Plugin curiosity for grayscale images

A
Posted By
AArDvarK
Feb 22, 2004
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344
Replies
3
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I wonder about the new color filters in CS/8, they do not work on grayscale images, which I would like. I would
like a red or orange tint to work on a grayscale image the same way a color filter works on black and white film.
I tried changing a GS file to RGB, but I only get the color tinting … obviously. Do any emulation plugins exist for this idea? Or are any tutorials out there?
Thanks, Alex
Related Tags
grayscale image plug-in

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M
Martijn
Feb 22, 2004
"AArDvarK" wrote in message
I wonder about the new color filters in CS/8, they do not work on grayscale images, which I would like. I would
like a red or orange tint to work on a grayscale image the same way a color filter works on black and white film.
I tried changing a GS file to RGB, but I only get the color tinting … obviously.

What is wrong with converting the image to RGB? From what I understand, that would be the way to go. You could than convert the image to 8bit (this is what a GS image is too). As long as you really use only one hue, the quality will remain (because your eye/brain cannot see more than 256 shades of one color).

Make sure to keep an RGB version when saving, because you won’t be able to use certain filters anymore.

Good luck,

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Martijn
http://www.sereneconcepts.nl
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Al Denelsbeck
Feb 22, 2004
"AArDvarK" wrote in
news:l7%Zb.8701$:

I wonder about the new color filters in CS/8, they do not work on grayscale images, which I would like. I would
like a red or orange tint to work on a grayscale image the same way a color filter works on black and white film.
I tried changing a GS file to RGB, but I only get the color tinting … obviously. Do any emulation plugins exist for this idea? Or are any tutorials out there?
Thanks, Alex

Color filters on B&W film work because they’re starting with a color image. ‘Filter’ is the key word. A yellow filter cuts out much of every color except yellow, thus reducing the light reaching the film and darkening the subjects – unless they match the yellow color, in which case the light comes through laregly unchanged, and is thus brighter when it hits the film.

So in this way, you can take two colors that would appear much the same on B&W film and change the contrast between the two. A red flower that matches surrounding green leaves in contrast (having the same light intensity as far as the film sensitivity is concerned) can thus be ‘brightened’ with a red filter and stand out more.

This doesn’t work at all if you don’t have the colors to begin with. Once an image is greyscale, all color info is gone, and Photoshop and the plug-in can’t differentiate. You need to use the plug-ins with a color image, then desaturate or convert or fool with channels (whichever you prefer) to change the image into greyscale afterwards.

– Al.

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A
AArDvarK
Feb 22, 2004
Good idea, thank you very much, I’ll try that.
Alex

"Al Denelsbeck" wrote in message
"AArDvarK" wrote in
news:l7%Zb.8701$:

I wonder about the new color filters in CS/8, they do not work on grayscale images, which I would like. I would
like a red or orange tint to work on a grayscale image the same way a color filter works on black and white film.
I tried changing a GS file to RGB, but I only get the color tinting … obviously. Do any emulation plugins exist for this idea? Or are any tutorials out there?
Thanks, Alex

Color filters on B&W film work because they’re starting with a color image. ‘Filter’ is the key word. A yellow filter cuts out much of every color except yellow, thus reducing the light reaching the film and darkening the subjects – unless they match the yellow color, in which case the light comes through laregly unchanged, and is thus brighter when it hits the film.

So in this way, you can take two colors that would appear much the same on B&W film and change the contrast between the two. A red flower that matches surrounding green leaves in contrast (having the same light intensity as far as the film sensitivity is concerned) can thus be ‘brightened’ with a red filter and stand out more.

This doesn’t work at all if you don’t have the colors to begin with. Once an image is greyscale, all color info is gone, and Photoshop and the plug-in can’t differentiate. You need to use the plug-ins with a color image, then desaturate or convert or fool with channels (whichever you prefer) to change the image into greyscale afterwards.

– Al.

—
To reply, insert dash in address to separate G and I in the domain

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