How to Convert color to B/W - DPChallenge Forums

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

05/09/2004 02:26:41 PM · #1

Can some one guide me ho to convert color snap into B/W.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

05/09/2004 02:34:03 PM · #2

What software do you have?

05/09/2004 02:42:04 PM · #3

Well sorry for that, I have PS 7

frumoaznicul

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

05/09/2004 02:53:51 PM · #4

Shift+Ctrl+U

Falc

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

05/09/2004 02:54:51 PM · #5

The best way I have found is to apply an adjustment layer and select channel mixer. Theres a mono checkbox on the dialog box. However you can then 'play' with the red, green and blue channels until you get the tonal range perfect.

I usually then refine this a little with another layer to adjust the contrast and brightness.

On occasion it is also worth playing around with the hue/saturation too just to really get an perfectly toned monochrome image.

Hope that helps.

Falc

Message edited by author 2004-05-09 14:55:42.

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

05/09/2004 03:02:38 PM · #6

Originally posted by Falc:

thanks but i have seen when i use your way i.e channel mixer, face is so white, some how i dont like that white.
BTW I read some where different types of B/W, like panchromatic, ochromatic ,monochromtic,
So if i want to have results as film B/W what the best way

caba

Nikon D800

05/09/2004 03:13:53 PM · #7

Check out this site and download the settings, you'll love them.

//www.outdooreyes.com/photo51.php3

link

Frank

Message edited by author 2004-05-09 15:14:56.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

05/09/2004 03:20:02 PM · #8

Greyscale Mode - Image> Mode > Greyscale
Desaturation - Image > Adjustment > Desaturation
Channel Mixer - Image > Adjustments > Channel Mixer
Color Channel Selection - Select Channels on the Layers/Channels/Paths palette, and click on Red, Green and Blue Channels. Create a new greyscale documena, and copy.

Ways of making it better after 1 of the above methods:

Contrast/Brightness
Variations
Curves
Levels
Selective Colors
Dodge and Burn
Gradient

Message edited by author 2004-05-09 15:20:48.

ChrisW123

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

05/09/2004 07:01:07 PM · #9

Here's a great tutorial on "Better B&Ws" using the Channel Mixer:

//www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/b-w_better.shtml

Message edited by author 2004-05-09 19:01:35.

goinskiing

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/09/2004 07:59:00 PM · #10

Originally posted by ChrisW123:

Here's a great tutorial on "Better B&Ws" using the Channel Mixer:

//www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/b-w_better.shtml

Thanks, that helps a lot because I have noticed that when I 'desaturate', I have a tendancy to get a really flat looking tone. This really helps.

ChrisW123

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

05/09/2004 08:21:05 PM · #11

No problem... Also, I'm playing with the Action that Caba posted which is pretty cool to. It does a lot of steps which I'm wondering if they are all really needed, although the maker of the action is pretty good and there's probably a good reason for all the steps.

However if you don't want to do all of that... when using the Channel Mixer technique in the article, you'll notice there are 3 basic "choices" which is Red (100% red, 0%blue, 0% green), Green (100% green, 0% blue, 0% red), and Blue (100% blue...). However you can play with the percent levels to duplicate (pretty closely) the results from that the BW action achives, and also to fit your particular picture, since the colors in your shot will make a diff as to which is best. I think the main thing to remember is that your combination of percents should always add up to 100 in general. Example 60%Red, 40%Green, and 0%Blue. Or 50%Red, 40%Green, 10%Blue. And I don't think you want to go negative on the percents, although I'm not sure. I'm still playing around with it. :)

Beagleboy

Canon EOS-30D

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

05/09/2004 08:33:48 PM · #12

Here's the link I use to guide me through the conversion from colour to B&W

//www.digidaan.nl/indexframedigidaan.html?channelmixer/index.html

ChrisW123

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

05/09/2004 10:07:24 PM · #13

Originally posted by Beagleboy:

Here's the link I use to guide me through the conversion from colour to B&W

//www.digidaan.nl/indexframedigidaan.html?channelmixer/index.html

I just tried this method. He says on the page that this is the reason that his method is better then using the Channel Mixer:

"The secret of a good conversion is having full control over how RGB-values get converted into grayscale-luminosities. The conversion I am about to describe gives that control, much more than the ChannelMixer."

However it seems I have a LOT more control using the channel mixer, and wouldn't using the channel mixer give you "full control over how RGB-values get converted into grayscale-luminosities", since you have a 0 to 100% setting for Red, Green, and Blue? I'm wondering if there's something more that his method gives which the channel mixer can't? Anyone know?

Using channel mixer I can also make the values of red, green, and blue add up to more or less then 100% for even more control. So I'm confused why the method above would be better. Can anyone explain this? I'm a relative newbie to this.

Message edited by author 2004-05-09 22:08:40.