I'd like to convert some of my colour photos to black and white, just to see what they look like...

Can anyone recommend a free/inexpensive action for Photoshop, or a standalone program?

I've found this technique:
http://www.outdooreyes.com/photo73.php3

Cheers.

I assume you've tried the usual photoshop techniques?

You know, desaturate, greyscale etc.

Have a quick search round the techniques on Ephotozine, I believe there's a couple of tutorials on the subject.

If I remember I'll have a look myself, just a bit busy at the mo...

Collin

OK, I'll take look on ePhotoZine and see what they recommend.

I think there's a standard Photoshop Action that will let you got to "Sepia" tone too (browney colour). Once applied you can click the layer and mess about with the colour to get any other sort of "toned" effect.

Did you find any Mark?

I found a couple of good ones, saved the links on my PC at home. I'll post them when I get home.

Collin

Thanks Collin, that would be great :-)

I had a pretty busy weekend and didn't get chance to look - too busy meeting Billy Connolly on Saturday...

You lucky bugger! Always wanted to meet him!

Was it good?

We went to a new British film called "Cheeky", directed by David Thewlis, at the Odeon in Leicester Square. Billy just happened to walk into the cinema as we were buying our tickets, then he queued for coffee behind us and talked to my girlfriend about the difference between a Tall and Grande coffee! High-brow stuff indeed

It was the premiere of the film, so David Thewlis, Trudy Styler and various other slightly famous Brits were all in the audience. Plus Billy and Kathy Burke as well.

And we just went because the film sounded good! (which it was).

Very nice!

First Tutorial This one gives examples.

Another Site. This one gives tutorials

And another one Didn't look to hard into this.

I'll have a look around Ephoto too.

One more for the mo:

Tips for better black & white using Elements

It's Ephotozine, I know it says Elements, but it transfers easily into PS7

Thanks Collin!!!

Try

http://www.rbarkerphoto.com/converting2bw.html

and the best actions are at this great site http://www.digidaan.nl/indexframedigidaan....ixer/index.html

Sailesh
300D + Kit; 50mm f1.8 Mk1; 28-135 USMIS
http://www.mycgiserver.com/~panchals/weblogs/views.html

i didn't look into those links that collin posted but the best way to convert is to use the channel mixer. here's a quick tutorial from luminous landscape.

8)
sean

Sean, that's not necessarily true. It's dependent on the final effect you're after, one of the other methods may give a better result.

Nice tutorial link though, thanks for that!

hmm... really? i'll have to give them a shot then. i've always just used the channel mixer.

8)
sean

I've just found this website which looks promising:

http://www.jakerlund.net/

I'll give a go and let you know what it's like...

We use the Black to White Pro from image ready. Allows you to adjust the image to simulate real film. It has presettings that emulate different types of film, like Kodak, Ilford etc

I've actually bought Fred Miranda's plugin - very useful and easy to use.

http://www.fredmiranda.com

I've seen the Coloriage Plugin - click!

They desaturate a part of the image. Other areas keep untouched. No need to select the areas to be desaturated precisely.

--------------------->>>

Create them yourself -->> Open your image in Photoshop - go to window/action to open your actions pallette and then click new action icon at the bottom to the left of the trash can icon - choose a name for your action and where to file it... Don't forget to choose a function key! Later you just press this button to have it happen. Use your channel mixer (go to image/adjustments/channel mixer) with the monochromatic button checked and then make three to six actions (repeat this process) with variations on the red blue and green filter sliders... I predominately use a medium red - low green & medium low blue mix... Use the blue channel to enhance contrast and shadows...

You can also try the Fred Miranda website which has quite a few reasonably priced plug-ins for different tasks:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/software/

this one is in my opinnion VERY good. and free.

http://www.outbackphoto.com/workshop/chann...annelmixer.html