Mix to Mono

[SandeeWig]

Originally Posted by wulf

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Rather than desaturating or using the channel mixer, I prefer to decompose the image into red, green and blue channels. I can then assess the information in each one and recombine those layers. They can be stacked whatever order I choose because I am not going to recompose to a colour image but flatten and save as my custom black and white result.
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Wulf

Hi Wulf! Thanks for this information, as I've been trying to work out a better method of converting to B/W in PS CS2. Could you - or someone - please explain how to do what you did in PS?

I so confused...

[wulf]

Not me, although I know you've got a similar ability to decompose and remix an image. What version of Photoshop are you using?

Wulf

[SandeeWig]

CS2 is the version I'm using. I'll see if I can find something via google. If so, I'll report back.

[Petoria]

interesting way to make a BW picture. I'm going to try this out later on some pics I have...I usually do do BW

[KodiakStar]

Wulf, if you don't mind. I'd like to add a link to your Tutorial.

GIMP - Converting Color Images to B&W

I was looking up this same thing last week and found this tutorial on the gimp site.
Have been playing with "Decompose" with some nice results!

Probably one of the "cleanest" ones I did, using Decompose - LAB for the background:

[stitchbug]

I didn't get why you'd do it like that unti lI saw the comparison pics! definitely an improvement when done this way!!

[wulf]

Originally Posted by KodiakStar

Probably one of the "cleanest" ones I did, using Decompose - LAB for the background...

Yes - the decompose tool has a number of options. I normally use RGB but there are other options and all could use the same idea of reordering the different channels and mixing them with different modes and layer masks.

You could even decompose the original via two or more different approaches and then pick and remix any of the versions you fancy. I'll have to give that a go myself!

Wulf

[wulf]

Here's one that mixes RGB and LAB channels:



Wulf

[nategesner]

Wulf, thanks for the thread. I have read several complex tutorials for creating B&W and it never made sense to me why anyone would go through so many steps instead of desaturating. Your comparison shots make the answer clear!

I'm sold and will start practicing this technique soon.

[woods]

I'll be trying it next time too, result looks great.
Thanks for the tip.