Digital BW, The Print

Hi All,

I am new to creating BW images in PS and have gotten pretty good at a 
workflow that involves using Lab color and channels.  My results have 
been mostly satisfactory.  I recently saw an article in After Capture 
that showed some impressive results using Silver Efex Pro and wondered 
if anyone in the group has used it and what their experience has been. 

Alan Trembly

You can download the 15 day demo and try it, ...so try it.

Mark
http://www.stillrivereditions.com

On Feb 17, 2009, at 10:48 AM, atrembly2001 wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I am new to creating BW images in PS and have gotten pretty good at a
> workflow that involves using Lab color and channels.  My results have
> been mostly satisfactory.  I recently saw an article in After Capture
> that showed some impressive results using Silver Efex Pro and wondered
> if anyone in the group has used it and what their experience has been.
>
> Alan Trembly
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks for that Mark. I'm still interested in what other members of 
the group think about it though.



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Mark Savoia 
<mark@...> wrote:
>
> You can download the 15 day demo and try it, ...so try it.
> 
> Mark
> http://www.stillrivereditions.com
> 
> On Feb 17, 2009, at 10:48 AM, atrembly2001 wrote:
> 
> > Hi All,
> >
> > I am new to creating BW images in PS and have gotten pretty good 
at a
> > workflow that involves using Lab color and channels.  My results 
have
> > been mostly satisfactory.  I recently saw an article in After 
Capture
> > that showed some impressive results using Silver Efex Pro and 
wondered
> > if anyone in the group has used it and what their experience has 
been.

> >
> > Alan Trembly
> >
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I have been through several iMac screens, they are very uneven.  
Waiting for the LED version due out this year.

Mark
http://www.stillrivereditions.com

On Feb 18, 2009, at 10:13 AM, Peter De Smidt wrote:

>  Good photo editing LCDs are usually IPS panels, such as those used
> in the Apple Imac.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dell recently came out with a 22\u2033 monitor with an e-IPS panel that\u2019s 
getting some good buzz. It regularly retails for $299, but there are 
rumors of a special deal. Using the live chat feature on their small 
business site, I was just able to order the monitor for $213 plus tax, 
shipping included. (I had called earlier today, but the salesperson said 
that the best price was $285, which is still a great price on an e-IPS 
monitor.)

The link is:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=04&sku=320-7825&dgc=BF&cid=7421&lid=197378&acd=10466193-1225267-u0t1181717f0fp0c0s558 
<http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=04&sku=320-7825&dgc=BF&cid=7421&lid=197378&acd=10466193-1225267-u0t1181717f0fp0c0s558>

As you may know, most LCD panels aren\u2019t very good for photo editing. 
This is because most LCD\u2019s are TN panels, which are the cheapest to 
produce and tend to have good response times for games and movies, but 
they have poor uniformity, and the image will change if you move your 
head. Good photo editing LCDs are usually IPS panels, such as those used 
in the Apple Imac. Dell\u2019s 2209WA uses an e-IPS panel from LG. \u201cE\u201d 
probably means \u201ceconomy.\u201d It probably isn\u2019t as good as the higher priced 
(much higher priced!!!) IPS monitors, but the word on the street is that 
it\u2019s pretty good. When it arrives, I\u2019ll let everyone know my impressions.

Alan,
Have been using Silver Efex for a while and find the learning curve
short if you are familiar with curves, levels etc.  Great for adding
local contrast with control points, for filter effects [can dial down
the presets], for adding film characteristics of many types of b/w
films, for toning a wide spectrum of tints and strengths, for
vignetting.  Certainly worth a few hours tooling around with the free
demo.
Good luck
Alan


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "atrembly2001"
<atrembly@...> wrote:

>
> Hi All,
> 
> I am new to creating BW images in PS and have gotten pretty good at a 
> workflow that involves using Lab color and channels.  My results have 
> been mostly satisfactory.  I recently saw an article in After Capture 
> that showed some impressive results using Silver Efex Pro and wondered 
> if anyone in the group has used it and what their experience has been. 
> 
> Alan Trembly
>

Disclaimer/background:
* I lurk here 99.9% of the time
* I'm a hobbiest, not a pro (I do BW for personal use, friends; 
definitely not in the fine art league)
* Print proofs at home on an HP inkjet; use MPIX or WHCC to make 
large BW prints
* Have used all "convert to BW" methods using Photoshop that I've 
ever found, e.g., use best of individual channels via layer masks, 
channel mixer, calculations, BW adjustment layer, Gorman, multiple 
hue/sat layers, L channel, etc., and many 3rd party plugins (free and 
$$)
* Written numerous PS actions to reduce labor intensity
* Used to spend hours converting a given image to BW

When SEP first came out I was on the side of those who rightfully 
asked, "Why pay for a plugin to do what you can do in PS, especially 
for THAT MUCH money?" 

