There is apparently a CS3 "filter" dialog to convert color images to B&Ws. Is this is easier/better/faster/funner than using the channel-mixer routine?
Pete D.
Posted by John Mumaw on December 18, 2007 at 12:24 AM
Not only is it easier, but you have two extra colors (cyan & magenta) to work with. The best part of the new B&W Filter is that instead of randomly adjusting the sliders, you can click on the different areas of the image that you want to make darker or lighter and drag left or right to see the changes in that certain tonal area. All of this and the filter works as an adjustment layer!
This has revolutionized my b&w conversions and is easily one of the best improvements in CS3.
Another feature of this filter that isn't mentioned is the fact that you can add some 'pop' to your color images by creating a B&W Filter adjustment layer, set the Blend mode to Luminosity or Soft Light, and then clck and drag on the parts of the image where you want to adjust the color.
Posted by Rod Barbee on December 18, 2007 at 12:26 AM
Oh yes. It's actually an Adjustment Layer. It has presets like: red filter, green filter, infrared, etc. I find it definitely easier to use than the channel mixer route. Faster? yes. Better? don't really know. Looks good to me.
And if your contemplating a move from CS2 to CS3, the new RAW converter is worth the price alone. But you also get this B&W adjustment Layer, smart objects, and more.
Take the leap. Take the leap.
Posted by John Mumaw on December 18, 2007 at 12:46 AM
ACR in CS3 offers the exact same set of controls as Lightroom, and if you open the RAW file in PS as a smart object, you can re-open the image back in ACR for future edits and those edits are updated in PS.
Discussion
3 repliesPete D.
This has revolutionized my b&w conversions and is easily one of the best improvements in CS3.
Another feature of this filter that isn't mentioned is the fact that you can add some 'pop' to your color images by creating a B&W Filter adjustment layer, set the Blend mode to Luminosity or Soft Light, and then clck and drag on the parts of the image where you want to adjust the color.
And if your contemplating a move from CS2 to CS3, the new RAW converter is worth the price alone. But you also get this B&W adjustment Layer, smart objects, and more.
Take the leap. Take the leap.