User ID

What I do to a color file before
draining out the color to mono:

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srt101fan

How and why do you do it that way?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I've found that there are several methods that can be used to convert a color photograph to one that is black and white. Adhering to one method can produce photographs that are lacking just something of really being impressive.

I'm not sure of your method illustrated here. Are you trying to emulate filters?
--Bob

User ID

Tonal value and contrast is an entirely different
game in monochrome than in color. So I set up
the image before changing to grey scale mode.

It's more effective to do your value and contrast
adjustments to the color version cuz colors can
help you define areas. Colors make editor tools
of selection more effective at localizing contrast
and value adjustments.

It's loosely analogous to using deep color filters
on a colorful world that you're photographing on
BW film .... except the film version puts only one
color filter effect on the entire frame. With digital
imaging I can apply various color filters, and do
so to various different defined areas, not simply
to the whole scene as with film.

I hope you don't think that the middle image is
the only step in the transition. There are others
before it. It is the final color stage. OTOH there
is still some minor tweaking to do even AFTER
the conversion to gray scale.

.

srt101fan

Impressive! Thanks for the explanation.

User ID

Yes. Various "colored BW film filters" get
applied to different areas within the frame.

With film you hadda choose, red filter for
a darker sky, or green filter to bring up
the foliage. You couldn't do both with film.
But with digital you can, and so acoarst I
do ! And beyond, as needed. As you said,
there's many ways. No need to choose as
they all work together where applicable.

.