Digital BW, The Print

I'm confused by all the advice. Simple minded.

What's your best, most straightforward workflow from .psd and .jpg color
to a b&w image (soft proof?) that can be manipulated reasonably
predictably before being filed as tiff and opened/printed via QTRgui?

I'm looking for easy answers. I'm currently fairly successful simply
previsualizing (remember that?) how color tiffs will work in b&W, but
I'd rather see the image in advance. Lazy I guess. 

I'm not looking for a monitor depiction of b&w tone-color (cold, sepia
etc), just reasonably visually accurate b&w, as with my b&w original
negs. 

Currently QTRgui does fine with scans of original B&W film...
predictable results, adjustments easily seen in my monitor before
loading to QTR.

Hi Dion,

There are two basic ways to convert from rgb to b&w in
photoshop.

1) Mode>ConvertToGreyscale -- simple but no control.

2) Layer>NewAdjustmentLayer>ChannelMixer
Adjust sliders to get the look you want then click ok.

Do what other levels/curves adjustment to the image as
desired.

Sharpen as needed.

Convert to QTRLab and then save as tif

There are probably many fancy approaches and products
to buy but this gets you there.

Good luck!

Guy
--- Djon <westsidemaurice@...> wrote:

> 
> I'm confused by all the advice. Simple minded.
> 
> What's your best, most straightforward workflow from
> .psd and .jpg color
> to a b&w image (soft proof?) that can be manipulated
> reasonably
> predictably before being filed as tiff and
> opened/printed via QTRgui?
> 
> I'm looking for easy answers. I'm currently fairly
> successful simply
> previsualizing (remember that?) how color tiffs will
> work in b&W, but
> I'd rather see the image in advance. Lazy I guess. 
> 
> I'm not looking for a monitor depiction of b&w
> tone-color (cold, sepia
> etc), just reasonably visually accurate b&w, as with
> my b&w original
> negs. 
> 
> Currently QTRgui does fine with scans of original
> B&W film...
> predictable results, adjustments easily seen in my
> monitor before
> loading to QTR. 
> 
> 
> 
> 


		
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Hi Djon -- My favorite simple way is to change the Mode to Lab Color,
and use only the Lightness Channel plus some Levels and/or Curve
adjustment layers and sharpen. Save as TIFF. It works fine on many images.
Happy pictures!
Jim

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Djon"
<westsidemaurice@y...> wrote:
> 
> I'm confused by all the advice. Simple minded.
> 
> What's your best, most straightforward workflow from .psd and .jpg
color
> to a b&w image (soft proof?) that can be manipulated reasonably
> predictably before being filed as tiff and opened/printed via
QTRgui?
> 
> I'm looking for easy answers. I'm currently fairly successful simply
> previsualizing (remember that?) how color tiffs will work in b&W,
but
> I'd rather see the image in advance. Lazy I guess. 
> 
> I'm not looking for a monitor depiction of b&w tone-color (cold,
sepia

> etc), just reasonably visually accurate b&w, as with my b&w original
> negs. 
> 
> Currently QTRgui does fine with scans of original B&W film...
> predictable results, adjustments easily seen in my monitor before
> loading to QTR.

Guy, thanks...but what/where is QTRLab? I don't find it on PS7...

I'm simply running QTRgui, not QTR-for-big-brains (which reportedly
exists). 

John Kelly




--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, guy washburn
<guido02474@y...> wrote:

> Hi Dion,
> 
> There are two basic ways to convert from rgb to b&w in
> photoshop.
 
> 2) Layer>NewAdjustmentLayer>ChannelMixer
> Adjust sliders to get the look you want then click ok.
 
> 
> Convert to QTRLab and then save as tif
>

Djon,

>What's your best, most straightforward workflow from .psd and .jpg 
>color to a b&w image 
>I'm looking for easy answers. 

Please see article #7 at the web link below.  It describes an easy
method that still allows a lot of control.  It's the best balance I've
found between ease of use and total control (complex).  

Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm

Djon

I debated whether or not to respond to your post because the method 
described on my web site wasn't really meant as a quick solution.
 
But you used the word visualization, which my method supports, so I 
finally broke down and had to reply.  But to help you ease into it, 
this is my recommendation.  (It assumes you are using Photoshop.)  
Download the Photoshop action (not Channel Mixer file) that converts 
a color RGB image to a black and white image.  Then run the action 
called TMS-Channel Mixer for Measured Luminance.  This will create a 
black and white version of your image while retaining all color 
information.  Once you get comfortable, then you can read the Tone 
Management System pages on the web site at your leisure to learn how 
to take advantage of its structure.  The web site's download page
is 
located here.

http://www.zuberphotographics.com/page_Downloads.htm

Thomas

John,

The QTR GrayLab working space is available from Roy's
download page:
http://homepage.mac.com/royharrington/FileSharing2.html

It is easy to install -- the readme is quite clear.

Guy

--- Djon <westsidemaurice@...> wrote:

> 
> Guy, thanks...but what/where is QTRLab? I don't find
> it on PS7...
> 
> I'm simply running QTRgui, not QTR-for-big-brains
> (which reportedly
> exists). 
> 
> John Kelly
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com,
> guy washburn
> <guido02474@y...> wrote:
> > Hi Dion,
> > 
> > There are two basic ways to convert from rgb to
> b&w in
> > photoshop.
>  
> > 2) Layer>NewAdjustmentLayer>ChannelMixer
> > Adjust sliders to get the look you want then click
> ok.
>  
> > 
> > Convert to QTRLab and then save as tif
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> 



		
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Thomas and Clayton and others...thanks for the suggestions. I have to
study this seriously because I seem to be committing to B&W
again...Leicaitis.

John Kelly
Albuquerque