black & white
Oct 29, 2012 08:28:04 #
Andrea
Loc: Naples, Florida
Hi, can somebody tell me what the difference is when changing a colored photo to black in white in post production (i use lightroom) as apposed to using the black & white setting in my camera? (i have a canon 60D and 7D) I know that when doing so in camera it can not be converted to color. I do not shoot in Raw. Thanks.
Oct 29, 2012 08:43:23 #
Andrea wrote:
Hi, can somebody tell me what the difference is when changing a colored photo to black in white in post production (i use lightroom) as apposed to using the black & white setting in my camera? (i have a canon 60D and 7D) I know that when doing so in camera it can not be converted to color. I do not shoot in Raw. Thanks.
Have you tried it yourself?? :)
Oct 29, 2012 08:51:09 #
Andrea
Loc: Naples, Florida
I have converted colored images to black & white but have never used black & white setting in camera.
Oct 29, 2012 08:59:13 #
Andrea wrote:
I have converted colored images to black & white but have never used black & white setting in camera.
Andrea, I agree with Warrior: Have you tried it yourself?
I can tell you what the results are like from my camera, but cameras DO differ! So do editing programs.
Why not put on your favourite lens, go sit on your sundeck, and take two photos: One in full colour, the second one with identical settings for aperture, exposure and ISO, and the added setting for B/W.
Then change the coloured one to B/W on your computer (there are a couple of ways to do this, depending on your editing program, so try each method and save the resulting image).
Then put the photos side-by-side or tiled on your monitor, and see which you like best.
It will be a fun half hour, and what you have learned will not be forgotten as easily as someone telling you what the difference is.
EstherP
Oct 29, 2012 11:25:59 #
Andrea wrote:
Hi, can somebody tell me what the difference is when changing a colored photo to black in white in post production (i use lightroom) as apposed to using the black & white setting in my camera?
Shooting in color and changing to black and white later gives you two photos to have fun with. 8-)
Oct 29, 2012 15:10:45 #
Andrea wrote:
Hi, can somebody tell me what the difference is when changing a colored photo to black in white in post production (i use lightroom) as apposed to using the black & white setting in my camera? (i have a canon 60D and 7D) I know that when doing so in camera it can not be converted to color. I do not shoot in Raw. Thanks.
Shooting in B&W in the camera limits adjusting the tonal range of colors individually. EG, the tone of red berries and green leaves on a shrub might be the same. If you shot in color, you can easily adjust the red / greens separately and then convert to B&W.
IMO, you should be doing this in RAW. Most cameras, will allow JPEG + RAW-- so you can have both at your disposal.
Oct 29, 2012 18:56:26 #
Andrea wrote:
Hi, can somebody tell me what the difference is when changing a colored photo to black in white in post production (i use lightroom) as apposed to using the black & white setting in my camera? (i have a canon 60D and 7D) I know that when doing so in camera it can not be converted to color. I do not shoot in Raw. Thanks.
Let the camera decide what the photo should look like versus you after the fact...
Oct 30, 2012 09:41:48 #
As LoneRangeFinder pointed out, it is a matter of control over picture quality, so the follow-up quesion here is: What are you going to use the picture for? If this is for a quick snap-shot to upload to Facebook, Flicker, etc. where the picture will be viewed from anything from a pocket size phone to computer screen (and quality is a secondary issue), then the camera may work fine. If you are going showcase the picture or do any kind of post processing after the shot you would really be better off maintaining full control of the image and converting it to B&W via Lightroom.
Oct 30, 2012 10:21:37 #
I would offer this information--if using photoshop, do not use their "convert to B&W" button. Instead use gradients to get the B&W image. I have not his yet, but have seen it done and the image done with gradients was much better.
Oct 30, 2012 10:48:55 #
If you are really serious about making b/w images, you really need to be shooting in RAW because you have much, much more control over the end result. For example, If your goal is a b/w image, some things such as saturation and clarity may be set differently than if going for a color image. I'm not as down on "convert to B&W" in PhotoShop as is chapjohn. It, and channels adjustment both work well once you get used to them. Also, the NIK Silver Effects plugin can do fabulous things in b/w.
