Digital BW, The Print

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

--- 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

I've found a little more information about PSE 5.0. Sue Chastain of 
About.com has put together a walkthrough with info. about color 
curves, black & white conversion, sharpening, etc. 

Start: 
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/ig/PSE5new/index.htm?nl=1

Color curves: 
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/ig/PSE5new/Curves-
Adjustment.htm
"More experienced users can expand the advanced options for full 
control over highlights, brightness, contrast, and shadows. You can 
see how changes affect the color curve in the diagram on the right. 
Unfortunately, the color curves function was not implemented as an 
adjustment layer." 

Black & white conversion: 
http://z.about.com/d/graphicssoft/1/0/z/m/4/pse5-04.jpg
"Now instead of being limited to a simple desaturated conversion to 
black and white, users can choose from several styles of black and 
white that are based on color channels from the original images. 
After choosing a style, the B&W effect can be further refined by 
clicking on the variation samples. It's really very simple and gives 
much nicer results than the desaturate command."

Sharpening: 
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/ig/PSE5new/Adjust-
Sharpness.htm
"The Adjust Sharpness tool is based on the "Smart Sharpen" command 
which was introduced in Photoshop CS2. I have been loving this new 
sharpening tool in Photoshop CS2 and I am thrilled to see that Adobe 
has migrated a simpler version of it to Elements. Not only is it 
easier to use and understand, but the sharpening results are much 
better and there is less tendency to get "the halo effect" from 
oversharpening."

It would be great to read some more comments from you guys on how 
this version of
PSE may be suitable for black & white printing as a substitute for 
PS. Thanks.

Michael

As best I can tell, it does not have the curves that we need for control of
the inksets I've been involved with.  It also does not have the color
balance controls that seemed to me to be the best way to tone an image when
using the ColorVision ICC, which sets the tone to "neutral."   

 

So, it appears, from what I've been able to tell, about the same as v. 4.  

 

Paul

www.PaulRoark.com <http://www.paulroark.com/>  

 

 

  _____  

From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
michael3442
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2006 7:41 PM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] Re: PSE 5.0 - new Convert to B&W and Color Curves
tools

 

I've found a little more information about PSE 5.0. Sue Chastain of 
About.com has put together a walkthrough with info. about color 
curves, black & white conversion, sharpening, etc. 

Start: 
http://graphicssoft
<http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/ig/PSE5new/index.htm?nl=1>
.about.com/od/pselements/ig/PSE5new/index.htm?nl=1

Color curves: 
http://graphicssoft
<http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/ig/PSE5new/Curves->
.about.com/od/pselements/ig/PSE5new/Curves-
Adjustment.htm
"More experienced users can expand the advanced options for full 
control over highlights, brightness, contrast, and shadows. You can 
see how changes affect the color curve in the diagram on the right. 
Unfortunately, the color curves function was not implemented as an 
adjustment layer." 

Black & white conversion: 
http://z.about. <http://z.about.com/d/graphicssoft/1/0/z/m/4/pse5-04.jpg>
com/d/graphicssoft/1/0/z/m/4/pse5-04.jpg
"Now instead of being limited to a simple desaturated conversion to 
black and white, users can choose from several styles of black and 
white that are based on color channels from the original images. 
After choosing a style, the B&W effect can be further refined by 
clicking on the variation samples. It's really very simple and gives 
much nicer results than the desaturate command."

Sharpening: 
http://graphicssoft
<http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/ig/PSE5new/Adjust->
.about.com/od/pselements/ig/PSE5new/Adjust-
Sharpness.htm
"The Adjust Sharpness tool is based on the "Smart Sharpen" command 
which was introduced in Photoshop CS2. I have been loving this new 
sharpening tool in Photoshop CS2 and I am thrilled to see that Adobe 
has migrated a simpler version of it to Elements. Not only is it 
easier to use and understand, but the sharpening results are much 
better and there is less tendency to get "the halo effect" from 
oversharpening."

It would be great to read some more comments from you guys on how 
this version of
PSE may be suitable for black & white printing as a substitute for 
PS. Thanks.

Michael

 



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