Black and white conversion thoughts

[Maggie_O]

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Channel mixer works fine for abstract images but skin tones quickly look unnatural if one plays with them too much, unless that's the look one is going for - it's certainly not like XP2.

 

OK, that's just Crazy Talk™. Skin tones only look unnatural if you don't know what you're doing. And that can happen even with plug-ins that do all the heavy lifting for you.

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[ronaldh]

Hi Ronald, is that the Fred Miranda product? I liked the output - and it's inexpensive, but I didn't like the fact that it always flattens any layers when it runs.

 

Hi Steve

 

Here is a link

More info

 

Not sure if that is what you have tried. You can chose presets to give the curves equivalent to the b and w film of your choice then ,under the contrast tab, sliders allow you to set negative exposure, print exposure and paper grade. There is even filtration.

 

Regards

 

Ronnie

[stunsworth]

Hi Ronnie

 

I've seen that one before but never tried it. The other one I've tried and been happy with is the Power Retouche plug-in...

 

Black and white conversion software - a digital darkroom in a photoshop plugin

 

But I keep coming back to the Alien Skin one because I can control everything - tonal response, curves and grain from one screen.

 

I assume that almost everything that can be achieved with these plugins can be done in 'standard' Photoshop, but what you gain by using them is consistency and speed of operation. Plus I happen to think that the Alien Skin Tri-X setting does a good job <grin>

[guywalder]

for those using the JFI profiles plug-ins, do they work with C1-LE?

 

Actually I am looking for grain simulation, and would prefer to do it in PS, but the Alien Skins plug-ins need CS or later, and because I am not an early adopter I am using PS-7....

any suggestions, or is PowerRetouche my only option?

 

cheers

[j. borger]

for those using the JFI profiles plug-ins, do they work with C1-LE?

 

Actually I am looking for grain simulation, and would prefer to do it in PS, but the Alien Skins plug-ins need CS or later, and because I am not an early adopter I am using PS-7....

any suggestions, or is PowerRetouche my only option?

 

cheers

 

Yes the JFI profiles work wit C1 Le ..... but they do not add any kind of grain!

For realistic grain Alien Skin really is the best if not only way to go ......

[guywalder]

Han,

Thanks, I had just come back to edit my post to ask about grain! I couldnt find any mention of grain on the JFI site, and I dont like the look of the PowerRetouche examples. Looks like I have no other options with PS-7

[Shootist]

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Han,

Thanks, I had just come back to edit my post to ask about grain! I couldnt find any mention of grain on the JFI site, and I dont like the look of the PowerRetouche examples. Looks like I have no other options with PS-7

Why not update your Photoshop to the latest, CS3, if you can from PS 7. It's only $199 and is well worth it, IMHO.

[chris_livsey]

Jeff Ascough's actions are the best I've tried & I've tried them all - Alien Skin Exposure, DXO labs Film Pack. JFI, Channel Mixer, etc.

 

I note that Jeff has moved over to RAW ( he used to shoot jpeg) and is using Capture One.

 

http://www.phaseone.com/upload/jeff_ascough_final.pdf

 

Do the actions work in Photoshp Elements ? (4 for Mac) please.

 

This also from his blog:

 

Just for the photographers out there…The M8’s DNG files are incredible. The dynamic range that camera pulls in is phenomenal BUT you have to process them in Capture One to get the best out of them. I would also suggest that you convert the images to b/w in the software or use my ‘Lazy b/w’ action. LAB based b/w actions really screw up the M8’s files.

http://www.jeffascough.net/blog/?m=200710

 

He does have some inspirational work to look at.

[guywalder]

Why not update your Photoshop to the latest, CS3, if you can from PS 7. It's only $199 and is well worth it, IMHO.

 

well I havnt ugraded so far as I havnt felt the need, so I am looking at 200 for the upgrade + 250 for the AS plugin, at which price it needs to be REALLY good!

 

Anyone know about compatability of Jeff Ascough's actions? ah just found the 'some actions need CS2' comment, plop!

[JimP]

Could someone give me a pointer on how to use the JFI profiles in C1. I am using V4 Beta2 on a mac and have placed the profiles in System/Library/ColorSync/Profiles. I cannot seem to find where in C1 I can enable these profiles. Thanks in advance.

[papimuzo]

For C1 beta v.4.2 you have to put the profiles in the directory created when installing v.4:

- color profiles\DSLR and they must be of the form: Leica M8- your profile name (i.e. Leica M8-01JFI Agfapan 100.icm )

By the way, JFI Colors Labs (who sell BW profiles) propose two kits for BW work, one for BW RAW treatment and another for simulation of different films "aspects" (including grain:) .

HTH.

