Black & White Conversion Preferences

[MichaelRS]

In Scott's on-line training he has his neat little approach he developed in changing color to black & white (although I honestly did not see that much of a difference in what he did).

Barbara Brunderage explains the use of changing the Hue/Saturation level in each of the colors. (I haven't tried it yet).

I was wondering what each of you do and if anyone has found a really stellar, magic way that they would like to share? Please. :)

Michael

[Foxhound]

Michael,

This plug in is about as magical as I get ;) I do all my B&W conversions with it and it's FREE

http://www.optikvervelabs.com/

If your using PE3 then just unzip the file into:
\adobe\photoshop\plug-ins

If your using PE4 then you have to go one folder deeper
\adobe\photoshop\plug-ins\filters

[smkunder]

John, I just downloaded and used that plug-in you described, it is truly amazing. Another great tool to have in the Elements system. Thanks for sharing.

Steve

[CarolLHB]

Hi John,
I've never downloaded or used a plug-in. Could you give me a quick how-to, where does it go, etc lesson on this-it looks fantastic, but I'd like to know a little bit more before I download it.

Thanks so much:)

[smkunder]

Carol, I was able to install the plug-in by using the directions supplied on the web site John supplied. It was very easy to follow. Hope that helps.

Steve

[CarolLHB]

Thanks Steve-I'll give it a go!:)

[Carbone]

I too use Barbara's method and it does a great job! In fact, since then, I've really developed an eye for B&W - Thanks Barbara (if you're around)!

Ray

[CarolLHB]

Ray-
Barbara who? Brundage? What's her method?:)

[MichaelRS]

John- Thanks for the pointer. I think it does a better job than just using grayscale or Scott Kelby's method. Much appreciated.:D

Michael

[CarolLHB]

Oops-sorry Ray-should have read the first post more carefully:o :o

[MichaelRS]

Ray-
My attempts at using Barbara's method have left things a bit washed out at times or seemingly with no change. Logically this doesn't make sense to me because when you set the red saturation to -100 then a maroon sweater should show some difference.

Since you like her method and it seems like it's helped you get a better appreciation for black & white, how about sharing some of what you do with her method and what it lets you see?

Michael

[GlennK]

John,

This plug-in is amazing ... thank you! The black-and-white images seem to jump from the page/screen, especially with the contrast effect selected. I'm hooked. Thanks again.

Glenn

[CarolLHB]

Trouble...:(

I downloaded this-put it in my plug-ins folder. The read-me says this:

USING

1. Load an image into your Photo-editing software

2. Select optikVerve Labs -> virtualPhotographer from the "Filter" menu

3. Click different "Presets" to see the effect

4. Click the "Process" button to apply the effect to your original image

But I can't find it anywhere!!

Help?:)

[Mary]

Hi Carol
Did you shut down PSE before you installed the plug in? If not close it now and retart it and see if it appears. :)

[Carbone]

Michael,

I use an adjustment layer for Hue and Saturation.

First, for the Master, I completely remove saturation and I adjust the lightness. For the other channels, I simply adjust the Lightness. It got me started, but I don't know if it's the best method. For me, though, it gave very pleasing result.

I tried it on nicely exposed pictures and got very satisfying results. I don't know what would be the results on a so-so picture.

Ray

[Chuck S.]

Why, Ray....does this mean that you've actually started liking black and white images??!

;-)

Chuck

[Shari]

Wow - thanks Michael. I downloaded Optinkvervelabs. First time I have downloaded so took a while to figure out. Now I have seen what can be done with a click. It's magic to me. My eyes are pretty blurry about now - but it's fun. Thanks.
Shari

[Shari]

Ooops - thanks John for the site and thanks Michael for asking the question so we could all get the site!

[Carbone]

Chuck... we all change.. :D

(but no, I won't get a Nikon camera... not just yet anyway..) ;)

Ray

[Foxhound]

Carol,

Make sure you unzip the folder into the plug-ins folder and not just the contents of the new folder. If you look in the plug-ins folder you should see a seperate folder for Optikvervelabs along with all your other .8BF files and not just the contents of that folder mixed in with them.

You will access the actual plugin under the "Filter" menu found on top of the Elements editor main screen. It should be displayed beneath "Digimark" so be sure your not searching for it in the palette window under the filter effects.

Just making sure your looking for it in the right place ;)

PE3: \adobe\photoshop\plugins\Optikvervelabs\*.8BF file
PE4: \adobe\photoshop\plugins\filters\Optikvervelabs\*. 8BF file

[CarolLHB]

Hi John-

First, thanks-let me ask-does this work for Mac? I have tried this every which way from Sunday. I've unzipped the file and this is what I see when I open the folder:
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/6990/picture19fj.th.png (http://img511.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture19fj.png)

Do you see that the icons are blank? Shouldn't they be that blue and white type? I'm wondering if thats the problem.

I've put the whole folder into both filters and digimark. Then I tried to only put the .8BF one into both as well-still no luck.

Sorry to be so dense:o -what am I doing wrong?

Thanks-:)

[Foxhound]

Carol, your not dense at all......I'm just forgetful :(

It plug-in won't work on a Mac. They say they're working on it but it's been a long time coming. I apologize for the inconvenience, not to mention frustration, you've gone through just to find out that I failed to mention it from the beginning. I usually do mention this but it just slipped my mind.

Terribly sorry.......