But then favorable reports from "real people" (not flowery, seldom 
critical BS reviews found in mags and commercial websites) started 
showing up on various forums. Since NIK offered a fully functional 15-
day trial, I decided to give it a shot. In short order I was very 
impressed.

I ended up purchasing it for my school-age son (33% educational 
discount) and installing on his computer. I use this plugin almost 
every day. I still use methods noted above for comparison purposes; 
90%+ of the time I end up going with output from SEP, either by 
itself or in combination with results from another process.

I also suggest doing the download trial thing. Seeing is believing.
 
YMWV.

Danny

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "atrembly2001" 
<atrembly@...> wrote:

> if anyone in the group has used Nik Silver Efex Pro and what their 
experience has been.

Thanks Danny.  That is exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Danny Raphael" 
<dannyraphael@...> wrote:
>
> Disclaimer/background:
> * I lurk here 99.9% of the time
> * I'm a hobbiest, not a pro (I do BW for personal use, friends; 
> definitely not in the fine art league)
> * Print proofs at home on an HP inkjet; use MPIX or WHCC to make 
> large BW prints
> * Have used all "convert to BW" methods using Photoshop that I've 
> ever found, e.g., use best of individual channels via layer masks, 
> channel mixer, calculations, BW adjustment layer, Gorman, multiple 
> hue/sat layers, L channel, etc., and many 3rd party plugins (free 
and 
> $$)
> * Written numerous PS actions to reduce labor intensity
> * Used to spend hours converting a given image to BW
> 
> When SEP first came out I was on the side of those who rightfully 
> asked, "Why pay for a plugin to do what you can do in PS, 
especially 
> for THAT MUCH money?" 
> 
> But then favorable reports from "real people" (not flowery, seldom 
> critical BS reviews found in mags and commercial websites) started 
> showing up on various forums. Since NIK offered a fully functional 
15-
> day trial, I decided to give it a shot. In short order I was very 
> impressed.
> 
> I ended up purchasing it for my school-age son (33% educational 
> discount) and installing on his computer. I use this plugin almost 
> every day. I still use methods noted above for comparison purposes; 
> 90%+ of the time I end up going with output from SEP, either by 
> itself or in combination with results from another process.
> 
> I also suggest doing the download trial thing. Seeing is believing.
>  
> YMWV.
> 
> Danny
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "atrembly2001" 
> <atrembly@> wrote:
> 
> > if anyone in the group has used Nik Silver Efex Pro and what 
their 
> experience has been.
>

Thanks for that Alan.  Much appreciated.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Alan Berkson" 
<alanberkson@...> wrote:
>
> Alan,
> Have been using Silver Efex for a while and find the learning curve
> short if you are familiar with curves, levels etc.  Great for adding
> local contrast with control points, for filter effects [can dial 
down
> the presets], for adding film characteristics of many types of b/w
> films, for toning a wide spectrum of tints and strengths, for
> vignetting.  Certainly worth a few hours tooling around with the 
free
> demo.
> Good luck
> Alan
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "atrembly2001"
> <atrembly@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi All,
> > 
> > I am new to creating BW images in PS and have gotten pretty good 
at a 
> > workflow that involves using Lab color and channels.  My results 
have 
> > been mostly satisfactory.  I recently saw an article in After 
Capture 
> > that showed some impressive results using Silver Efex Pro and 
wondered 
> > if anyone in the group has used it and what their experience has 
been. 

> > 
> > Alan Trembly
> >
>

I have used Silver Efex quite a bit although I haven't printed 
anything yet because of chronic problems with my Epson 2400. For 
general B&W you may be just as well off if not better using channels. 
The advantage of Silver Efex is the ability to simulate various 
various development processes such as selenium and to get quick and 
dirty "looks". I like it a lot. I actually use Alien Skin Exposure 
more because you can directly simulate various film stocks -- does a 
pretty good job on various B&W as well as color emulsions. These 
programs don't let you do anything you can't do in PS -- just quicker 
and easier with perhaps a bit more control over various parameters. 
But as I say I haven't been printing recently -- Exposure gave me 
very nice B&W prints when I used it last.

Dave

David J. Schneider

Danny do you use CS4 also? I've found the new algorithms in the B&W 
adj layer are VERY good in Photoshop CS4!

