That Black & White Matt look?

coco · 06-07-2004, 04:21 PM

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 · 06-08-2004, 03:34 AM

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

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

Emma.

u.k. lady · 06-08-2004, 05:27 AM

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** · 06-08-2004, 10:30 AM

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 · 06-08-2004, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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.co...ginaFrank.html

u.k. lady · 06-08-2004, 11:32 AM

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

.
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

promise I will show you when I have helped coco

coco · 06-08-2004, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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

Emma.

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

coco · 06-08-2004, 12:51 PM

[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

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** · 06-08-2004, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u.k. lady

How else can you change colour within a picture then turn black and white , see if anyone else can guess

promise I will show you when I have helped coco

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

**Emma** · 06-08-2004, 01:09 PM

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 · 06-08-2004, 01:35 PM

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

Fidelis · 06-08-2004, 02:44 PM

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 · 06-08-2004, 04:12 PM

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

u.k. lady · 06-09-2004, 02:44 AM

Emma, I knew you would get it

.
For that true black and white film look the channel mixer is your best friend

.
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** · 06-09-2004, 03:07 AM

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!