The BW tool is likely the most powerful of the tools available on CS3. I usually use it in conjunction with curves/levels layers as well as local burning and dodging.
You can always try the channel mixer, but I doubt you'll get much better results.
Posted by Robert Fisher on August 29, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Either the B&W tool in CS3 or the B&W conversion feature in ACR.
Because both give more control over individual colours than the Channel Mixer, I personally find them to be better. A Hue/Saturation adjustment layer can work well too, desaturating each colour and using the Lightness slider to adjust tonality and get the desired separation.
As Younes suggested, other adjustments are usually necessary to complete the conversion.
Posted by John Mumaw on August 29, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Another vote for the B&W Adjustment Layer in CS3.
I also agree with BobF and Younes that some tweaking is usually needed in order to get the very best b&w image.
Most important, you need the right image to convert. Not all color images translate well into b&w.
Posted by Lance Warley on August 29, 2008 at 12:15 PM
I process the image in color first, except for sharpening.
Then I use S Kelby's method: Image - Mode – Lab Color; Channels panel – click Lightness channel; Image – Mode – Grayscale; Duplicate layer – use Screen and/or Multiply (most likely) to make it lighter or darker, adjusting opacity.
Then I sharpen.
Ditto John's comment - it has to be the right image.
Posted by Kelly Rowe on August 29, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Currently LR2 is the bomb for black and white conversions. You get 8 colors to tweak vs. the 6 in CS3, and you can apply the adjustments to specific parts of the image using the brush tool. You can do the same in CS3 using layers, masking, and selections, but it's a lot more tedious. LR2 hides all those details from the user.
Posted by John Mumaw on August 29, 2008 at 1:27 PM
Discussion
6 repliesCurious what method you're using for b&w conversion?
I've been using the black and white layers tool in PSCS3, but I'm not too happy with some of my results.
Wonderfing if theirs some better options.
Any suggestions/advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
Kevin
You can always try the channel mixer, but I doubt you'll get much better results.
Because both give more control over individual colours than the Channel Mixer, I personally find them to be better. A Hue/Saturation adjustment layer can work well too, desaturating each colour and using the Lightness slider to adjust tonality and get the desired separation.
As Younes suggested, other adjustments are usually necessary to complete the conversion.
I also agree with BobF and Younes that some tweaking is usually needed in order to get the very best b&w image.
Most important, you need the right image to convert. Not all color images translate well into b&w.
Then I use S Kelby's method: Image - Mode – Lab Color; Channels panel – click Lightness channel; Image – Mode – Grayscale; Duplicate layer – use Screen and/or Multiply (most likely) to make it lighter or darker, adjusting opacity.
Then I sharpen.
Ditto John's comment - it has to be the right image.
ACR in CS3 uses the same 8 colors as LR2.