Debbi

>Disclaimer/background:
>* I lurk here 99.9% of the time
>* I'm a hobbiest, not a pro (I do BW for personal use, friends;
>definitely not in the fine art league)
>* Print proofs at home on an HP inkjet; use MPIX or WHCC to make
>large BW prints
>* Have used all "convert to BW" methods using Photoshop that I've
>ever found, e.g., use best of individual channels via layer masks,
>channel mixer, calculations, BW adjustment layer, Gorman, multiple
>hue/sat layers, L channel, etc., and many 3rd party plugins (free and
>$$)
>* Written numerous PS actions to reduce labor intensity
>* Used to spend hours converting a given image to BW
>
>When SEP first came out I was on the side of those who rightfully
>asked, "Why pay for a plugin to do what you can do in PS, especially
>for THAT MUCH money?"
>
>But then favorable reports from "real people" (not flowery, seldom
>critical BS reviews found in mags and commercial websites) started
>showing up on various forums. Since NIK offered a fully functional 15-
>day trial, I decided to give it a shot. In short order I was very
>impressed.
>
>I ended up purchasing it for my school-age son (33% educational
>discount) and installing on his computer. I use this plugin almost
>every day. I still use methods noted above for comparison purposes;
>90%+ of the time I end up going with output from SEP, either by
>itself or in combination with results from another process.
>
>I also suggest doing the download trial thing. Seeing is believing.
>
>YMWV.
>
>Danny
>
>--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "atrembly2001"
><atrembly@...> wrote:
>
>>  if anyone in the group has used Nik Silver Efex Pro and what their
>experience has been.
>

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Debbi <corkie@...> wrote:
>
> Danny do you use CS4 also? I've found the new algorithms in the B&W 
> adj layer are VERY good in Photoshop CS4!
> 
> Debbi
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >Disclaimer/background:
> >* I lurk here 99.9% of the time
> >* I'm a hobbiest, not a pro (I do BW for personal use, friends;
> >definitely not in the fine art league)
> >* Print proofs at home on an HP inkjet; use MPIX or WHCC to make
> >large BW prints
> >* Have used all "convert to BW" methods using Photoshop that I've
> >ever found, e.g., use best of individual channels via layer masks,
> >channel mixer, calculations, BW adjustment layer, Gorman, multiple
> >hue/sat layers, L channel, etc., and many 3rd party plugins (free and
> >$$)
> >* Written numerous PS actions to reduce labor intensity
> >* Used to spend hours converting a given image to BW
> >
> >When SEP first came out I was on the side of those who rightfully
> >asked, "Why pay for a plugin to do what you can do in PS, especially
> >for THAT MUCH money?"
> >
> >But then favorable reports from "real people" (not flowery, seldom
> >critical BS reviews found in mags and commercial websites) started
> >showing up on various forums. Since NIK offered a fully functional 15-
> >day trial, I decided to give it a shot. In short order I was very
> >impressed.
> >
> >I ended up purchasing it for my school-age son (33% educational
> >discount) and installing on his computer. I use this plugin almost
> >every day. I still use methods noted above for comparison purposes;
> >90%+ of the time I end up going with output from SEP, either by
> >itself or in combination with results from another process.
> >
> >I also suggest doing the download trial thing. Seeing is believing.
> >
> >YMWV.
> >
> >Danny
> >
> >--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "atrembly2001"
> ><atrembly@> wrote:
> >
> >>  if anyone in the group has used Nik Silver Efex Pro and what their
> >experience has been.
> >
>
I have nothing but excellent things to say about all NIK products but especially Silver Efex. I've using it steadily for months now. There are endless variations within each of the presets and I've just begun to explore the film variations.  I've used it on virtually all my B+w shots [ http://jimsonweed.blogspot.com/ ]

Plus, it has a Holga preset!

Hi Debbi:

I have CS3. The BW adjustment layer is indeed pretty slick.

For comparison purposes I'll usually do 3-4 interpretations using SEP, chan mix, BW AL, "the best of individual channels" using layer masks, contrast masks, fine tuning with multiple masked curves adjustment layers, etc. Most of the time I prefer "the looks" (in terms of contrast) I can get with SEP over I'm able to achieve using the traditional methods. 

I occasionally use SEP for noise simulation, but never for toning/tinting, frames/edge effects. 

The 16x20 [and up] prints (by MPIX) look very good - to me, anyway.

Danny

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Debbi <corkie@...> wrote:

>
> Danny do you use CS4 also? I've found the new algorithms in the B&W 
> adj layer are VERY good in Photoshop CS4!
> 
> Debbi
>

Good to know, Thanks Danny!
Debbi

>Hi Debbi:
>
>I have CS3. The BW adjustment layer is indeed pretty slick.
>
>For comparison purposes I'll usually do 3-4 interpretations using 
>SEP, chan mix, BW AL, "the best of individual channels" using layer 
>masks, contrast masks, fine tuning with multiple masked curves 
>adjustment layers, etc. Most of the time I prefer "the looks" (in 
>terms of contrast) I can get with SEP over I'm able to achieve using 
>the traditional methods.
>
>I occasionally use SEP for noise simulation, but never for 
>toning/tinting, frames/edge effects.
>
>The 16x20 [and up] prints (by MPIX) look very good - to me, anyway.
>
>Danny
>
>--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Debbi <corkie@...> wrote:
>>
>>  Danny do you use CS4 also? I've found the new algorithms in the B&W
>>  adj layer are VERY good in Photoshop CS4!
>>
>  > Debbi
>>