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Critique away - I was happy with the results of the LSII

Geoff
Nice image. Vary natural lighting from the LS. How did you convert to B&W?

Matt. K wrote:Geoff
Nice image. Vary natural lighting from the LS. How did you convert to B&W?

Thanx Matt - it was a simple desaturate in PS, how come?

Geoff

I think you might find that you will get a better result trying this method. Go back to your original colour image and change the mode to LAB. (image/mode). Open the channels pallet and click on split channels. Delete the top 2 channel layers. You are now left with the lightness channel and this usually gives a very nice black and white image. Play with your levels to get the contrast right and you are finished. I believe this method gives nicer skin tones...reduces noise, and looks better than desaturate. I believe this method of conversion leaves all the others dead in the water...and it is very simple.
Let me know what you think of the results.

Matt. K wrote:Geoff

I think you might find that you will get a better result trying this method. Go back to your original colour image and change the mode to LAB. (image/mode). Open the channels pallet and click on split channels. Delete the top 2 channel layers. You are now left with the lightness channel and this usually gives a very nice black and white image. Play with your levels to get the contrast right and you are finished. I believe this method gives nicer skin tones...reduces noise, and looks better than desaturate. I believe this method of conversion leaves all the others dead in the water...and it is very simple.
Let me know what you think of the results.

matt - it never ceases to amaze me how u can do so many things in PS so many ways! I tried your way and I like it, the end results seems a lot crisper as you suggest. Here is the first one I just converted..your opinions are always welcomed:

Geoff
That was fast! Get a life! You must turn your computer off for at least an hour a day.
Nice conversion. Looks very clean but just a tad muddy on my monitor. Maybe try go to curves and pull the center of the curve down a little, (to lighten the faces), and the 2 ends up just a little to increase the snap? Depends on how different our monitors brightness is set I guess.
The LAB conversion is usually very kind to skintones.
Cheers

Matt. K wrote:Geoff
That was fast! Get a life! You must turn your computer off for at least an hour a day.
Nice conversion. Looks very clean but just a tad muddy on my monitor. Maybe try go to curves and pull the center of the curve down a little, (to lighten the faces), and the 2 ends up just a little to increase the snap? Depends on how different our monitors brightness is set I guess.
The LAB conversion is usually very kind to skintones.
Cheers

I have been devoted to the forum (and post processing) most of the day. I've had nothing else to do, as I have the flu

GEOFF
Get well soon! Brandy is dandy for the flu.