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Post by nikonbob on Jul 15, 2007 13:36:15 GMT -5
The cost of using C41 B&W films is expensive compared to C41 colour films. I thought I would try converting colour C41 to B&W (grey scale) and see if it would be different from scanning C41 B&W as a colour neg and then converting it to grey scale. I know it would give B&W purists fits but I think that I will now go the colour converted route. It seems just as viable and gives me more options. The photos were cropped for 8x11 printing and came out fine as prints. Let me know your thoughts and/or experiences with this way of doing things. Bob The original The grey scale conversion
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Post by GeneW on Jul 15, 2007 14:25:11 GMT -5
This looks good, Bob. If you're using Photoshop you can use the Channel Mixer tool (my fav conversion tool) in much the way you use filters when shooting B&W -- e.g. 'mixing' the red, blue and green channels for optimal desired tonality. My experience has been that C41 col film converts really well to B&W, and unlike my small digicam, the blue channel is highly usable -- not all noisy like it is with my little Canon digi.
I met a rangefinder photographer who shoots nothing but col C41 with his Leica, but converts nearly everything to B&W. His work is really excellent.
I take it it's the cost of the film, rather than the processing, that gets you about C41 B&W. XP2 is available in bulk rolls and is available from B&H in the US. It brings the price per roll down considerably. I've considered going that route myself, but so far have been really happy with converted C41 colour.
Gene
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Post by nikonbob on Jul 15, 2007 15:16:45 GMT -5
Gene
Unfortunately I use PS Elements 2 so I don't think there is the channel mixer option in it. Even with the bulk rolls the cost is still way more than the $1 to $2 a roll that I am used to paying for colour C41 film. The cost of develop and CD at Shoppers is easy on the pocket book.
Bob
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Jul 16, 2007 6:29:37 GMT -5
Nice conversion to greyscale, Bob. Even without using Channel Mixer and boosting the blue channel, the blue in the sky has darkened enough to make the clouds visible.
Appropro modifying in PS, most of us resize from time to time, and I picked up a tip from a pro who works in an ad studio. When you go to Image Size you get three boxes at the bottom: Scale Styles, Restrain Proportions and Resample Image. Make sure all three are ticked. The default setting for Resample Image is Bicubic, but if you are reducing the size it's better to change this to Bicubic Sharper. If you are enlarging the image, change it to Bicubic Smoother.
I noticed quite a difference in quality when I started using this.
He always changes the mode of colour from RGB to CMYK so that when he goes to the Levels histogram he can adjust each channel individually. He does this because all his work is eventually printed, and most printing processes use CMYK additive colour. He says he gets a better match on screen to what the print will eventually look like. I haven't tried this, but certainly the work he does reproduces beautifully.
PeterW
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Post by nikonbob on Jul 16, 2007 11:51:15 GMT -5
PeterW
Thanks yet again for another useful reply. I will note what you have said and do some experiments with these methods.
Bob
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