Mr & Mrs Church Bench

Churches Benches, almost look like they could be talking??

I like this image...they do look like their discussing whatever it is that's beyond the border. I did play a little, it seemed quite flat:



I have a couple of questions...what is your editing software? And what steps do you take for the conversion?

Hi

I keep havig a problem with this...

I am using paint shop pro X

I used the greyscale option, I think I am doing something wrong.

I also have photoshop 7 but I have not been using that much lately.

I liked my image but not the flatness, you have fifted it a lot and it looks nice now.

cheers

Jono

I use PS7 Jono and it is so much easier to convert to BW with it than with the greyscale option on PSP.

Open your image then make sure it is 8 bit.

Then goto IMAGE>ADJUSTMENTS>CHANNEL MIXER.

When the box appears click the monochrome box in the bottom left and it will convert to BW.

You can use the sliders to adjust the tonal range.

Just make sure that all the totals add up to around +100. :)

I'm not sure what Paint Shop does and doesn't have but, there are several different ways of turning an image B/W...but not all methods give you enough control over the process. Applying the better techniques lets you produce better-quility output, with fewer burned-out highlights with richer tones.

I want to share with you what I learned:

Lazy Method 1: Converting the image to grayscale mode.

Lazy Method 2: Desaturating the image

Lab Mode - a) Select image>Mode>Lab Color b) Select the Channels Palette>Click on "a" and drag it to the palette trash. This should leave you with a finer-quality b/w image.

Channel Mixer - a) Select Layer>Adjustments Layer>Channel Mixer b) Check the Monochrome Output box in the lower left hand corner of the dialog box and hit OK. c)now experiment with moving the other channels' sliders until you achieve the look your seeking.

I hope you are able to some how convert this info to Paint Shop. I think we all start out using the greyscale option...until we discover we are unsatisfied with the results and start looking for other ways to get the look we want.

Please, let me know if you need more clarification...

T.

Apparently...Stewart and I were typing at the same time!

Bingo! Thats easier.....thanks all

no excuse now

Looks much better!

Paint Shop Pro has a direct equivalent to the 'levels' tool in Photoshop, and that's probably what you really need to be using with your images in general, just to give them a lift from that 'average' tone the camera leaves them with...

Another option, if PSP will support it, is the Virtual Photographer Plugin from Optikverve labs - it's a freebie, and it will give you a number of really neat B&W conversions, real time preview of each effect, and it's just as easy as the 'lazy' way of converting...

Cheers,
Stuart

let me second Stuart on the Virtual Photographer...I use it often!! It's easy to learn and gives you many options!

Here's the link:

http://www.optikvervelabs.com/

Thanks for the info I will take a look

Jono

Virtual Photographer.
Very intereting...good tip
A quick play got this, with a bit more practice.....

Isn't Virtual Photographer fun!!

This is cool conversion...very spooky and ominous!!

Great fun, looks I need to clean my sensor too...thats less fun!!

Where's that church Jono?

back of the hill near boarhunt, its quite small.

Cheers Jono, taking pics of Churches is one of my fav things to do with my camera. :)

Bad Bad Man wrote:

Where's that church Jono?

Are you sure the walls won't fall in if you go, Stewart?? :)

Stewart..map of church location.
I have seen your emworth church..very good!!

stuart thanks for the 'virtual photographer' tip. its really good as i always use the 'lazy' way of converting to black and white because i didnt know any different. the trouble is, with so many settings, i can stare at a picture for so long and have trouble actually seeing if i have improved my piccy or made it worse!!

lol, when I find that happening, I convert three or four layers with what I think might work, then I swap between 'em to see what I like most...

Cheers,
Stuart

also, i find going back to them later with 'fresh' eyes helps