Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
I saved this for the last page, because I wanted to share all my favorite techniques
for doing B&W using just Photoshop's tools, and although I still use those techniques
from time to time, it would be pretty disingenuous of me if I didn't tell you what I do
most of the time, which is: I use Nik Software's Silver Efex Pro 2 black-and-white plug-
in. Almost all the pros I know use it as well, and it's absolutely brilliant (and super-easy
to use). You can download the free 15-day trial copy from
www.niksoftware.com
and
see for yourself. Here's how I use it:
If You're Really,
B&W, Then Consider
This Instead
Step One:
Once you install Silver Efex Pro 2, open
the image you want to convert from color
to B&W, then go under Photoshop's Filter
menu, under Nik Software, and choose
Silver Efex Pro 2
. When the window
opens, it gives you the default conversion
(which isn't bad all by itself), and a host of
controls on the right side (but honestly,
I literally never touch those controls).
Step Two:
The magic of this plug-in is its B&W (and
duotone) presets. They're listed along the
left side of the window, complete with a
small preview of how the effect will look,
but here's where I always start: on their
High Structure preset. Eight times out
of 10, that's the one I choose, because
it has its own high-contrast, sharpened
look that is wonderful for so many images.
However, if I'm converting a portrait, I'll
often wind up using a different preset, be-
cause High Structure can be too intense
when your subject is a person. So, I click
on the top preset in the list, and then click
on each preset below it until I find one
that looks good to me, then I click OK in
the bottom-right corner and I'm done.
That's all I do. It's fast, easy, and it looks
fantastic. That's just what I want.