Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

My goal was to make these three feel as though they belong together as a set - meaning similar tonal range, brightness and contrast.

I started with a Nik Silver Efex preset and adjusted levels and brightness selectively, back in my PS Elements editor.

Do you have suggestions re a different workflow, or observations regarding these?

After-the-fact, I experimented with adjustments in ACR to make the histograms similar, but am limited by the "light" version of ACR in PSE

I can also do a "neutral" conversion in Silver Efex, and then work more sliders, plus curves - which I have almost no experience using. Would you go that route?

Thanks!

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terryMc Loc: Arizona's White Mountains

I have always struggled with the "workflow" concept: I know it is the way to go, and that organization is paramount in establishing good work habits, but I am very much a trial-and-error type of editor.

I do all my editing in ACR and Photoshop, with an occasional boost from Photo AI, which is the only plug-in I currently use at all. I am terrible when it comes to balancing tone and color throughout a set of images. and once lost out on a job opportunity because of that. It's a good thing I never became a wedding photographer, because every shot would have looked different. My experience with presets has been...unfavorable.

I don't do a lot of black and white, but when I do I usually start with a black and white adjustment layer. ACR/LrC has a similar feature under B&W but I have just never used that, since I am Photoshop-centric. (I don't know how extensive this would be in your version of ACR, or if it's there at all). Once I get a decent look, I will go to a gradient map to tweak the tones, and if necessary some Curves adjustments.

I have never put any exhaustive effort into learning to make excellent B&W; but I would if I knew of a course or something that would accomplish what I wanted.

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

I think work flow steps are a personal choice. If you watch enough YouTube videos on the subject, all the presenters have their own steps. Seem some say to Denise first. Others do it last. As one example.
As for your three images I think you succeeded.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I appreciate your taking the time to comment.

I've been very happy with Nik Silver Efex. I think this is the first time I've tried to make some photos look similar to others. I'd normally be processing for just one image. I do like starting with a pre-set most of time, as there are still many options for tweaking.

Trial and error is my favorite way to edit (and live)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thanks, Frank! My "problem" is about making images look the same, and this may be the first time I've ever tried.

Most of time I do fine for my needs and wants if I'm working on a single look for a single image, such as the high key winter shot of quail, or the graphical stairway to nowhere, and most recently a few Film Noir

Appreciate your time.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I have a set work flow from shutter click to LR import. It places meaningful file names on the files and loads them into a well defined folder structure, loads them into LR and backs everything up.

Once it's in LR, it's free form from there. No fixed workflow. Stochastic.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Take each photo and each circumstance as unique? So, if I try to match up three news photos into a similar "look," I can just forget what worked (or didn't) with these?

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

You are an example of what I was referring. Work flow is a personal preference, even in LR. Where you don’t have a set of steps each time you’re in LR.🤔

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

My workflow is mine. Your workflow may well differ. No problem.
I will admit that occasionally I will try to match images in some way.

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

Exactly.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

How do you go about achieving the match? Different for each circumstance, or similar? I wasn't "challenging" you in previous comment, just trying to clarify in my mind what you said

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Depends on what I'm matching. I'm not always trying to match the same thing, and the matching attempts are rare. (and I'm really bad at keeping records).

My post was really directed at NJFrank, who said that work flow steps are a personal choice. I was agreeing with him. I generally approach every image de novo when it comes to processing. I don't try A first, then B.....

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thanks for your input and time. Much appreciated!

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I always begin in Lightroom--complete edit. Then I move to Nik and do whatever is needed there. Then back to LR for final tweaking.

This seems to get me the best results with my b&w.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I'm not much on workflow (since I don't have one!). But as to these images, I think the first two play well together. They have a similar "feel," and even similar compositions. The last, however, is a horse of a different colour! Also, the first two have that one truly black spot or thing (the crack and the dark plant). The third has no true black and I'm not sure what could be done to give it one.