What technique do you use for black and white in Photoshop?

[Kolander]

I'm always trying to improve my B&W, but I'm never happy with the results. Which method do you prefer?

For example, I like the book Esther Haase made for the pianist Sara Ott.

 

[ann]

s

 

[ann]

channel mixer, however, Nik"s Silver flex pro has become my go to software

 

[gsgary]

Lab color

 

[KmH]

Black & white adjustment layer, plus additional layers for dodge, burn, mid-tone contrast, exposure, and whatever else the image seems to need.

 

[MLeeK]

I prefer to convert in Raw and adjust the color sliders to achieve the proper balance. Add a little contrast with the curve.
I also like one of the Kubota actions.

 

[paigew]

I do the same as KmH. You won't get good results by simply 'converting'. You have to play with contrast and curves to give it depth.

 

[Ysarex86 80]

If I'm going to create a monochrome photo I start in the raw converter and get the tone translation and color done there. I like my monochrome photos to have a slight color tint. In Photoshop I do any local adjustments, distortion adjustments and final sharpening. In the photo below the tone translation, color and overall tone response were done in C1. There was some glare off the glass blocks under the right side window and I suppressed that with a brush in Photoshop.

Joe

 

[Derrel]

Gradient map is my usual method.