This temporary schedule is seriously screwing up my sleep cycles. Couldn't sleep again this morning when I got in from work. So, decided to play in Photoshop a bit (didn't trust myself to work on my studio shots then). I really like how images toned in Duotone Mode look, but I hate the fact you have to switch to 8-bit mode, then grayscale, then Duotone to do it. Anyway, decided to try converting a couple Duotones (actually Quadtones) to Curves to see how they'd look. Somewhere along the line I decided to find examples of classic toning types and do those too. These aren't perfect (I don't know how close to reality the sample images were), but I like the effect. And these were made using only a few sample points. Nice part is, they are made using individual Red, Blue and Green curves. That leaves the global RGB curve free to allow you to adjust white, black and midtones seperate from the toning color. -=>Donald

these are very wonderful examples for a toning methode. looks very elegant in all tones.!!!!!!!! my toning methode of sepia i always use some work done by hand.it`s possible to add the tones in a different variety and pressure.!!!!!!!!!! #:O) !!!!!!!!!

Attached Link: http://www.kenleegallery.com/bronze.htm

Misha - Yup. Those are the two Quadtones (Ken Lee's) that I did. I'm actually going to redo these with finer curves. If you want, I can zip up the above curves and upload them to Free Stuff -> Misc. -=>Donald

cool! neat stuff

Attached Link: http://epaperpress.com/psphoto/index.html

Looks like those 3 active braincells I have aren't firing in sequence the last couple days. Anyway ... Gerhard - Thank you. Means a lot coming from you. I love the tones you get in your shots (the last one I saw with the flower stem was wonderful). Now if I can stop screwing around and get back to my studio shots (have a critique session with my teacher on Friday that I need to be ready for). -=>Donald

Donald those are fabulous.... went to that link and snatched up the actions.... and I love them! If you ever do get around to doing up a zip that would be awesome....!

What a nice site! Soon all of Donald's secrets will be revealed. Can't say I understand what that fish thing is all about, but guess I can make allowences for lack of sleep. [Have you noticed all the ducks in the Gallery lately? Don't tell Donald!]

Give a man a duck... make scrambled eggs?... o_O

Attached Link: http://www.dmholman.com/wi/Curves.zip

Remember, its not necessarily senility if you forget to zip up, but it 'prolly is if you forget to zip down. [Remember, don't tell Donald about the ducks!]

Have to say again that toning with curves, using the actions (haven't tried you zips yet), combined with the secret method for converting to BW really work so well together.... That flower image posted today was created using both techniques.... original color, converted to BW using the method Donald outlined, and then toned using the cyanotype curves action.... of course I played around with the settings a bit afterwards to get it the way I liked it... Donald I can't thank you enough for sharing these with us... Do you think it would be OK if I hosted the zip file here in the backroom, for people who might be interested in it in the future? This way you don't have to worry about bandwith issues either.... I'm thinking it might be a fantastic idea to put these two threads together as a tutorial of some sort..... Let me know.... In the mean time I'll just sit back and have more wine..... sip

You're more than welcome. That really is a beautiful image you created. Between you and Gerhard and a few others, almost makes me want to go and shoot a few closeups of flowers......almost. :) As for hosting the file, sure ... if you think others will find them useful. Eventually, I'll do a set of ones that are more precises; but you know how my schedule goes. We could all be sitting around drawing social security before that happens. :) Almost forgot, there's a strange tone in there called Caballero. It's a tone I saw used in an image by an up and coming fashion photographer named Derek Caballero. It's a strange, greenish tone that only works on some images; but the ones it does work on, it works very well. Thought I'd give credit to the originator of the tone, so to speak. If you don't mind, maybe drop a note in the zip letting people know the preferred method is to create a curves adjustment layer for them and to then vary the opacity of that layer to taste. -=>Donald

I might have just missed the thread explaining how to use these... so how do they work? Thanks, Michael

Attached Link: http://epaperpress.com/psphoto/index.html

Michael - the ones I did are photoshop curves. To apply them to an image (usually a b&w image) you added a curves adjustment layer (or just do curves on the image layer). Then hit LOAD and load the tone you want. If it's on an adjustment layer, you then vary the opacity until it looks the way you want. If you just use curves on the image layer, FADE the Curves effect until looks right. -=>Donald

Thanks, tried it out a bit... very good technique! Michael