The Print

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Converting B/W RGB images to true B/W 16 bit?

Converting B/W RGB images to true B/W 16 bit?

2004-02-23 by martinshakeshaft

I am currently scanning some of my B/W negatives (Tri-X) using a 
Minolta 5400 and VueScan.  Fine tuning is carried out in PhotoShop 7.

My workflow is:
Scan the negative as a 48bit (RGB/tiff) scan.  In PhotoShop covert it 
to a Greyscale image/adjust the levels/adjust contrast.

This is OK but I find unless I adjust the contrast my images are 
muddy.  I have found that taking the RGB scan/converting to Lab mode 
and just viewing the Lightness Channel is a good way to go BUT if I 
stay in 16 bit mode it does not let me discard the a and b channels.

Is there a way I can do this and stay in 16 bit mode?  How do you do 
it?

Cheers

Martin

Re: Converting B/W RGB images to true B/W 16 bit?

2004-02-23 by martinshakeshaft

Please ignore my last post. I was having a bad day.  I now realise 
that instead of selecting the lightness channel all I was doing was 
viewing it!!!!

However do you use the lab color method when converting RGB B/W scans 
to greyscale, or is there another method that you prefer?

Cheers

Martin





--- In 
DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "martinshakeshaft" 
<ms.photolists@v...> wrote:
> I am currently scanning some of my B/W negatives (Tri-X) using a 
> Minolta 5400 and VueScan.  Fine tuning is carried out in PhotoShop 
7.
> 
> My workflow is:
> Scan the negative as a 48bit (RGB/tiff) scan.  In PhotoShop covert 
it 
> to a Greyscale image/adjust the levels/adjust contrast.
> 
> This is OK but I find unless I adjust the contrast my images are 
> muddy.  I have found that taking the RGB scan/converting to Lab 
mode 
> and just viewing the Lightness Channel is a good way to go BUT if I 
> stay in 16 bit mode it does not let me discard the a and b channels.
> 
> Is there a way I can do this and stay in 16 bit mode?  How do you 
do
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> it?
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Martin

RE: [Digital BW] Re: Converting B/W RGB images to true B/W 16 bit?

2004-02-24 by Jake Hellbach

Hi Martin,
I use an action from Glenn Mitchell. 
http://www.thelightsrightstudio.com/DigitalDarkroom/PhotoshopTools.htm
 
The b/w converter works very well.
Jake
 
 
Fine Art Photography
www.jakehellbachphoto.com <http://www.jakehellbachphoto.com/> 
 
 

  _____
Show quoted textHide quoted text
From: martinshakeshaft [mailto:ms.photolists@...] 
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 5:54 PM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] Re: Converting B/W RGB images to true B/W 16 bit?


Please ignore my last post. I was having a bad day.  I now realise 
that instead of selecting the lightness channel all I was doing was 
viewing it!!!!

However do you use the lab color method when converting RGB B/W scans 
to greyscale, or is there another method that you prefer?

Cheers

Martin





--- In 
DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "martinshakeshaft" 
<ms.photolists@v...> wrote:
> I am currently scanning some of my B/W negatives (Tri-X) using a 
> Minolta 5400 and VueScan.  Fine tuning is carried out in PhotoShop 
7.
> 
> My workflow is:
> Scan the negative as a 48bit (RGB/tiff) scan.  In PhotoShop covert 
it 
> to a Greyscale image/adjust the levels/adjust contrast.
> 
> This is OK but I find unless I adjust the contrast my images are 
> muddy.  I have found that taking the RGB scan/converting to Lab 
mode 
> and just viewing the Lightness Channel is a good way to go BUT if I 
> stay in 16 bit mode it does not let me discard the a and b channels.
> 
> Is there a way I can do this and stay in 16 bit mode?  How do you 
do 
> it?
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Martin



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Re: Converting B/W RGB images to true B/W 16 bit?

2004-02-24 by kcooper666

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "martinshakeshaft" 
<ms.photolists@v...> wrote:
 
> However do you use the lab color method when converting RGB B/W scans 
> to greyscale, or is there another method that you prefer?

Hi

One of my favourites with colour images is to use two Hue/Sat adj layers. With b/w scans I 
actually do the scan in greyscale in Vuescan - I tried RGB and desaturation or channel 
mixing but with my FS4000 there was no real difference for what was a more long winded 
procedure.  If your setup gives better RGB scans then I have a page at <http://
www.northlight-images.co.uk/bwfromcolor.html> which contrasts all the different 
techniques I've found (as ever any new ones greatfully accepted :-)

Hope this is of use

bye for now
Keith Cooper

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