Black and white conversions compared
Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:50 pmHere is my view about simple black and white conversion methods in Elements. By simple I mean using merely an additional layer. I don't take into account methods simulating coloured filter effects, you can always apply a hue/sat adjustment or photo filter under the conversion layer. I do not forget that Elements has no masks for standard layers, and I favour adjustment layers which take less file space.
1- simplest and best known: a hue/sat adjustment layer and move saturation slider to -100. It has a mask, but the result is generally dull, it's the same effect as desaturating a layer or removing color. You'll need to enhance the contrast, generally or locally.
2 - A gradient map adjustment layer. Less known, although using the standard black to white gradient is as simple as the above method. Results are generally much better, depending on the picture. The real plus is that when you know how to edit a gradient with one or two stops, you can mimic any curve and achieve a very good result for any kind of picture. It's really worth practicing with the gradient editor! You can even do a sepia or simple duotone.
3 - A solid color fill layer with 50% grey in color mode. It has a mask, and gives a generally pleasant result which is equivalent to the well known trick of duplicating the background layer in luminosity mode over a 50% grey layer. Another advantage is the result is very close to what can be achieved by Lab conversion.
4 - Lab mode of Photoshop is missing in Elements. I have add-ons by Benny Pedersen and Graffi which can extract the lightness channel which is considered a good start. I also love the free smartcurve plugin from epaperpress. You choose the Lab mode. You have to transform the curves of a and b channel so that they are horizontal in the middle of the vertical axis. This desaturates. To adjust tone and contrast, tweak the lightness channel, s-curve or whatever to get the best for every picture. And it works in 16 bits!
And if you want to play with ACR, keep in mind you have an excellent control on black and white conversion, as I already stated in another thread...
1- simplest and best known: a hue/sat adjustment layer and move saturation slider to -100. It has a mask, but the result is generally dull, it's the same effect as desaturating a layer or removing color. You'll need to enhance the contrast, generally or locally.
2 - A gradient map adjustment layer. Less known, although using the standard black to white gradient is as simple as the above method. Results are generally much better, depending on the picture. The real plus is that when you know how to edit a gradient with one or two stops, you can mimic any curve and achieve a very good result for any kind of picture. It's really worth practicing with the gradient editor! You can even do a sepia or simple duotone.
3 - A solid color fill layer with 50% grey in color mode. It has a mask, and gives a generally pleasant result which is equivalent to the well known trick of duplicating the background layer in luminosity mode over a 50% grey layer. Another advantage is the result is very close to what can be achieved by Lab conversion.
4 - Lab mode of Photoshop is missing in Elements. I have add-ons by Benny Pedersen and Graffi which can extract the lightness channel which is considered a good start. I also love the free smartcurve plugin from epaperpress. You choose the Lab mode. You have to transform the curves of a and b channel so that they are horizontal in the middle of the vertical axis. This desaturates. To adjust tone and contrast, tweak the lightness channel, s-curve or whatever to get the best for every picture. And it works in 16 bits!
And if you want to play with ACR, keep in mind you have an excellent control on black and white conversion, as I already stated in another thread...
