Jérôme (jinet), suggested that yesterdays' post was 'blown' (details lost in highlights)

I have tried to change the settings in PS and redone the picture.

do you think there is any improvement?

Cheers

Charles

I'd prefer the second version - but to judge a B/W version on screen - especially LCD or TFT - is hard. printed versions even become worse if printed with inkjet.

take kind of a reference image, store the postwork options and print it on a good printer (eg Epson Stylus photo R2400 with matte ink on matte paper (Hahnemühle/Lumijet) or a wet chemistry print) then you may have a real kind of reference....

The second version also looks better to me on my monitor (CRT). I see more detail to the forward cow, the white does seem to be blown out. The first virsion, though, seems more "3D"  maybe it's the sharpness? I like the photo very much.

I like the second better but other than that I can't say a thing!

I'll have a look when I get home, this monitor is not calibrated. 

It is a nice alpine scene. 

I prefer the second because it is easier on my eyes. The first has lots of sparkly bits - the most likely cause is oversharpening. 

However, the second lacks mid tone contrast and is looking a bit murky. I would use a curves adjustment layer to steepen the curve through the mid tones to remedy that to suit my taste.

As an exercise if you want to see the pixels that are blown or lost to black try this in PS:

Add a levels adjustment layer, change the blend mode to luminosity as you do it,  now hold down the Alt key on a pc (different for a mac) and click on the left slider. When it is at zero the image will now show you what pixels are at zero the rest of the window will be white, slide it inwards to ten and the image will now show you what pixels are at ten or below.  Repeat the process clicking on the right slider while holding down the Alt key at 255 all you will see in the window are the pixels of that value. Move the slider inwards to 245 and you will see all the pixels with a value of 245 and above. Do not OK the adjustment layer dialogue unless you want to make a layer to adjust your image to where you have moved the sliders.

This is the way I use levels to adjust images so I know exactly what pixels will show as pure black and what pixels will show as pure white. The blend mode of the layer **must  **be luminosity for this to work with colour images, and for you to adjust your levels without affecting colour. I realise this is a B/W image, but it pays to get the habit of always changing the blend mode when working with Levels.

 Andreas inspired me to add a quote

LOL! That´s a neat follow-up quote to mine. :biggrin:

Please accept my apologies for not getting back to you earlier, but life has been slightly hectic (and will probably get worse before it gets better).

Thanks to all, and most especially Richard, for your time and help - I will endeavour to do better next time .-))

Charles

Richard, When are you going to release your, "Photoshop Secrets" book? ;o)

I like your second one and like what Kort did best! I think that it is probably one of those photos that would look best in color, but you definately want to be able to see the forground objects clearly. :)

lol@ Kort

I was never able to keep a secret I'll just blurb 'em all out here from time to time

Yeah Richard covers the topic as usually extremely well  I dont know if your camera has B/W ability but that works well on my camera with the end result one does not have to do so much postwork.. But certainly watch the over sharpening..