L A Turner
New Forum Member
retired...
Posts: 36 
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by L A Turner on Aug 7, 2018 0:56:10 GMT
I understand the basic workflow and controls for processing and producing a color PSD or JPEG image with ACR in PSE15. What I am seeking is advice about developing a RAW file specifically for converting to B&W (I use Silver Efex Pro). My question is: do you process a RAW file any differently for B&W conversion than you would for a color image - increase/decrease exposure, contrast, saturation, etc?
Your advice, instruction, comment, and critique are always welcome.
Lots of very talented and skilled folks here.
Thanks Y'all!
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Post by Bailey on Aug 7, 2018 1:26:34 GMT
Hi L A Turner,
To be honest, I don't do a lot of B&W conversions so I am probably not the best person to give advice, but I can offer what I do.
I don't edit a raw file any differently in ACR for B&W. Apart from making sure the colours are correct (white balance), I try to ensure the tonal range is maximised without too much or any clipping in the highlights and shadows.
I use Elements+ for a B&W conversion which allows me to set certain colours: Red, Yellows, Greens, Cyans, Blues, Magentas to be as black or white or any shade of grey as I like to get the B&W effect I am looking for. I then use Levels and or Brightness/Contrast Adjustment Layers with/without masks to maximise the tonal range and highlight certain elements of the B&W image.
Hope this helps 
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Post by Peterj on Aug 7, 2018 1:40:37 GMT
I understand the basic workflow and controls for processing and producing a color PSD or JPEG image with ACR in PSE15. What I am seeking is advice about developing a RAW file specifically for converting to B&W (I use Silver Efex Pro). My question is: do you process a RAW file any differently for B&W conversion than you would for a color image - increase/decrease exposure, contrast, saturation, etc?
Your advice, instruction, comment, and critique are always welcome.
Lots of very talented and skilled folks here.
Thanks Y'all!
I use On1 Photo RAW so I can't say that my method will work for your workflow. Both the develop and effects modules in On1 are non-destructive. On1's effects module enables stacking multiple filters and presets ... one enables or disables just be clicking a visibility button.
Generally I set tonal values in the develop module pretty much the same as I would for color. My next step is to use On1's effects module and start with a B&W filter, after studying the results I turn the filter off and jump to color enhancer where I pretty much go wild with the adjustments. After adjusting the first color the B&W filter is turned on so I can evaluate the change, I proceed through each color and evaluate the results in B&W.
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Post by Sepiana on Aug 7, 2018 2:30:21 GMT
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Post by fotofrank on Aug 7, 2018 6:00:59 GMT
Hi Len,
Have you just tried to just open the Image in elements or do you basic adjustments in ACR and then use the built-in preset and primarily the control points in NIK?
While the presets impact the entire image, the control point(s) in NIK allow you to just impact specific parts of the image and you can place all that you want for very localized adjustments.
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pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,359
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pontiac1940 on Aug 7, 2018 13:40:55 GMT
Hi LAT You have posted some fine BW conversions here. Thanks. I've used Silver Efex, and it's been great for special effects conversions. (Now that it costs for PSE 2018, I am not sure if I'll pony up for the new Silver Efex. Cheap old git is me!  ) I process whatever color files I want to convert in a normal fashion, i.e. whatever looks good in color. To sound like a broken record, I prefer to convert via " Layer > New adj layer > gradient map [with B&W as foreground and background]." I almost always reopen the new BW image in ACR to tweak graytones or perhaps lighten blacks or darken white. Whatever seems to work. Clive |
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Post by hmca on Aug 7, 2018 18:26:30 GMT
You have gotten some great advice here, Len. And I agree with, Clive. You have already posted some very nice B/W images. Silver Efex is my favorite software for B/W. Like others have mentioned, I make sure my color images look the way I want it before working in Silver Efex. If you also have Color Efex, someone once mentioned to me that when once you have your B/W conversion done in SE you can open it in CE and use Pro Contrast>Dynamic Contrast as a final adjustment. You would definitely need to use at half strength or less but can make a slight difference that you might like. Looking forward to seeing your next B/W image. I am not saying this is a great image (hand-held and high ISO) but am adding it for the purpose of showing a quick before and after using CE  |
