These are shots of the same rhododendron bud. I tried to simulate and experiment with both red and yellow filters in software(layers and transparency) to improve the otherwise washed out bud color in grayscale. This succeeded compared to the original "straight to gray" from the original color image...yet, something is lacking. Have you any suggestions for simulating lens filters using software? Real filters often behave strangely with some digital cameras. God Bless. TomDart.

The basic yellow filter for monochrome work cuts out blue light. What you could do is split the image into an RGB set, darken the blue image, and recombine. Then convert to greyscale. For an unfiltered B+W image I reckon you should brighten the blue image, since B+W films are more sensitive to blue light. The other filters used will chop out more and more. One of the problems with digital is that you throw away a lot of spectral information. You keep the detail our eyes can see, but throw away some of what filters work on. Oh, and you know that green plants reflect a lot of red light?

Further fiddling suggests you needed to shoot differently. There maybe isn't enough brightness difference.

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?ForumID=12379&Form.ShowMessage=1751410

There actually is some good information, (and free filters), hiding in this thread.

Everything is artifact. All color is illusion... Here, I isolated the bud using the red channel. The leaves looked best in Red channel, so I coppied it. The bud was most defined in the Green Channel, so I copied it and pasted it into. Can also emphasize by sharpness, so sharpened the bud. Of course, you may have an entirely different vision...

My vision might be different but the replies do help me a bunch. I seem to be leaning more toward photography than creating from scratch digital art..that is for now. I offer thanks to AntoniaTiger and Misha...straight thought is very helpful, as are links in the thread link. If you havd other ideas, let me know. Right now, I simply have to learn more of filters, lighting contidions and how to adapt to that... My long gone dad had a little darkroom made in a corner of the basement. He did mostly Tri-X back then. I realize now I am on a similar path as his into growing in this imaging. God Bless. TomDart.

Ah! The smell of Dektol in the morning!