Black'n'White??

sarah_19_nz · Jul 4, 2014

I struggle to make black and white images look "Awesome" ... critique please? Is this a pleasing conversion? If not tips are much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

tirediron · Jul 4, 2014

I think I might like to see a hair more contrast but it's pretty decent as-is.

sarah_19_nz · Jul 4, 2014

^^^^^ you are absolutely right, I just tried that and it looks better.

tirediron · Jul 4, 2014

sarah_19_nz said:
^^^^^ you are absolutely right, I just tried that and it looks better.

:mrgreen: Every now and then I get one right!

Derrel · Jul 5, 2014

How are you making your B&W conversions? There are multiple methods, in different softwares, and not all are equal.

sarah_19_nz · Jul 5, 2014

Derrel said:
How are you making your B&W conversions? There are multiple methods, in different softwares, and not all are equal.

To be completely honest this particular set used an "action" in photoshop

which I tweaked quite a bit. I'll have to look to see what method it used BUT Ive been using Lightroom and adjusting contrast and luminance, Tone curves and playing with the channels.

Sooo photoshop and Lightroom. If anyone has a link to some awesome tutorials that would be great, or just more advice on how to master the black and white edit.

snerd · Jul 5, 2014

For Lightroom videos.................

Learn Lightroom 5 | Adobe TV

sarah_19_nz · Jul 5, 2014

snerd said:
For Lightroom videos.................

Learn Lightroom 5 | Adobe TV

Thank you! Off to look...

KmH · Jul 5, 2014

Digital Monochrome: Black-and-White Photography from Capture to Photoshop Processing to Fine-Art Printing

Converting a Digital Color Photo into Black and White

Convert digital color photos to B&W - Bing

AlanKlein · Jul 5, 2014

She's a real cutie. Great catchlights. Her eyes are critically focused which is perfect. Awesome.

annamaria · Jul 5, 2014

Nice catch lights of her beautiful eyes. She is a real cutie.

Derrel · Jul 5, 2014

sarah_19_nz said:
Derrel said:

How are you making your B&W conversions? There are multiple methods, in different softwares, and not all are equal.

Click to expand...

To be completely honest this particular set used an "action" in photoshop which I tweaked quite a bit. I'll have to look to see what method it used BUT Ive been using Lightroom and adjusting contrast and luminance, Tone curves and playing with the channels.

Sooo photoshop and Lightroom. If anyone has a link to some awesome tutorials that would be great, or just more advice on how to master the black and white edit.

I like the Gradient Map B&W method in PS. Works well for me. Image>Adjust>Gradient Map...pick the black one, then tweak it, often using the curves tool.

In Lightroom, I often apply a COLOR action, like say Matt K's Lightroom Killer Tips action "Ultimate Fighter", then convert to B&W and adjust that result, as needed. The colored filters, like green, red, yellow, and orange in Lightroom can be VERY helpful too, to help set the proper tonal values for objects and skin. Ultimate Fighter>B&W>Green Filter for example, can work pretty well if a person has say a flannel shirt or hoodie with a lot of green in it, and you want the greens to be rendered light enough to look like, well, green, not red.

sarah_19_nz · Jul 5, 2014

O.K so I have been going through all the links you guys have posted today and learning about converting to b'n'w all weekend. I came accross a link to this software "silver efex pro" and had a play around with the "trial version" It is great!... here is another attempt I made on my daughters images... Tell me what you think? I am a fan of contrasty, black and white images rather than the muddy, grey look... anyway tell me what you think good and bad!

Cheers!

Derrel · Jul 5, 2014

Looks pretty crisp, and pretty good. Nik Software's Silver Efex Pro has been something like the "gold standard" for B&W conversions for close to a decade now I guess it is now. Here's a review for those who have not heard of it.Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 review » Ken Kaminesky Travel Photography Blog