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View Full Version : How do I PP Black and White


jackwest
Jan 18th, 2009, 02:49 PM
Anyone know how to PP black and white to get those truly amazing pictures.

I use lightroom 2.0 and I just can't seem to get it right. I have alot of shots that would be amazing if I had the PP skillz.
goofball
Jan 18th, 2009, 04:21 PM
try the OnOne free plugins for Lightroom, there should be B&W preset options there that you would like.

http://www.ononesoftware.com/detail.php?prodLine_id=33
sfu_engineer
Jan 19th, 2009, 07:40 PM
I have just started getting into B&W. But what I have found in Lightroom is that you can't edit a photo into B&W the same way as a colour photo. I like to make a duplicate Virtual Copy image and edit that using the "B&W High Contrast" preset in the Develop menu. Then I add to the exposure to brighten up the image, and play with black and contrast levels. Furthermore you can play with the different colour channels to change the brightness of specific colours inside the now "black and white" image. For example changing the "orange" colour channel changes skin tone brightness in Caucasion/Asian people.

Here is one I recently played around with using the above steps:

http://spencerfu.com/weddings/jennyandbrad/etest/20090118-IMG_8809-SpencerFu-web.jpg
CSAgent
Jan 19th, 2009, 08:36 PM
B&W is more challenging than it looks, trust me. I thought it was easy when I started getting into it but found there are actually more variables than meets the eye.

You really have to understand how to use shadow and light to bring out the image, and have it convey the emotion that you are trying to bring through. After all, you only have two shades to work with.
CameraBill
Jan 21st, 2009, 07:07 PM
The original image has to be lit well to get anything worth while from B&W. Harsh overhead midday sun will not give you a good B&W. It takes more shadow than light to get an interesting B&W.
bpopd
Jan 27th, 2009, 11:51 AM
The original image has to be lit well to get anything worth while from B&W. Harsh overhead midday sun will not give you a good B&W. It takes more shadow than light to get an interesting B&W.

ditto.
demi2004
Jan 27th, 2009, 12:33 PM
Anyone know how to PP black and white to get those truly amazing pictures.

I use lightroom 2.0 and I just can't seem to get it right. I have alot of shots that would be amazing if I had the PP skillz.

I don't touch photoshop anymore. all my editing is done 99.9% in lightroom.

Play with adjustments and settings,including channels.Learn to use channels. Lightroom can give you amazing b/w in 2 seconds that it would take me 5 minutes to achive in Photoshop.
sfu_engineer
Jan 27th, 2009, 08:31 PM
I don't touch photoshop anymore. all my editing is done 99.9% in lightroom.

Play with adjustments and settings,including channels.Learn to use channels. Lightroom can give you amazing b/w in 2 seconds that it would take me 5 minutes to achive in Photoshop.

+1

There's things in LR that I can do in seconds which I have no idea where to start in PS. I know PS can do EVERYTHING but LR just makes it so easy.
tienm23
Jan 28th, 2009, 04:31 PM
+1

There's things in LR that I can do in seconds which I have no idea where to start in PS. I know PS can do EVERYTHING but LR just makes it so easy.

and I'm the opposite. I hate lightroom and use a combination of Picasa :-0 and CS4.