Black & White Conversion. Kent Messamore 9/8/2013

Transcription

1 Black & White Conversion Kent Messamore 9/8/2013

2 Why Black & White when Color is available? Black & White developed as Fine Art in 40 s and 50 s Silver, Cadmium, Platinum prints became state of the art. Today we are trying to duplicate these film based images on inkjet printers. It is still very difficult. Color images present a feeling of reality while B&W brings us into the realm of fine art. Color in many ways detracts from the image while B&W draws the viewer in B&W can evoke viewer emotion better than Color High contrast B&W well toned images can be used to draw the viewers eye directly to the photogapher s intent JKM 9/8/2013 Enhanced Images 2

3 RGB B&W Channels Original Red Channel - Contrast & highlights usually in red channel. Faces are usually presented well since skin has a red component. Green Channel - Tonality & detail is usually in Green channel Blue Channel Least amount if information. Garbage & noise is usually in blue channel JKM 9/8/2013 Enhanced Images 3

4 Other B&W Channels CMYK Original Red Channel Green Channel Blue Channel CMYK Channels Cyan Channel Magenta Channel Yellow Channel K or Black Channel JKM 9/8/2013 Enhanced Images 4

5 Black & White Conversion Methods Grayscale Desaturated (Menu) Desaturated (Hue & Sat) Lightness Red Channel Contrast & highlights usually in red Green Channel Tonality & detail is usually in Green Blue Channel Garbage & noise is usually in blue All of these methods may produce satisfactory Black & White Images, however they do not take advantage of the diverse tonality present in all of the color channels JKM 9/8/2013 Enhanced Images 5

6 B&W in PS & Lightroom PS/LR B&W conversions makes good use of the color information in the image. Each color is adjustable for gray tonality. As you slide the blue slider you implement a blue filter which allows changing the blue colors in the image from black to white. Original B&W conversion is an adjustment layer making it completely reversible. Tinting JKM 9/8/2013 Enhanced Images 6

7 B&W Toning Channels to Layers Once you are satisfied with your B&W image you can provide some additional color toning by opening a Hue & Saturation Layer and selecting Colorize. Then dial in the specific color and saturation you prefer. Green Channel Blue Channel NECCC Competition rules allows only one additional color besides Black & White. Duotone is allowed. Tritone and Quadratones are not. Split tone is not allowed (different color tones in the shadows and highlights) Channels to Layers JKM 9/8/2013 Enhanced Images 7

8 B&W Adding Noise In many cases Noise improves a B&W image. There are many techniques to add noise. Simply using the Add Noise filter is the simplest There are actions available that simulate noise in various B&W films (Tri-x, Ilford, etc.) JKM 9/8/2013 Enhanced Images 8

9 Adding Color Back In for Emphasis Layer Mask JKM 9/8/2013 Enhanced Images 9

10 Ten Zone Step Chart and Curves Curves Dialog Box Alt Key and click switches from quarter tones to 10 tones Info Dialog Box Sample Points Histogram Ansel Adams -- And God created light and he divided it into 10 zones JKM 9/8/2013 Enhanced Images 10

11 Tonal Range Selection Specific Tone - Color Range and Eye Dropper JKM 9/8/2013 Enhanced Images 11

12 Curves Curser become eye dropper. Ctrl Click on any point sets Control Point on curve Notes: 1. Monitor your Shadow and Highlight sample points to make sure you don t lose detail. 2. Increasing contrast can also impact color saturation. Set Blend mode to Luminosity to eliminate effect. Can set RGB all at same time or can select a single channel. This is the S Curve which increases contrast. Darker Shadows and whiter Highlights Decrease Shadow value Drive zones to white Drive zones to black Decrease highlight value Input & Output values 2 Zones Darkening Mid Tones The steeper the slope the more contrast. Decrease slope to reduce contrast. Freeform curve tool JKM 9/8/2013 Enhanced Images 12

13 Burn & Dodge Layer Range selects Shadows, Midtones, Highlights Exposure controls amount Rename Burn & Dodge Layer Dodge is to make lighter Burn is to make darker 50% Gray Soft Light Blend Mode Sponge is color desaturation tool Set Soft Light Blend Mode Burn & Dodge Layer Check Fill with Soft Light neutral color (50% gray) Alt + New Layer Icon Paint on B&D Layer with soft brush: Black darkens and White lightens JKM 9/8/2013 Enhanced Images 13