Digital BW, The Print

I'm starting with an RGB full color image and I want to convert it 
to black and white and print after loading Roarke's  UT2 curves.  If 
I just desaturate the color to get a black and white image, there's 
still information in each color channel which seems to screw up the 
curves (when I load them and print I get a useless image, ie few 
grays, heavy black, white, etc).  I can solve this problem by going 
to image ->convert to grayscale and then image-> convert to RGB and 
then loading the curves. But I understand that I'm losing image data 
by converting back and forth between RGB and grayscale images.  
What's the best way to convert to grayscale if I'm starting with 
with a color RGB image and want to print a black and white image in 
RGB mode using UT2 curves?

Great Thanks, Jonathan

Jonathan,

While the image needs to be converted to greyscale, it doesnt need to 
be in greyscale mode. You can stay in RGB mode all the way. I've just 
tried it although I usually work with a scanned greyscale mode image.

There are dozens of recipe to convert from color to greyscale. Here's 
one that I sometime use: Convert by adjustment layers. 

http://www.thelightsright.com/DigitalDarkroom/PhotoshopTools.htm

Don't forget to merge all layers before applying Paul's Adjustement 
Printing Curves. The image on the screen will then take on weird 
colors but will make a nice print.

Cheers,
Andre

And I should have given the following links to Paul's site where 
there is info on printer settings for the UT familly inkset.

http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/

Cheers,
Andre

I work in RGB all the way through my workflow, especially when I used 
to have PS7 and use 8bit for everything.  I now have PSCS so no 
problems there!  

8bit RGB allows you to do more destructive adjustments than 8bit grey 
even though all 3 channels have exactly the same numbers in the 
channels.

You shouldn't need to go RGB-GS-RGB.

HTH

Gareth

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "deskofjk" 
<jkaplan@n...> wrote:
> I'm starting with an RGB full color image and I want to convert it 
> to black and white and print after loading Roarke's  UT2 curves.  
If 
> I just desaturate the color to get a black and white image, there's 
> still information in each color channel which seems to screw up the 
> curves (when I load them and print I get a useless image, ie few 
> grays, heavy black, white, etc).  I can solve this problem by going 
> to image ->convert to grayscale and then image-> convert to RGB and 
> then loading the curves. But I understand that I'm losing image 
data 

> by converting back and forth between RGB and grayscale images.  
> What's the best way to convert to grayscale if I'm starting with 
> with a color RGB image and want to print a black and white image in 
> RGB mode using UT2 curves?
> 
> Great Thanks, Jonathan

Everyone seems to have their fave color->greyscale
conversion technique, and I do too.  I have tried all
of the ones in PS7 and several other techniques I
found in PS technique sites.  I have settled on the
Russell Browns' technique which seems to give me more
control over the conversion.  I also use the UT2 CFS
from MIS on my 1280.

Jerry in Houston

 <<Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 06:19:04 -0000

   From: "deskofjk" <jkaplan@...>
Subject: Using UT2:  RGB to grayscale to RGB?

I'm starting with an RGB full color image and I want 
to convert it 
to black and white and print after loading Roarke's  
UT2 curves.  If 
I just desaturate the color to get a black and white 
image, there's 
still information in each color channel which seems to

screw up the 
curves (when I load them and print I get a useless 
image, ie few 
grays, heavy black, white, etc).  I can solve this 
problem by going 
to image ->convert to grayscale and then image-> 
convert to RGB and 
then loading the curves. But I understand that I'm 
losing image data 
by converting back and forth between RGB and grayscale

images.  
What's the best way to convert to grayscale if I'm 
starting with 
with a color RGB image and want to print a black and 
white image in 
RGB mode using UT2 curves?

Great Thanks, Jonathan>>