t_vorenkamp_mod4 Many photographers in the digital age have asked, “What is the best method for converting digital color images to superb black and white images on Photoshop?” A search of your local library, bookstore, and the Internet show that there are almost limitless ways to skin the B&W cat in Photoshop. Some are quick and easy and produce acceptable results. Some are very intricate and produce great results. I think I have found a method that is fairly fast, straightforward, and produces results that rival the more involved processes. This method is not my own. I received guidance from many sources in person and on the internet. Before I dive in, I would like to thank classmates Jerry Atnip (jerryatnip.com), Jamelle K. and Tim A. for their email/Photoshop actions support. The bulk of this method comes from Ken Rockwell (www.kenrockwell.com) and his source, Scott Kelby (www.scottkelby.com). Apparently, Photoshop CS3 has a very nice B&W conversion function built-in to the program that is easy to use, yet produces fine results. I am stuck in the early part of the ones (this decade) with Photoshop CS. Therefore I do not have the benefit of sharing with you the process for CS 3. Having said that, what I am about to share with you should work on CS, CS 2, and CS 3. t_vorenkamp_mod5b The use of the “channel mixer” seems to be the most preferred method used for B&W conversions. The method I am using does not utilize the channel mixer. The base for my technique comes from Ken Rockwell’s site (www.kenrockwell.com/tech/photoshop/b-w.htm). His web site shows the results achieved with different techniques: 0% saturation, grayscale, channel mixers, and finally, a trick he attributes to Scott Kelby of Photoshop Insider – CALCULATIONS. I tried this technique in the past and enjoyed the results, but I always had difficulty saving the images. I would save them and then, when reopened, they would be back to color. I could not figure out why this was. Rockwell’s website gives no hints as to why this is, so I abandoned the experiment. That is where Jerry Atnip saved the day during a phone call. Jerry pulled some of his knowledge from his technique, applied it to Rockwell/Kelby’s technique, and BLAMO!!!….the file saved as it should have! So, here it goes. You will see many steps outlined below, but once you do it, you will find the process very quick and virtually painless. I will outline the process step-by-step so that there is little room for confusion or mistakes to creep in! WARNING: Make sure that once you complete the conversion that you save the file under a different name and that you do not overwrite the original color file! Once converted and saved, there is no going back!!! t_vorenkamp_mod5c Todd’s Step-by-Step How-To Guide to Black & White Photoshop Conversions for Digital Images 1. Open your image in Photoshop. 2. You can make your levels/sharpness/color adjustments before the B&W conversion if you want, or wait until after the conversion. 3. Choose IMAGE > CALCULATIONS from the menu bar in Photoshop. 4. You will notice that all of the color has left your image. You might also notice that the image looks better than it would have had you done simple grayscale or de-saturation followed by brightness/contrast adjustments. 5. If you want to see what else you can do to the image, play around with the two boxes labeled “Channel.” Try Grey, Red, Green, or Blue. Make sure the preview block is checked so that you can see your adjustments live. 6. Once you find a combination that you like (it may very well have been the initial settings from Photoshop) you can adjust the box labeled “Blending.” “Multiply” and “Overlay” seem to work the best for me. Try the others to see what you get. 7. Once you are finished there, click “OK” and enjoy your new image. 8. Now, in order to save your new B&W image, you must select grayscale by going to IMAGE > MODE > GRAYSCALE. Yes, grayscale is the often-shunned Photoshop B&W conversion technique, but you will notice that after you do the CALCULATIONS adjustment, selecting GRAYSCALE will not effect your image. 9. Feel free to make any adjustments that you did not do previously (levels, curves, shar t_vorenkamp_mod6 Optional Advanced Technique: Toning [Again, thanks to Ken Rockwell/Kelby for the basics and Jerry Atnip for the insight and assistance.] www.kenrockwell.com/tech/photoshop/toning.htm. 1. After finishing the CALCULATIONS and GRAYSCALE changes select IMAGE > MODE > DUOTONE. 2. Click on the “Type” block and select “Quadtone.” Only one “ink” shows up as “black.” 3. Now click on the “Load” bubble. 4. You will find the quadtones under the following folder: Photoshop CS (2, or 3) > Presets > Duotones > Quadtones. 5. My Photoshop version shows three quadtone folders: Gray, PANTONE (R), and Process. 6. Select a quadtone and see how it affects your image. Play around with the different files and see what you get. This is strictly optional of course. You can also make your own quadtone and save it for future use. 7. Similar to my experience making the CALCULATION adjustment above, you will have difficulty saving your toned image as a .jpg. This time, if you select IMAGE < MODE < GRAYSCALE the image will change. Instead of setting to grayscale, select IMAGE < MODE < RGB COLOR - the image will not change tone or color - then save your toned file. Good luck! -Todd