Help with Post-Processing Horse Photo to B&W: When I took this shot, my intent was to turn it into B&W. I had no luck with it in post-processing. I thought the color version just...

Laura72568 Loc: Anderson TX

When I took this shot, my intent was to turn it into B&W. I had no luck with it in post-processing. I thought the color version just looked better. Can anyone try to convert this to B&W and see if you can do some magic with it? Thanks!

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Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thanks so much for the opportunity, Laura!

First, I pulled it into PS Elements' version of ACR, where I changed the white balance. Wasn't sure what would happen when I removed a lot of the yellow, but was pleased with the result. I also lowered contrast and highlights, added a bit more clarity.

In PSE, I accessed Nik Silver Efex, where I used the fine art pre-set. Then I used colored filters to darken background and lighten the horse.

Back in PSE, I did selective adjustments to darken background, and lighten certain areas of the horse, such as its mane.

In Nik Color Efex, I did a "darken edges/lighten center" filter, which works a bit like a vignette.

Frame on #2 is from Picasa.

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Laura72568 Loc: Anderson TX

Thanks Linda...it looks great! I love it.

Do you find that changing the white balance before converting to B&W is often necessary? I never thought of it, to tell you the truth.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Laura72568 wrote:

Thanks Linda...it looks great! I love it.

Do you find that changing the white balance before converting to B&W is often necessary? I never thought of it, to tell you the truth.

I'm so glad, Laura! Always great to practice, and always fun to use someone else's shot :)

Re the white balance: I don't know if I've done that before. Maybe something in the recesses of my little brain I recalled from another topic. It's mainly that this one was so heavy on yellow (in the foliage as well as the horse), I figured I'd see what would happen with a change.

Laura72568 Loc: Anderson TX

Linda From Maine wrote:

I'm so glad, Laura! Always great to practice, and always fun to use someone else's shot :)

Re the white balance: I don't know if I've done that before. Maybe something in the recesses of my little brain I recalled from another topic. It's mainly that this one was so heavy on yellow (in the foliage as well as the horse), I figured I'd see what would happen with a change.

Gotcha. Thanks again. It's nice to see that what I had envisioned could be there with a little help from a fellow UHH member!

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Laura72568 wrote:

When I took this shot, my intent was to turn it into B&W. I had no luck with it in post-processing. I thought the color version just looked better. Can anyone try to convert this to B&W and see if you can do some magic with it? Thanks!

Here's a Mobile Lightroom version using Scott Kelby's Split-Toning technique with a bit of cropping and a touch more Structure from Google Snapseed.

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CajonPhotog Loc: Shreveport, LA

rjaywallace wrote:

Here's a Mobile Lightroom version using Scott Kelby's Split-Toning technique with a bit of cropping and a touch more Structure from Google Snapseed.

Here is my edit. I applied both a multiply layer and a screen layer, each with a mask and painted in darker where I wanted it and brighter where I wanted ir. Then worked with it in ACR to further enhance the contrast, then once again back in PS, I gave it a bit of sharpening. Great photo to begin with. Thanks for the tinker time.

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R.G. Loc: Scotland

I thought the eyes and face needed a bit of bringing out, and the background is softened and de-noised.

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Laura72568 Loc: Anderson TX

Thanks to everyone who made this image in to black & white. I really enjoy seeing what everyone did... Thanks again!

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

A haircut and a bit slimmer.

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angela k Loc: Long Island

Laura, I played with the sliders in PSE13 and this is what I came up with.

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Laura72568 Loc: Anderson TX

rjaywallace wrote:

Here's a Mobile Lightroom version using Scott Kelby's Split-Toning technique with a bit of cropping and a touch more Structure from Google Snapseed.

I really like what you did here...thanks so much!

Shakey Loc: Traveling again to Norway and other places.

Laura72568 wrote:

When I took this shot, my intent was to turn it into B&W. I had no luck with it in post-processing. I thought the color version just looked better. Can anyone try to convert this to B&W and see if you can do some magic with it? Thanks!

Nice horse, Laura. My interpretation is not exactly B&W but something a little different. Reduced the highlights on the horse's right flank. Blurred the background. Sharpened the image.

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rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Laura72568 wrote:

Thanks Linda...it looks great! I love it.

Do you find that changing the white balance before converting to B&W is often necessary? I never thought of it, to tell you the truth.

Laura, WB is quite important, IMHO, for both colour and prior to a black and white conversion. By doing a WB the tones of the black and white will be more true in their appearance.
--Bob

Laura72568 Loc: Anderson TX

rmalarz wrote:

Laura, WB is quite important, IMHO, for both colour and prior to a black and white conversion. By doing a WB the tones of the black and white will be more true in their appearance.
--Bob

Interesting...never even crossed my mind. I love learning....thanks!