That Black & White Matt look?

[coco]

I am working on black and white pics from my brother's wedding and I want to get them as professional as possible for them. I got some really nice shoots...I thinks :) But now I want to get that matt look ..you know how they are when done by professionals....

I have photshop 7 among other programs....

Here is the shot...I would like to have it brightened and have that professional matt look to it...hope you guys know what I am talking about....appreciate any help with this... ;)

[Fidelis]

I know what true matt images look like & feel like because matt is often my preference when it comes to printing my own work. Is this not a case of experimenting with different matt papers though,which comes at the printing stage? We can easily brighten the image & add some kind of effect but I'm not too sure what you mean with getting the image looking like matt when we're looking at it on a computer screen. I'm probably missing your whole point & maybe some of our Photoshop Gurus know what you mean & will help you out in an instant!

Anyway take a look at this, hope you don't mind, I've brightened the image for you very slightly & softened it a fraction.

Your picture (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=4274)

Hope we can get this sorted for you, great image by the way!

Emma. :)

[u.k. lady]

Hi coco,
I am guessing what you are talking about is black and white conversion.Your image looks very grey. I have attached a picture of mine from colour to black and white, ignore the composition and the subject ,I used it, as it's a good example of conversion though not perfect as I did it in less than a minute .Send me a message if you would like me to give you some pointers on achieving that true black and white film look.
I didnt play with your original image as It was to small for me to see clearly whether I was blowing the highlights out on the dress.If you send me the full version I can enhance it but I am sure I can give you some pointers so you can do this yourself in photoshop.


Jacqui

[Emma]

So Jacqui, did you just use the Levels command to brighten and increase contrast? I've never worked with real b&w film, so don't really know its personality...other than no color!

Emma, what filters did you use to brighten and soften? It almost looks like a slight glow, like Diffuse Glow with G-blur????

Thanks!

[coco]

Hi coco,
I am guessing what you are talking about is black and white conversion.Your image looks very grey. I have attached a picture of mine from colour to black and white, ignore the composition and the subject ,I used it, as it's a good example of conversion though not perfect as I did it in less than a minute .Send me a message if you would like me to give you some pointers on achieving that true black and white film look.
I didnt play with your original image as It was to small for me to see clearly whether I was blowing the highlights out on the dress.If you send me the full version I can enhance it but I am sure I can give you some pointers so you can do this yourself in photoshop.


Jacqui

Yes thank you so much...would love the help...I don't have the orig image at work ..it is at home on my laptop...I will email it to you and maybe you could direct me in getting it right...so appreciate it...

Here is a link to the kind of effect I am looking for with the black & white...so appreciate any help...

http://www.scottandtemphotography.com/weddings/ginaFrank.html

[u.k. lady]

I will wait for you to send me the full version just pm me and I will send you my email.Was the original in colour ?If so send me the colour version.
I thought that was the kind of images you were looking for :) .
The problem with digital conversions especially from digital cameras is that the cameras were made for colour pictures not black and white ,so unless your camera has a black and white mode like the S2 fidelis has and my casio digicam, my Nikon digital SLR doesnt have it :( ,you end up with grey images if not converted properely, they lack punch that you get from black and white film .Black and white film is a whole different ball game as I am sure my SIL fidelis will agree and so it is with digital cameras but it's twice as hard because of the conversion process , digitals never straight forward :confused: .
Although a picture is called black and white there are various tones and shades within that picture, and the way colour reflects and bounces and exposes onto film or digitally makes a big difference to the final picture. Here is a pro tip that a lot of fashion photographers use to achieve deep dark luscious lips to black and white photos ,apply a red lipstick.

No Emma I didn't touch the the levels, I know your a photoshop whizz so guess again . How else can you change colour within a picture then turn black and white , see if anyone else can guess :D
promise I will show you when I have helped coco :D

[coco]

I know what true matt images look like & feel like because matt is often my preference when it comes to printing my own work. Is this not a case of experimenting with different matt papers though,which comes at the printing stage? We can easily brighten the image & add some kind of effect but I'm not too sure what you mean with getting the image looking like matt when we're looking at it on a computer screen. I'm probably missing your whole point & maybe some of our Photoshop Gurus know what you mean & will help you out in an instant!

Anyway take a look at this, hope you don't mind, I've brightened the image for you very slightly & softened it a fraction.

Your picture (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=4274)

Hope we can get this sorted for you, great image by the way!

Emma. :)

Thank you so much...very pretty....