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Post by PeteB on Aug 7, 2018 18:55:18 GMT
Hi LAT (Now that it costs for PSE 2018, I am not sure if I'll pony up for the new Silver Efex. Cheap old git is me! ) Clive I'm confused.... I have PSE 16 (2018) and I'm still using (the old?) Silver Efex Pro. No problems. |
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Post by PeteB on Aug 7, 2018 19:09:07 GMT
Hi The following is my workflow using ACR, PSE, and Silver Efex to process a raw image and then convert it to B&W. [/b]. This takes the image into the Elements editor. I now save as —- I use a tiff format, but psd or others are available) [*] In Elements I can use the editor to make corrections, clone for retouching, etc. [*] When done, I save the image and then open the image in Silver Efex. (Since I have NIK on my computer, I have all NIK efex available in PSE through NIK’s Selective Tool.) [*] At this point the image is converted to b&w and now you can play with preset, toning, adjustments, vignettes, etc.[/ul] Have fun! BTW, I’m sure there are ways to convert a color image to B&W using ACR, but that is for another day. |
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pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,359
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pontiac1940 on Aug 7, 2018 19:25:57 GMT
Hi LAT (Now that it costs for PSE 2018, I am not sure if I'll pony up for the new Silver Efex. Cheap old git is me! ) Clive I'm confused.... I have PSE 16 (2018) and I'm still using (the old?) Silver Efex Pro. No problems. Thanks PeteB. I used Silver Effects Pro (Nik Collection) in PSE 11. So I can import it to 2018 then? Would you know how I can do this? I did not uninstall PSE 11 s it is still there. Can I copy the Nik Collection folder (  ) to the desktop and drag and drop into PSE 201? I can be potentially dangerous moving internal program folders around. Thanks Clive |
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Post by PeteB on Aug 7, 2018 20:43:30 GMT
Hi Clive First —— I’m on a Mac. I was using PSE 12. The Nik files were found in Applications>Adobe Photoshop Elements 12>Support Files>Plug-ins>GoogleAll I did was copy and paste the folder (labeled Google) with the plug-ins into the corresponding folder in PSE 16. Your plug-in (or plug-ins) may have a different name and if you are using a Windows computer the location might be different—that’s where Sepiana comes in Hope that helps!! |
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Post by Sepiana on Aug 7, 2018 21:49:02 GMT
All I did was copy and paste the folder (labeled Google) with the plug-ins into the corresponding folder in PSE 16. Your plug-in (or plug-ins) may have a different name and if you are using a Windows computer the location might be different—that’s where Sepiana comes in
Copying/pasting the Google folder into the Plug-Ins folder will work for Windows users as well. However, this will not work in Clive's situation. Why? Because PSE 11 is a 32-bit program and PSE 2018 is 64-bit.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 11\Plug-Ins\ . . . C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 2018\Plug-Ins\ . . .
This means that the Nik plug-ins (.8bf files) installed in PSE 11 are the 32-bit version. 32-bit plug-ins are not compatible with 64-bit programs. In this case, you need to run the installer (.exe file). The installer will do the job because it is designed to install both the 32-bit and the 64-bit version of the plug-ins. It will check the host program and will install the plug-ins accordingly.
NOTE: Copying/pasting into PSE 2018 worked for Pete because PSE 12 on a Mac is a 64-bit program. Windows users had to wait until PSE 13 to get the 64-bit version. |
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Post by PeteB on Aug 8, 2018 1:43:56 GMT
Thanks Sepiana Sorry Clive  |
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pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,359
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pontiac1940 on Aug 8, 2018 1:58:30 GMT
Thank you Sepiana and Pete. Wil give a try tonight or tomorrow.
Much appreciated.
Clive
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Post by Sepiana on Aug 8, 2018 2:00:08 GMT
Thanks Sepiana Thank you Sepiana and Pete. Wil give a try tonight or tomorrow. You are both most welcome! Glad to help. |
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) to the desktop and drag and drop into PSE 201? 