A recent thread was about converting an image to b/w. There are lots of different methods: Greg Gorman's method or channel mixer were discussed and there are others. The problem with channel mixer is: that PS Elements does not have it. I have discovered another method which is useful for people with PS Elements and gives as good a result in my opinion. Here it is: Open an image. Add an adjustment layer for: Hue/Saturation. Reduce saturation to -100. Now people are saying 'huh' that doesn't work because it converts to b/w giving equal weight to all colours which is not how the human eye sees. It has converted yellows with the same brightness as blues, to all the same shade of grey. But wait.... Go to the 'Layers Pallette'. Change the 'Blend Mode' of your 'Adjustment Layer' to: 'Color' There you are a 'perceptual' conversion to b/w giving different weightings to different colours so the image is more as your eyes saw the original scene. The bottom four blend options(Hue/Saturation/Color/Luminosity) on the list in PS are Perceptual blends they blend weighted for how the human eye sees ie. more sensitive to Green than Blue etc. Now do any tweaks in: levels or curves on another adjustment layer and you will have a finished image.

Thanks Richard

this piece of information will be very useful for those who use PS Elements :)
... I 'work' with PSP :(

your contribution is very welcome always

Carlos.

Very interesting. Too bad I don't use Elements! ;)

It helps in any version of PS - I said Elements because the channel mixer is not available with elements so it is a way of getting around that. If you use the channel mixer method on an adj layer and change the blend to color you will get a better result too, especially if you are using the presets for different types of film. Unfortunately doesn't work with PSP - sorry Carlos.

Attached Link: "Super Easy Good B&W Conversion in Photoshop by DHolman"

Cool info. I have Photoshop and have made a few conversions using the channel mixer(thanks be to the recent thread), but didn't know about the adjustment layer. Thanks..I must try this now :-) I realize this post is about converting from color to b/w, but I have a somewhat relevant question. I was wondering...I can set my digital camera to take b/w pictures. Would this be the best way to get a b/w image, or would converting w/the computer result in a better, as good, or not as good image. I am guessing the camera would be faster, but probably not quite as good because the camera's processing is prob. not as accurate as Photoshop for converting color to b/w. TY -Jeff

This is good. I know folks who use PSElements and the method is not difficult. Thanks. Tom.

I thank you for this info. Off to try it now.

Rich, I've tried it but I can't find that "blend mode" option! :( Help plz!

It is not my intention to say one way is better than any other - people must decide for themselves by looking at full size images on screen and in print which method they prefer. The main point is the blend mode which is an improvement over using 'normal' blend for the reasons I gave if you are using the desaturation or channel mixer method. Jeff - It is usually preferable to convert to b/w in postwork because you have got more options to control the process, plus you have a colour image too. If you shoot in b/w with your camera it takes a colour image and converts it to greyscale based purely on the lightness value of the individual pixels. But it is a big advantage if you are using a compact/prosumer camera that does have a b/w mode, because most of them display what you are about to shoot in b/w on the live lcd display. It is not easy to visualise scenes in b/w and takes some practise, the display is very valuable, but then change to a colour mode for capturing the scene. Pascale - On the layers palette - highlight the adjustment layer and just above under the word 'layers' is a drop down box where you can select the blend mode. You will see the image change as you do it. (It also apperas on the window when you first choose layer adj and defaults to 'normal')

yea I found it Rich but I guess I just don't understand the process u're talking about here! :( Oh well!

Rich, Thanks for explaining. That makes sense, and is a good idea to use the display for b/w preview. I must try this now. I was thinking that color blind people would prob. have an advantage in b/w composition. Yesterday I experimented w/this method of b/w conversion. I added a duplicate layer w/the blend mode set to color on top of the original converted to b/w channel mixed layer. I didn't notice any difference. I just now re-read what you said here and realized I didn't follow your instructions correctly. Typical of me...lol. Honest mistake though. You say do it all(channel mixer, set blend mode to color) in just one adjustment layer. I must try again... -Jeff :-)