what do you mean by a good black and white image? do you mean on screen or in print?
wade
Assuming you are working from a color image file, try a Channel Mixer adjustment layer, set to monochrome. Probably the ultimate tool is Image>Calculations, although the learning curve on Calculations is a bit steep, IMO.
Gary
Forget Calculations – its generally an old tool which does exactly what layer blend modes and opacity do, better. Unless you’ve still got version 3 that is
Essentially what you are doing whenever you convert to greyscale is combining the color channels into 1 greyscale channel. You have 3 channels to use for this in RGB and LAB, and 4 in CMYK.
The Channel Mixer adjustment layer is one good method of performing this "summary" of the color channels. Another even better and more interactive method is the Russel Brown Hue stauration layer method. I’m sure someone will explain this if your interested.
Both these powerful greyscale conversion methods will actually give you more control than a darkroom will ever do.
I would try:
– image/mode/greyscale
– image/adjustments/destaurate
– image/adjustments/hue,satuartion
– image/adjustments/channel mixer
In that order and see how it came out. The last 3 could be done with an adjustment layer.
That said, a lot of dissatisfaction with B&W prints is not PS’ fault, it is the inability of inkjet printers to cope. Some have more than one black cartride [i.e. some real greys], which can only help. Epson 2100? There is a new HP one with several greys.
I am just getting into this, but like the following for converting and printing color images:
1) Convert to B&W Pro (photoshop plug-in) from www.imagingfactory.com
2) Epson 2200 with matte black ink, Imageprint RIP, gray profiles
from Colorbyte (NO metamerism)
3) Print on Epson Velvet Fine Art (more archival, creamy tone) or Enhanced Matte (less archival, bright white)
–John