Oct 30, 2012 11:39:47 #
LoneRangeFinder wrote:
quote=Andrea Hi, can somebody tell me what the di... (show quote)
Agree 100% This is what I do except I just shoot in RAW not JPEG + RAW. I then use Nik Silver Efex Pro as part of my PP
Oct 30, 2012 11:52:21 #
I'm not much into B&W but here is what I have read. Your image sensor records in RAW a color image no matter what you set your camera to. What you do with it after that is your choice.
One choice it to use the camera's relatively weak capability to create a B&W image only. That gives you the least control. Don't get the idea that there is some kind of purity to that approach. Your camera is doing post-processing for you. You are simply giving up control and using the camera's relatively weak post-processing computer. If that meets your desires it is fine.
Another is to record the RAW image only and work with that post processing. That gives you the most control.
A third in my camera, anyway, is to record both the RAW image and a jpeg. If I set the camera to B&W the jpeg will be B&W. But the RAW image preserves the color it records so I can do whatever in ex-camera post processing. This is having your cake and eating it too.
One choice it to use the camera's relatively weak capability to create a B&W image only. That gives you the least control. Don't get the idea that there is some kind of purity to that approach. Your camera is doing post-processing for you. You are simply giving up control and using the camera's relatively weak post-processing computer. If that meets your desires it is fine.
Another is to record the RAW image only and work with that post processing. That gives you the most control.
A third in my camera, anyway, is to record both the RAW image and a jpeg. If I set the camera to B&W the jpeg will be B&W. But the RAW image preserves the color it records so I can do whatever in ex-camera post processing. This is having your cake and eating it too.
Oct 30, 2012 12:45:59 #
One-third of my images are converted to BW. My flow is to shoot RAW +JPEG. Import to LR4. EDIT IN nIK sILVER. Save as a TIFF.
Conversion of color to B/W within the camera is easy but certaily not as detailed because it is essentially removing the saturation and perhaps uping the co0ntrast.
BW in the caamera is more of a promotion tool for the non-serious photographer.
Conversion of color to B/W within the camera is easy but certaily not as detailed because it is essentially removing the saturation and perhaps uping the co0ntrast.
BW in the caamera is more of a promotion tool for the non-serious photographer.
Oct 30, 2012 16:38:41 #
photoman022
Loc: Manchester CT USA
LoneRangeFinder wrote:
quote=Andrea Hi, can somebody tell me what the di... (show quote)
Black and White in RAW will not work. It will display as Black and white on your LCD screen, but will be in color in post processing. I know this from personal experience. I've started shooting in RAW and took a great photo of a dead tree. The results on the LCD screen were phenomenal--just what I was looking for. Trying to convert back in post processing hasn't given me the results I'm looking for. A bing.com search revealed that RAW "overwrites" all of your in-camera settings, giving you color (whether you want it or not).
Oct 30, 2012 16:40:42 #
Andrea wrote:
Hi, can somebody tell me what the difference is when changing a colored photo to black in white in post production (i use lightroom) as apposed to using the black & white setting in my camera? (i have a canon 60D and 7D) I know that when doing so in camera it can not be converted to color. I do not shoot in Raw. Thanks.
Andrea I would agree with most of the posts on here regarding using Lightroom and/or PS to make your convertion.Personally a camera produced BW image is just a jpeg without colour...the equivalent of just grey scaling in PS, and looks flat and without good tonal contrast between the blacks and whites. With RAW you have so much control,especially within the Lightroom RAW converter, on how various colours will work with the colour removed. Look how dark some great BW skies are,they don't appear that black from the camera but by manipulating the intensity of the blue before removing the colour.
It's what's makes photography such a personel and rewarding pastime as you as the creator of the image have control over how the finished article will look, so take the advice of some of the other posts and give it a go you can and will surprise yourself how much more gratifying the final BW result will be
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