Photoshop B&W RAW help!

[swiftparkour94]

I've decided to start shooting raw and in b&w. When I put them into Photoshop it brings up the window to adjust whatever you want, but it's in color not b&w. I didn't know how to get the original b&w image on there so I just enable the gray scale. I compared the same image with the gray scale on and the other in my photo viewer program. There was a vast difference between the two with light and dark areas. So what I'm really asking is, is the process of raw b&w images in Photoshop done by enabling the gray scale and messing with it from there, or is there a way to get the same exact b&w image I took from the scene? I know, I know...raw shoots both b&w, I just can't find the b&w image in Photoshop. Is there a switch I'm missing to go back and forth between color and b&w?

 

[swiftparkour94]

BUMP

 

[Judobreaker]

RAW images don't shoot black and white. It's simple as that.
What you see on the camera is a simple in-camera conversion. The actual raw file still has all the color data.

You're going to have to convert the image to black and white yourself in Photoshop.

 

[swiftparkour94]

RAW images don't shoot black and white. It's simple as that.
What you see on the camera is a simple in-camera conversion. The actual raw file still has all the color data.

You're going to have to convert the image to black and white yourself in Photoshop.

WHAAAAAT I never knew that!! Then I was told wrong I'll still shoot in raw then, I like all the options it gives me with changing it because it's laid out nicely and I find the sharper to create less noise and refine great detail

 

[swiftparkour94]

*sharpening tool

 

[swiftparkour94]

RAW images don't shoot black and white. It's simple as that.
What you see on the camera is a simple in-camera conversion. The actual raw file still has all the color data.

You're going to have to convert the image to black and white yourself in Photoshop.

Oh, and why does my photo viewer program on my PC show it in b&w?

 

[Judobreaker]

What photo viewer are you using?
If it is one that came with the camera I can imagine it showing B&W if you shot it that way.
I use Adobe Bridge usually and it show in color even when shot in B&W.

 

[swiftparkour94]

What photo viewer are you using?
If it is one that came with the camera I can imagine it showing B&W if you shot it that way.
I use Adobe Bridge usually and it show in color even when shot in B&W.

Zoner Photo Studio 14 and Windows Live Photo Gallery. If I didn't want to change the photo up a bit in Photoshop then it'd still be in b&w, that's what I'm having a hard time understanding. If I want to change it in Photoshop, then it's in color so I have to make it b&w again. So technically shooting b&w in raw on my camera is pointless if I know I'll be changing some things to the images in Photoshop?

 

[Canuk]

When you shot the pics did you have it set to record a RAW and a jpeg file? If so the jpeg would be saved as an in camera B&W conversion.

 

[Judobreaker]

What photo viewer are you using?
If it is one that came with the camera I can imagine it showing B&W if you shot it that way.
I use Adobe Bridge usually and it show in color even when shot in B&W.

Zoner Photo Studio 14 and Windows Live Photo Gallery. If I didn't want to change the photo up a bit in Photoshop then it'd still be in b&w, that's what I'm having a hard time understanding. If I want to change it in Photoshop, then it's in color so I have to make it b&w again. So technically shooting b&w in raw on my camera is pointless if I know I'll be changing some things to the images in Photoshop?

Yes, technically that is rather pointless.
I always shoot in color, even if I think the result will be B&W. Conversion in Photoshop isn't too hard and you have full control over the conversion so you can get the best result.

 

[KmH]

Every Raw file includes an embedded JPEG Basic. An in-camera made B&W is a separate JPEG. Your camera settings will determine if it is a JPEG Fine, Medium, or Basic.

The JPEG Basic is what is displayed as a photo and as a Histogram on the camera's rear LCD. In image viewers that JPEG basic is also what is displayed, because the Raw image data file isn't actually a photo until it has been processed out of the camera in a Raw Converter application. Once the Raw file has been converted into a photo it's file type can be changed so it can be displayed by a photo viewer.

It doesn't look like Zoner Photo Studio is a Raw Converter. You can download a free one here - RawTherapee Blog

In-camera B&W actually produces monochrome images that suffer from a lack of contrast because the color is just desaturated.

Photoshop CS4, 5, 6 has a B&W adjustment layer that allows tonal density and contrast control of 6 colors during the color to B&W conversion process. Being an Adjustment layer, the conversion process is non-destructive. Some use a Channel Mixer Adjustment layer, but that only gives control of 3 colors.

There is also other software dedicated to doing color to B&W conversions.

Those who shoot film B&W use colored filters on the lens, considered film brand/type selection because of differing tonal responsiveness of the films, a variety of developing chemicals and techniques that also affect tonal reponse, and print paper selections that affect contrast in the final print.

In other words, making good B&W photos is a lot of work, and requires acquiring a fair amount of knowledge.

 

[swiftparkour94]

When you shot the pics did you have it set to record a RAW and a jpeg file? If so the jpeg would be saved as an in camera B&W conversion.

No it's just raw

 

[480sparky43 43]

When you shot the pics did you have it set to record a RAW and a jpeg file? If so the jpeg would be saved as an in camera B&W conversion.

No it's just raw

Then you're not shooting anything in B&W. Raw files are always color.

Unless you're shooting raw + JPEG, and specify the JPEG to be B&W, which would be an in-camera conversion.

 

[swiftparkour94]

Then you're not shooting anything in B&W. Raw files are always color.

Unless you're shooting raw + JPEG, and specify the JPEG to be B&W, which would be an in-camera conversion.

Is it a smaller file size? (stupid question but concerned)

 

[Judobreaker]

JPG is smaller, but leaves a lot less room for post processing.
In other words: RAW > JPG, both in file size and in usability.