Post by cannockwolf on Jan 3, 2012 20:36:35 GMT
Here is a brief tutorial to explain how i achieve my B&W processing, im not saying this is how it should be done just how I do it.
start with your image
1 first i change the colour image to B&W using image > adjustments > black and white
2 i usually select auto on this but if i want to make the sky more dramatic adjusting the blue channel can help a lot
3 next i created a contrast/brightness adjustment layer, and pushed the contrast up as much as it needed to go, most of the time it goes nearly all the way
4 then i create an exposure adjustment layer and adjust it to where the picture is very dark, its guesswork where i put it really but it has to be very dark. it doesnt matter how dark it is as we will be inverting the mask image > adjustment >invert while the adjustment layer mask is selected, this will return the picture back to how it was
rename the layer darks
4 now create another exposure adjustment layer but this time over expose it, and then invert the layer mask and rename the layer lights
5 your layer palette's should now look like this
6 and the photo looks like this
7 select a brush and make sure your working on the layer mask of the darks (click on the white box next to darks on the layers palette) then make sure the colour palette is white or the brush will have no effect.
8 select an opacity level of about 10% but you can tailor this to suit your needs, the more % the more aggressive the effect will be
8 now heres the creative bit, gently brush in the dark areas and they will start to get darker, because the brush is at 10% it only has a slight ffect and you can build up the darkness a little with each stroke, if the effect is too much just adjust lower the brush opacity.
if you go to dark just press x and this will reverse the colour of the brush and you can erase the part thats too dark and bring it back
9 now click on the lights layer mask and repeat but this time enhancing the light areas using the same technique as above
this isn't the end of it as you do more selective layers (sometimes 5 or more) normal tweaks sharpening and cropping etc. i have also been using layer modes to bring the effect out more overlay and screen on the exposure adjustment layers
HTH
dave
start with your image
1 first i change the colour image to B&W using image > adjustments > black and white
2 i usually select auto on this but if i want to make the sky more dramatic adjusting the blue channel can help a lot
3 next i created a contrast/brightness adjustment layer, and pushed the contrast up as much as it needed to go, most of the time it goes nearly all the way
4 then i create an exposure adjustment layer and adjust it to where the picture is very dark, its guesswork where i put it really but it has to be very dark. it doesnt matter how dark it is as we will be inverting the mask image > adjustment >invert while the adjustment layer mask is selected, this will return the picture back to how it was
rename the layer darks
4 now create another exposure adjustment layer but this time over expose it, and then invert the layer mask and rename the layer lights
5 your layer palette's should now look like this
6 and the photo looks like this
7 select a brush and make sure your working on the layer mask of the darks (click on the white box next to darks on the layers palette) then make sure the colour palette is white or the brush will have no effect.
8 select an opacity level of about 10% but you can tailor this to suit your needs, the more % the more aggressive the effect will be
8 now heres the creative bit, gently brush in the dark areas and they will start to get darker, because the brush is at 10% it only has a slight ffect and you can build up the darkness a little with each stroke, if the effect is too much just adjust lower the brush opacity.
if you go to dark just press x and this will reverse the colour of the brush and you can erase the part thats too dark and bring it back
9 now click on the lights layer mask and repeat but this time enhancing the light areas using the same technique as above
this isn't the end of it as you do more selective layers (sometimes 5 or more) normal tweaks sharpening and cropping etc. i have also been using layer modes to bring the effect out more overlay and screen on the exposure adjustment layers
HTH
dave