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Phenomenal new software for B&W processing


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I have been demoing new software for B&W conversion of color digital images that is phenomenal. I have no association with this company, but I thought that the members of this forum might be interested in checking out the software <http://www.niksoftware.com/silverefexpro/usa/entry.php>

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I have been demoing new software for B&W conversion of color digital images that is phenomenal. I have no association with this company, but I thought that the members of this forum might be interested in checking out the software <http://www.niksoftware.com/silverefexpro/usa/entry.php>

 

I saw your post and decided to download the 15-day trial version. I used it on the M8 image below and have to say I'm pretty impressed.

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Looks interesting. Dual platform Aperture and Photoshop - all for one license fee? However at face level, it is more expensive than Exposure 2 and offers just 18 B+W films with no colour film capability.

 

User interface looks quite powerful. Academic for me having bought Exposure a few months ago.

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Ouch.

 

I just checked the prices of both of the Nik and Alien Skin products.

Too rich for my blood when I was able to get Imagenomic's Real Grain, Portraiture and Noiseware all for the same price one would pay for either Nik's B&W software or Alien Skin's software alone.

 

Real Grain alone is only $99. Pretty good deal when the B&W can mimic most current B&W films (Fuji Acros, all the Ilford Deltas, HP5+, Kodak's Tmax 100, 400, Tri-X 400, CN400, not to mention the pushed versions of some of these as well).

 

Dave

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There are a lot of less expensive b&w conversion softwares but to my eye Nik does the best job of simulating a real grain look. I also love the tonalities. Blacks are very rich and deep without sacrificing midtone and highlight details.

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They don't really illuminate a digital black and white workflow, though ;)

 

That was exactly my point Jamie :D

 

...though, it is a partially-digital workflow anyway, being that you are seeing them on a computer's screen ;)

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That was exactly my point Jamie :D

 

...though, it is a partially-digital workflow anyway, being that you are seeing them on a computer's screen ;)

 

Yep--I realized after I posted that there's still the scanning. Don't get me wrong--I still love black and white film too--I hate scanning though and these new BW processing plugins are getting very, very interesting too.

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Yep--I realized after I posted that there's still the scanning. Don't get me wrong--I still love black and white film too--I hate scanning though and these new BW processing plugins are getting very, very interesting too.

 

Yes, I agree - I was partially trying to be a smart-a$$ and partially serious; I do use AlienSkin when needed and I like the results quite a bit, and for 90% of my commercial work I use digital, of course. However, when I can I sneak some (BW) film images in my jobs (my MP is always with me when I am around shooting concerts and the like, and when I am in studio either the MP or the Hassy get always some use - it amuses the customers too, and help relaxing the atmosphere to see me playing with these relics ;)); what is really interesting for me is that my customers seem to regularly pick film BW pictures out the bunch of (digital) prints I show them. It should mean something, I guess... :D

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2125197410_acf2d25f5a.jpg

 

I think I have had great success with Alien Skin's software for conversion.

The secret has been not to simply rely on one program, though, but to pay careful attention to exposure and to develop a variety of complimentary tweaks in post.

My website howardwfrench.net is composed to large extent of converted M8 files. There are also a number of Rolleiflex files there, and I think the M8 conversions hold their own nicely. That's just as true in the actual prints.

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Guest stnami

........for anyone who desires good batch bnw results and doesn't want to play around too much it's a great plugin as is Alien skin. Photoshop can do it all along with a few scanned grains but it takes time to set up the actions' so for those not inclined to set up stuff it is worth it.

If it was 99 smackaroos I would buy it as a support application ..........

I PP each image individually even if it takes a while to complete. All my images are work in progress as I convert everything scanned to lossless compressed dng along with raw digital files and are never stored as completed images. I also have presets, actions etc on a thumbdrive both in PC and Mac format so I can download it to any computer with PS etc.

In the end all my prints are one offs with variations made every time I need to print, keeps everything fluid. As my intent changes I can apply new software changes as well as my improved skills to the same raw image. Stuff like Alien Skin, Nik etc are great backbones to images, though for bnw I still feel that RawDeveloper in LAB mode offers the best starting point.

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I've done a brief sampling of the "out of the box" conversions using Alien Skin, Nik, a standard Photoshop process, and Imagenomic.

 

I posted my results on another internet forum however I will replicate those here as well in the Digital Forum (rather than the M8 forum - although the photo was taken with the M8).

 

It's rather interesting to see how all different methods/plug-ins render the likeness of the same film differently.

 

Cheers,

Dave

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I purchased and have used extensively DXO Film Pack which also converts the color pics into B&W or color mimicking both film types and grain. It also has the advantage of allowing you to mix the grain pattern of one film with the tonal rendition of the other. I have placed well in competition using this tool and it lead me to almost permanently give up film and scanning into the computer.

 

Having said that, I also tried the 15 day trial on NIK SilverEffex and I have to say that there is no comparison. The NIK plug in absolutely blew me away with the amount of control and adjustment. It really made me feel like an Ansel Adams when I was done, and I say that with appropriate modesty and a recognition that feeling is not being.

 

Nevertheless, NIK has a superior tool in their SilverEffex. The real problem is whether I really want to spend the very high price to purchase it, and if I do, will I really use it that often? I can see a pro really getting payback, but I'm not so sure for an amateur unless he has the spare cash or simply must have the latest thing. Having said that, I may still take the plunge eventually.

 

It is a very impressive tool.

 

Jim Evidon

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