Black & White conversion by stacking: The Photoshop Elements "Convert to Black and White" dialog offers six presets with varying intensity of the three primary colors. Often none of...

Guyserman Loc: Benton, AR

The Photoshop Elements "Convert to Black and White" dialog offers six presets with varying intensity of the three primary colors. Often none of the presets gives the look I want over the entire photo. So for this covered bridge picture I duplicated the image five times and converted the layers using different presets and using layer masks to reveal the particular part of the photo for each preset.

(Download)

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Impressive effort and nice image. How long did the image take you?

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Guyserman wrote:

The Photoshop Elements "Convert to Black and White" dialog offers six presets with varying intensity of the three primary colors. Often none of the presets gives the look I want over the entire photo. So for this covered bridge picture I duplicated the image five times and converted the layers using different presets and using layer masks to reveal the particular part of the photo for each preset.

Great job 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Guyserman Loc: Benton, AR

47greyfox wrote:

Impressive effort and nice image. How long did the image take you?

Thanks for the comment. I spent some time mulling over the different presets and could I possibly use the sliders on the presets. Once it struck me to do it this way it took maybe 15 minutes. I did not make any selections. As I added each layer I covered it entirely with a black mask and then just painted with a white brush. I set the brush hardness to 90% so that I would not have hard edges and recklessly painted away.

Guyserman Loc: Benton, AR

joecichjr wrote:

Great job 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Thanks, Joe.

Was I #20,000?

Rongnongno Loc: FL

A modular alternative it to use two layers:
— Selective color layer
— B&W layer

Create the layer in this specific order:
— Selective color layer
— B&W layer

Process:
— Select the 'Selective color layer'
— Adjust the grey per color shade and color component (YMC sliders) as needed (this is more precise than the B&W layer)
— You can also use the B slider to adjust the brightness.
— Select the B&W layer and adjust as normal if needed. I usually do not need it. This layer only exists to create the B&W image edited from the color selection.

I found this unorthodox method highly flexible. Since no masks are used, it also uses less computer resources. The idea is to address the colors shade components vs the color shade itself.

Please note that I use PS CC and the 'selective color adjustment layer' may not be available in PSE.

I'll post a sample image if requested.

Guyserman Loc: Benton, AR

Rongnongno wrote:

...I'll post a sample image if requested.

Yes, I'd love to see what this produces.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Image 1 is 'original'
Image 2 is B&W default
Image 3 Is using a selective color adjustment, B&W still at default settings.

Please notice the amount of detail pulled out in the branches. An added bonus.

Color 'original'
Color 'original'...

(Download)

B&W layer (default)
B&W layer (default)...

(Download)

Resulting B&W using underlying selective color adjustment

(Download)

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Guyserman your photo turned out to be an excellent one, but why limit and struggle with PS or PSE or other off the shelf editors when a plugin like Topaz B&W2 or other conversion plugins... gives such a wide range of conversions. As the phrase goes... "Try it, you will like it."
https://hdrsoftware.com/silver-efex-vs-topaz-bw-effects

Rongnongno Loc: FL

dpullum wrote:

Guyserman your photo turned out to be an excellent one, but why limit and struggle with PS or PSE or other off the shelf editors when a plugin like Topaz B&W2 or other conversion plugins... gives such a wide range of conversions. As the phrase goes... "Try it, you will like it."
https://hdrsoftware.com/silver-efex-vs-topaz-bw-effects

And learning is not better?

Guyserman Loc: Benton, AR

Rongnongno wrote:

Image 1 is 'original'
Image 2 is B&W default
Image 3 Is using a selective color adjustment, B&W still at default settings.

Please notice the amount of detail pulled out in the branches. An added bonus.

Definitely an improvement. I cannot find selective color adjustment in Elements.

Guyserman Loc: Benton, AR

dpullum wrote:

Guyserman your photo turned out to be an excellent one, but why limit and struggle with PS or PSE or other off the shelf editors when a plugin like Topaz B&W2 or other conversion plugins... gives such a wide range of conversions. As the phrase goes... "Try it, you will like it."
https://hdrsoftware.com/silver-efex-vs-topaz-bw-effects

Many people will not understand my reasons. This is not my profession. I have no need to turn out the very best in short order. I have no desire to spend money and struggle with new applications. I enjoy using Photoshop Elements. And there is gratification in doing it my way (just ask Frank Sinatra.) You have different ideas... great. To each his on.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Guyserman wrote:

The Photoshop Elements "Convert to Black and White" dialog offers six presets with varying intensity of the three primary colors. Often none of the presets gives the look I want over the entire photo. So for this covered bridge picture I duplicated the image five times and converted the layers using different presets and using layer masks to reveal the particular part of the photo for each preset.

That is a really nice covered bridge shot.

Guyserman Loc: Benton, AR

Fotoartist wrote:

That is a really nice covered bridge shot.

Thanks, Fotoartist. Like has been said in another topic, even a blind hog finds an acorn occasionally.