Converting color photos to Black and White

[minutephotos.com]

Any suggestions on best way to convert color photos to black and white. I used Gray Scale mode for this photo. I have found changing modes does not work when using layers so then I have to switch to Desturate method. Are there other ways to do this?

[RedRhino]

I prefer to use channel mixing

Photoshop Image>Adjustments (remeber to check the monchrome box in the dialog box)

Michael Freeman's Mastering Black and White Digital Photography book is an excellent resource at 160 pages that covers various aspects of the process. It sits within arms reach on my desk.


Disclaimer: I have no association with the author or publisher

[minutephotos.com]

I prefer to use channel mixing

I have heard of but never tried this method. I learned about it in a a book called "Professional Techniques for Black and White Digital Photography" By Patrick Rice.

The book you mentioned is $17.00 on Amazon so I will definately pick that up.

Thanks for the recommendation....

PS

I have learned to control hotspots better by shooting RAW. So when I get hot sopts on a picture I like I have more lattitue to fix than when shooting Large JPG. Digital is almost like shooting slide film and doesn't have the dynamic range of negative film. Sometimes I will shoot 1/3 stop under exposed because it is easier to brighten than fix hot spots.

[alex james]

There are a number of ways, but as Red said use channel mixer, i use this with dodge and burn tools and blend modes, play about with the sliders till it looks right to you.

Alex