[CarolLHB]

No problem, John-I'm just glad I'm not crazy (well, at the moment, anyway!):D

[jeannekay]

Hi new here and jumping in w/ a question. I've downloaded the suggested files. Played a little. Got ok results, but nothing like the rose picture they give an example of on thier site. Granted I'm using a human subject not floral but still that picture has depth that mine seems to be missing. I am considering it's just me and my picture and lack of skill! :lol

[Wendy]

Hi there ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

Some images just work a lot better than others and plug ins don't always give you enough flexibility to deal with that.

Grant did a tutorial on the different ways of doing B&W convertions ... so that may just help you. Here is a link to it:

http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/B&W/Index.html

Wendy

[jeannekay]

Thanks for the link I'll go check it out. I'm just so tierd of flat looking black and white images now that I know how much better they can be. Before I knew I was happy w/ what I had, now I crave much more!

[sharlmitch]

John,
Can I use this download in PE2?

[Wendy]

Hi sharlmitch ..

... and welcome to the forum :)

I just check on the site and they say it is compatable with Photoshop Elements so I would say that it does work with all of the versions (if not then they usually specify which ones it does work with)

Wendy

[sharlmitch]

Thanks Wendy,

I can't seem to find "program files" on my computer. I haven't worked with a plug-in before.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

I can't help on that one as I am a Mac user ... but hopefully one of the windows users will be along soon and able to help you sort you where it goes :)

Wendy

[Scraptastickat]

Thanks Wendy,

I can't seem to find "program files" on my computer. I haven't worked with a plug-in before.

Click on my computer
double click on c: drive
you should then be able to find a folder called program files double click that
then adobe files and so on...

[DMurray407]

This is a neat program! My question is, how do I load the additional effects? The instructions say to copy them into the Optikverve(sp?) directory-how do I find that? When I click on the plug in icon, it just opens the proggie. I can open Virtual Photographer in PSE4, but it just has the original effects-I want to add some of the extras. I have my extras in my Plugins folder in documents, but I've only copied the main plugin to PSE, where should I install the extra files?
Thanks!
Deb

[sharlmitch]

Kat,

Thank you so much, so simple when you know where to look!:)

[Scraptastickat]

Kat,

Thank you so much, so simple when you know where to look!:)

so glad I could help out!

[Scraptastickat]

This is a neat program! My question is, how do I load the additional effects? The instructions say to copy them into the Optikverve(sp?) directory-how do I find that? When I click on the plug in icon, it just opens the proggie. I can open Virtual Photographer in PSE4, but it just has the original effects-I want to add some of the extras. I have my extras in my Plugins folder in documents, but I've only copied the main plugin to PSE, where should I install the extra files?
Thanks!
Deb

sorry, I think this was overlooked but I can help you with this...

To add the additional files once downloaded. copy the file and paste it in the optikVerveLabs folder

C: drive
program files
adobe
Photoshop Elements (3 or 4 or whatever version you have)
Plug-ins
optikVerveLabs folder

Once that is done, relaunch elements and click
filter
optikverve labs
Virtual Photographer

Then a dialog box will come up. From there to use the newly installed filters you will have to know what they look like and which one you want to choose. Click the load button and select the filter desired.

HTH If you need screen shots give a shout!

[DMurray407]

Thank you Kat! I was looking for my extras to show up in my pull down list-I didn't think to try "load". I works just fine now (though as you say, you have to remember which one you want to use . . .)
deb

[LFD]

Hi,
I checked out this neat site and would like to download the plug-in. However, Windows says that it hasn't a Verified publisher, which means that security recommends that it not be downloaded. I sent a message to the site...hope I get a reply. I have been using Scott's approach.

LFD

[Laura ross]

I was able to download the file for the black and white. A few of my pictures when I try and go in and use the program it tells me " This filter requires an 8-bit channel image.Convert to 8-bit in the host program". Can someone tell me what that means and how do I fix it. I have some good wedding pictures that may adjust well to black and white but it is giving me this error. :mad:

[Scraptastickat]

Thank you Kat! I was looking for my extras to show up in my pull down list-I didn't think to try "load". I works just fine now (though as you say, you have to remember which one you want to use . . .)
deb

I dont know if this will work for you but I actually copied all of the samples they show on their website into a word document and printed them for my notebook. this way I can visually see which one I want to use and can easily load the corrisponding file. I found that to be the easiest!

[Scraptastickat]

Hi,
I checked out this neat site and would like to download the plug-in. However, Windows says that it hasn't a Verified publisher, which means that security recommends that it not be downloaded. I sent a message to the site...hope I get a reply. I have been using Scott's approach.

LFD

LFD, I get this quite often with downloads (and did as well with this download). I figure when as many people have vouched for a download as in this case... its safe enough to download. I have not had a problem and my spyware software didnt detect anything malicious. I think you will be just find downloading. Good luck!

[LFD]

Kat...
Thanks for your thoughts and prompting...I knew all along that it looks too good to resist and would eventually find its way to my PC!

LFD

[Laura ross]

Hi I was able to download this link but unable to know how to save on photo elements. Can someone tell me how to please.

Michael,

This plug in is about as magical as I get ;) I do all my B&W conversions with it and it's FREE

http://www.optikvervelabs.com/

If your using PE3 then just unzip the file into:
\adobe\photoshop\plug-ins

If your using PE4 then you have to go one folder deeper
\adobe\photoshop\plug-ins\filters

[Scraptastickat]

Hi I was able to download this link but unable to know how to save on photo elements. Can someone tell me how to please.

Not sure which platform you are using but if you are using windows it needs to be placed in the plugin folder.

Click on my computer
double click c: drive
double click program files
double click adobe
double click photoshop elements (3 or 4 or whichever version you have)
double click on the plug-in folder and copy the file there.

HTH