 

oops forgot the URL : JFI Color Labs

[JimP]

Thanks, Will give that a try tonight. I saw the additional film kit... wanted to see what I thought of the profiles before purchasing ths film kit.

Thanks again,

Jim

[guywalder]

By the way, JFI Colors Labs (who sell BW profiles) propose two kits for BW work, one for BW RAW treatment and another for simulation of different films "aspects" (including grain:) .

HTH.

 

marcel, do you know if it makes sense to buy both packages, or is everything in the cheaper package included in the more expensive one? The website is rather short on details....

 

on a different tack, can anyone tell me how the various grain simulation plugins render on screen vs on print? I am experimenting with gaussian noise and the differences in how it renders at different magnifications on screen, and then differently again in print is driving me mad.....

[JimP]

OK, Renamed the files as described. Papimuzo, sounds like you are on a widows machine, since there is no directory for Capture one. Just sits in the applications folder.

 

Anyone use the JFI profiles on a mac w/ C1 B4.2?

Thanks in advance.

[chris_livsey]

OK, Renamed the files as described. Papimuzo, sounds like you are on a widows machine, since there is no directory for Capture one. Just sits in the applications folder.

 

Anyone use the JFI profiles on a mac w/ C1 B4.2?

Thanks in advance.

 

I am not using the Beta but the forums at Phase One are always worth a search. This may help.

 

http://forum.phaseone.com/viewtopic.php?t=4271&highlight=profiles

[TonyG44]

I am still experimenting with ways to convert to BW images

I'm an experienced PS3 user so happiest here, I find it very subjective as to the look you want, I have done blind tests by using 1. channels to convert, 2. the Image>adjust>black and white and playing in here and also 3. covert to greyscale adjust the brightness and contrast then re convert to RGB. When analysing the screen and the prints the greyscale image conversion is best (for me) as you do not mess with the colour curves when adjusting the file.

Then of course it all depends on your output device, colour workflow.

I have spent an awful lot of time comparing, generic epson drivers to RIPs, GSG, Onyx, Shiraz, Proofmaster Dalmation, none of these in my opinion can print 'true' black and whites, other wierd colours creep in, unless you can only use the black ink set.

The only RIP I have found that can do this is 'Imageprint' made by Colorbyte (from sunny Florida), which gives me incredible Nuetral (if preferred) and wonderful tones or warmer tones if needed adjusting the blacks, midtones and highlights in PS3 again. It all becomes very subjective here.

To summarise the M8 with the Epson 4800 Ultrachrome inks, using a Kodak lustre paper to minimise that metamarism thang (ink on paper tone) and the Imageprint Rip has produced some 17 x 22" prints that look like they are from a 5x4" plate camera printed on black and white paper that took hours to do in the darkroom-simply stunning!

[orjanf]

OK, Renamed the files as described. Papimuzo, sounds like you are on a widows machine, since there is no directory for Capture one. Just sits in the applications folder.

 

Anyone use the JFI profiles on a mac w/ C1 B4.2?

Thanks in advance.

On the Mac you need to right-click on the app and select 'Show package contents' to see folder structure

[Arif]

Jeff Ascough's actions are the best I've tried & I've tried them all - Alien Skin Exposure, DXO labs Film Pack. JFI, Channel Mixer, etc.

 

Channel mixer works fine for abstract images but skin tones quickly look unnatural if one plays with them too much, unless that's the look one is going for - it's certainly not like XP2. The other plug-ins are all fine but I found them not quite there compared to my negative scans and I kept playing with them slightly unsatisfied and not quite nailing it.

 

Ascough's actions just works as is and is very naural looking with the M8 images.

 

I use Ascough's 'Main squeeze' for basic conversion to B&W and contrast adjustment, followed by 'Warm it up' to add slight sepia tone (sublte but helps) and 'Bring some noise' with reduced opacity to give some dithering to the pictures to simulate the accutance and feel of silver B&W film.

 

Give it a try. I love it and no longer bother with the rest anymore.

 

 

I second Jeff's actions. There are many included in his action set and all are very natural looking in their output plus give flexibility for adjustments to one's own liking.

 

Arif

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[scho]

I use Lightroom for basic grayscale conversion and tweak the sliders for tonality. I converted two image files to one of my softproof create-icc QTR profiles that simulates the slightly warm tone of a new MIS PKN ink printed on Red River UltraPro Satin 2.0 RC paper using a 3-PKN printing workflow in an Epson 1800.

 

M8 Zeiss 50mm f/2 Planar

 

M8 CV 15mm f/4.5 Heliar

[fordfanjpn]

Has anyone here tried TrueGrain yet?

 

TrueGrain Overview

 

Bill