Conversions

[mackenziesmomma]

Howdy-do!

Okay, where can I go to learn conversions? Anyone here want to share the love and give out their secret formula? Anyone? Anyone? :)

[PeggyC]

Hi! I would give out my secret formula :D but I'm not sure what you mean by conversions. Do you mean to black and white or sepia? :confused: Peg

[mackenziesmomma]

Hi Peg-

All of the above :) B/W, dreamy, color "pop" ones, sharping ones- the whole chabang. :)

[andyapc]

I love to use duotones in photoshop and I also love Virtual Photographer.

And I try a lot on my own - either going under Image>Adjustments>Gradient Map or Channel Mixer.

Then again, I'm a tweakaholic.

[PeggyC]

I'm basically lazy. :p I also love Virtual Photographer and I use photoshop actions from Action Central (http://www.atncentral.com/) for black & white conversions (I probably have six) and I love Dave Jaseck's Duotone Dreams action. For playing with color, favorites are Dave Jaseck's Midnight Collection and Fievel's gothic glow. I also see there is a new vintage tint action I think I'll try out.

[mackenziesmomma]

thera ya go- the secrets are starting to come out :) What are duotones? Any examples ya'll can show me?

[PeggyC]

A duotone looks like this

Jess & Casey (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=85897&cat=500&ppuser=43945)

[Jennifer]

There are about a MILLION ways, techniques, actions, etc. on how to do conversions. One of the best ways to learn is to just download some free actions (www.atncentral.com is excellent!) and watch the steps, pull the action apart, tweak it etc. And your favorite this week may well NOT be your favorite next week. I am always tweaking my conversions. I love using the hard light/ soft light layers and reducing opacity. It's important that you have good contrast of darks and lights because muddy black and white just don't look good. The gradient map is another favorite.... I also use channel mixer and just adjust the 'recipe' so that the RGB add up to approx. 100. This is such a hard question for me to answer because it's such a HUGE topic. Post samples of your efforts and have people critique them and then just tweak using those suggestions to come up with your own style. :)

[mackenziesmomma]

Peg- love it!

Jennifer- thanks for the info. You know your stuff

Okay, I am unofficially gonna get some favorite conversion recipes organized. I will start a new thread for our Conversion recipe exchange...actually, we can make it our own little conversion "cookbook". Oh yeah, I am liking this idea :) Jennifer or Karen or other "powers that be", this is okay, right?

[Jennifer]

Peg- love it!

Jennifer- thanks for the info. You know your stuff

Okay, I am unofficially gonna get some favorite conversion recipes organized. I will start a new thread for our Conversion recipe exchange...actually, we can make it our own little conversion "cookbook". Oh yeah, I am liking this idea :) Jennifer or Karen or other "powers that be", this is okay, right?
I don't have a problem with that at all. The only problem I can think of is that a lot of times these threads end up with four or five "recipies" and a zillion 'wow, that's great, thanks for sharing" and it's hard to weed through those. Is it rude to keep the applause till the end so to speak ? Like maybe post your recipe and then link to a sample in the gallery where you can give praise? I dunno! Just a thought what do YOU ALL WANT?:)

[mackenziesmomma]

GGGRREEAAATTT idea! I don't think it is rude at all- post recipes only then post in gallery all the warm and fuzzy stuff with the sample. Really, really good idea! :)

[dobegal]

Oh boy, is this a great thread! Has it been posted somewhere yet?

[Jennifer]

Yep! Right here: http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14395

[SonyaL]

This is a great thread.


Sonya