Converting Colour to B&W: I would like as many UHH members to tell me their favourite way (of the many) to convert a colour image to a B&W image. A BRIEF explanation as to why it's...

infocus Loc: Australia

I would like as many UHH members to tell me their favourite way (of the many) to convert a colour image to a B&W image. A BRIEF explanation as to why it's your fav. might be helpful too.
Personally I have two I like above most. Gradient map and Channel Mixer. I like gradient map because it seems to give a greater tonal range (or tonality) and I like Channel Mixer because you can pick a filter to "shoot through".

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I use the black and white conversion in PS. That method allows me to adjust the various colours as if I was using filters with black and white film.
--Bob

infocus wrote:

I would like as many UHH members to tell me their favourite way (of the many) to convert a colour image to a B&W image. A BRIEF explanation as to why it's your fav. might be helpful too.
Personally I have two I like above most. Gradient map and Channel Mixer. I like gradient map because it seems to give a greater tonal range (or tonality) and I like Channel Mixer because you can pick a filter to "shoot through".

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

While many are addicted to the machinations of Adobe Life [machinations is not a pasta rather "a crafty and involved plot to achieve your goal"], I prescribe to the KIS method. Conversion thru the edit programs is using a Swiss army knife to do a screw driver or wrench work. Topaz B&W2 is excellent and there is more to B&W than just B and W... Such a program opens the door to a wide field of old tech looks. Download a trial. Cost $60
http://www.topazlabs.com/bweffects

Franzis also has a B&W program #5 @ $129. Ashampoo sells many Franzis [previous edition] programs... did not see B&W
https://www.ashampoo.com/en/usd/fdl/21/52/0/0
https://www.projects-software.com/black-white

For $35 you can get #4
http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/65-off-black-white-projects-4-software-for-sar-readers/

I hope this is helpful

bratliff Loc: Atlanta, GA

I use the NIK plug-ins for Lightroom. I think Silver Efex allows for a great deal of control and options for converting to B&W and is fairly simple to start using. AND, it's free. :)

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

bratliff wrote:

I use the NIK plug-ins for Lightroom. I think Silver Efex allows for a great deal of control and options for converting to B&W and is fairly simple to start using. AND, it's free. :)

I don't have a favorite. I use the NIK plug-ins and the Adobe CC suite (LR + PS). It really depends on the subject. Sometimes a simple desaturation is enough. But you can spend hours tweaking the tones...

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

infocus wrote:

I would like as many UHH members to tell me their favourite way (of the many) to convert a colour image to a B&W image. A BRIEF explanation as to why it's your fav. might be helpful too.
Personally I have two I like above most. Gradient map and Channel Mixer. I like gradient map because it seems to give a greater tonal range (or tonality) and I like Channel Mixer because you can pick a filter to "shoot through".

A method I use quite often in Photoshop is the Dual Hue/Saturation layer method, usually attributed to Russell Brown. Its advantage is that you only have to adjust one slider to see all the possible effects, rather than the channel mixer where you have multiple sliders to adjust:

http://www.outbackphoto.com/workshop/photoshop_corner/essay_21/essay.html

I have set up a Photoshop action to quickly set up the layers.

infocus Loc: Australia

rmalarz wrote:

I use the black and white conversion in PS. That method allows me to adjust the various colours as if I was using filters with black and white film.
--Bob

Thank you for taking the time to reply Bob, much appreciated.

infocus Loc: Australia

dpullum wrote:

While many are addicted to the machinations of Ad... (show quote)

Very helpful, thank you for taking the time. Much appreciated.

infocus Loc: Australia

burkphoto wrote:

I don't have a favorite. I use the NIK plug-ins and the Adobe CC suite (LR + PS). It really depends on the subject. Sometimes a simple desaturation is enough. But you can spend hours tweaking the tones...

Thank you for taking the time to respond, it's appreciated.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Silver Efex

infocus Loc: Australia

JohnSwanda wrote:

A method I use quite often in Photoshop is the Dual Hue/Saturation layer method, usually attributed to Russell Brown. Its advantage is that you only have to adjust one slider to see all the possible effects, rather than the channel mixer where you have multiple sliders to adjust:

http://www.outbackphoto.com/workshop/photoshop_corner/essay_21/essay.html

I have set up a Photoshop action to quickly set up the layers.

That was one I'd not heard of before. Thanks for the link and for taking the time to reply, much appreciated.

infocus Loc: Australia

Kmgw9v wrote:

Silver Efex

Yep! Used that one. Thanks for taking the time to respond, much appreciated.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

infocus wrote:

I would like as many UHH members to tell me their favourite way (of the many) to convert a colour image to a B&W image. A BRIEF explanation as to why it's your fav. might be helpful too.
Personally I have two I like above most. Gradient map and Channel Mixer. I like gradient map because it seems to give a greater tonal range (or tonality) and I like Channel Mixer because you can pick a filter to "shoot through".

I use Macphun Tonality because it allows be to add color filters filters.

infocus Loc: Australia

Mac wrote:

I use Macphun Tonality because it allows be to add color filters filters.

Thank you very much for your reply. I haven't heard of that one - thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

I use topaz most of the time, as it has many presets to choose from plus lots of ways to edit the color.
on occasion I use NIK's Silver FX pro. when I cant get exactly what I want in Topaz I'll try it.
If its just something I'm putting on Facebook, I just use photoshops B&W because its quick, ( when I really dont care a whole lot about how it looks)