[coco]

[QUOTE=u.k. lady]I will wait for you to send me the full version just pm me and I will send you my email.Was the original in colour ?If so send me the colour version.
I thought that was the kind of images you were looking for :) .
The problem with digital conversions especially from digital cameras is that the cameras were made for colour pictures not black and white ,so unless your camera has a black and white mode like the S2 fidelis has and my casio digicam, my Nikon digital SLR doesnt have it :( ,you end up with grey images if not converted properely, they lack punch that you get from black and white film .Black and white film is a whole different ball game as I am sure my SIL fidelis will agree and so it is with digital cameras but it's twice as hard because of the conversion process , digitals never straight forward :confused:

Thank you so much for this info...had no idea...makes sense though...yes my camera is a Sony MVD /VD / CD hehehe...can't remember but one of them...digital yes. I will send that to you when I get home.....

Thanks every one for the help..... :)

[Emma]

How else can you change colour within a picture then turn black and white , see if anyone else can guess :D
promise I will show you when I have helped coco :D

Ah, Jacqui, don't go throwing me curve balls! :p

[Emma]

Tip for converting to B&W
Try looking at the Channels palette and viewing just one channel at a time. Often one is a great b&w shot, whereas sometimes just plain Desaturate is not great. Try both and see what you like. I'm often partial to the Green channel alone...but I usually manually desaturate in Hue/Saturation until it's the way I like it.
Then I adjust Curves or Levels to suit my contrast needs!

[coco]

I can't wait for the day that I actually know of what you speak :)


Tip for converting to B&W
Try looking at the Channels palette and viewing just one channel at a time. Often one is a great b&w shot, whereas sometimes just plain Desaturate is not great. Try both and see what you like. I'm often partial to the Green channel alone...but I usually manually desaturate in Hue/Saturation until it's the way I like it.
Then I adjust Curves or Levels to suit my contrast needs!

[Fidelis]

Coco, you will eventually get there! I know Photoshop but some of the girls here can run rings round me when it comes to the more complex workings of the programme. But rest assured theres always someone here @ DSP that is willing to help you out until you get to the stage where you feel confident with the programme.

Glad to have you on board,

Emma (the other Emma here @ DSP)!!!

[coco]

Thank you for those words...thank you all for your help. :)

[u.k. lady]

Emma, I knew you would get it :D .
For that true black and white film look the channel mixer is your best friend :D .
ultimatley though you need to see if a picture is suitable for turning black and white, not all are.
Pictures that are contrasty and contain shadows and depth convert well , pictures where the lighting is very flat doesnt produce a good black and white photo whatever way you convert.

[Emma]

Channel Mixer! I don't do much with that yet, just red-eye reduction and a little with montages to get my colors to stand out better from noisy backgrounds...
Emma or Jacqui, how's about a tutorial on B&W conversion?

And Coco, I didn't realize you were so new! Lots to learn to make things really awesome, but the basic way to make b&w is just to Ctrl-Shift-U for desaturate!

Hopefully all these tips will help familiarize you with the various tools, don't get overwhelmed: we're here for you!

[u.k. lady]

Channel mixer is very easy and it's one of those hidden powers photoshop has ,I love photoshop it is a powerful program.
coco I sent you my email and soon you will be a pro at converting black and white
Tutorial!
see what we can do :)

Jacqui :D

[Amanda]

Tell me more about the channel mixer...i've never used it. I don't even know where to find it!!!!!

[Jill]

I too am a big fan of the channel mixer...it takes a little bit of practice...and I am still no pro..but it is how I do all of my color adjustments...and my b&w shots....they did a whole class on this at the Phtooshop Conference I went to and it was amazing what thye did with it.....according to "the pros" allthey use to enhance and create is channel mixer and curves for the most part...of course I came home and tried what they did and it didnt work..but I am working on it!

go to image>adjustmentments>channel mixer

I'll see if I can find the time to write a mini tutorial on this...

[Emma]

Jill, you know of any online tutorials that are good for learning the Channel Mixer? And I don't use curves much either: too much freedom and I make my photos look weird! I prefer Levels as it's harder to screw stuff up with it!

[u.k. lady]

It's all I use for black and white conversions.
If your going to use the channel mixer for black and white you need to check the monochrome box.
You need to remember that not all your images will convert well to black and white .
When you take a photograph originally dont look at the colour ,look at the highlights and shadows if there is lots of that in the picture then it will make for a good black and white conversion.
You can also use tinting effects like the old tinted photos using the channel mixer by double clicking on the monochrome box.
The channel mixer requires you to experiment but half an hour or so of playing with it will give you a good idea of what you want your conversions to look like.

[Emma]

Okay, WOW! I just used the Channel Mixer with Monochrome box checked to convert to B&W! TOTAL control over the output. How awesome! Thanks Jacqui and Jill (well, isn't that cute?!)

[Amber]

Wow- great advice Jill and Jacqui! Im going to have to go home and try this. I have never been satisfied with the photos that I turn B&W just by desaturating. Maybe this will be my answer!

[Amber]

I just used the Channel Mixer and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! Thanks for the info ladies!

[u.k. lady]

Can we see the pic Amber ? :D