Black & White ?

[sorted]

Hi

Please can someone help me as to if i am going the correct way round of converting photo's into Black & White ?

On lesson 7 and this is my favourite photo at the moment to convert but is the lighting, shadows etc Correct ?
Any comments would be great, sure that this is not the best it can look.
Thanking you all in advance.

Sorted
:confused::

[Pat]

Hi sorted. First off, you're a little lost here.:). You want to post this in The Classroom forum or perhaps the Black and White Critique Forum.
Just off the top of my head, though, I'm not sure you can call this a black and whiter as you're in the RGB colour mode, and have a bit of a sepia cast. I downloaded your pic, converted it to black and white and darkened it just a little.
You should repost in one of the above mentioned (probably B&W Critique), and get someone to opine who actually knows what they're talking about, though. Luck.

[coffee]

If you want someone to attempted to edit and re-post this image sorted, then you are in the right area. If you want an edit example, but post this thread anywhere else, then no one will attempt it because etiquette dictates. If you only want advise, then Pat is correct.

[sorted]

Hi

Thank you both for your comments. Yes i do think i posted it in the wrong place now "Sorry" but Pat thank you very much for the edit it looks loads better and also for pointing out i was in RGB mode. Only got Photoshop Elements 7 one week ago and still have not got the hang of it yet have to keep playing but now i can see where it states the mode you are in. Thanks also to Coffee for putting me on the right lines.
Any Edits of my photo would be welcome and i shall take your advice and post it in the correct place.

Many thanks to both of you.

Elaine Xx

[Pat]

Hi Elaine.. Just a couple of points...
Make a copy of your pic to do any editing on. Never work on the original. Thus, if you mess up, you can start over, even if you're beyond the allowable "undo's".
Also, I'm not familiar with Elements, but Photoshop has a ton of stuff that I never use. So for now I'd say concentrate on the basics of editing (cropping, sharpening or softening, straightening (keep your horizons level), colour saturation, brightness and contrast. Keep an eye on your HISTOGRAM, in camera (if you have time to compose) and while editing.

http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/10-photo-editing-tips-for-photoshop-elements-635076

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/understanding-histograms.shtml

[sorted]

Hi Pat

Thank you so much once again for all the help it is much appreciated. Having looked back now i have fallen down on my Colour to Black & white as i did use the original :eek:.
Lot to learn still but will definately not fall in that trap again.:o

Many thanks for your time and help.

Elaine:)

[sorted]

Hi Pat & Joseph

Thank you both very much for your help.
I decided to put this photo through for my Assignment and Hope and Pray it will be OK :o

Once again a Big Thankyou

Elaine

[Pat]

Good one. Nice period piece (excepting the thoroughly modern snare drum :)). Good luck.

[coffee]

Hi Elaine.. Just a couple of points...
Make a copy of your pic to do any editing on. Never work on the original. Thus, if you mess up, you can start over, even if you're beyond the allowable "undo's".

The point Pat makes here is a must for those that edit their images. If you shoot in jeg, always make a copy to edit and save the original in it's original form. And name them such so you know which is which. If you shoot in RAW, that file will be your original, and any edits will be saved in in jeg, tiff, psd etc. Any image I send to edit will have 5 different files versions. The original RAW- and associated hidden .xmp file, the Photoshop PSD with layers or tif if that's your preference, the very best quality jeg, and a very small jpg for web purposes. The small jpg for web isn't necessarily something you have to create in the event you never use it, but at the very least I have the 4 others saved and tucked away. It's certainly hard on disc space with the PSD's, but it's necessary if you want to go back and make corrections to the edited version which I do occasionally. If you don't save the PSD/tif in a layer format and want to change anything, even something very small, you are forced to start all over with editing. You can save a PSD as a merges file, but you won't be able to make any changes to an individual edit like sharpening or NR because those edited will all be merges into one layer. You can use your final edited jpg copy for additional edits, but that isn't advised because every time you re-save a jpg, you lose quality and file information.

[sorted]

Once again how can i thank you both enough printing this page out to go back to you both are Brill;)

Let you know how it goes Xx:)

[coffee]

And also, congrats on getting to assignment 7. I's no small task as you know. I like what you did with your B&W. It's very fitting considering the subject and composition. Well done and good luck.

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Hi Joseph

Thank you for your comments and i am over the moon as this is not one of my Favourite Assignments as you Know but got a 10 :)
really happy and can't stop Smiling :D:D also can't wait to tell my husband think a glass of wine might be in order:D

Thank you so much once again

Elaine

[coffee]

Congrats to you. Can't do any better than a 10. Sorry about not always addressing you by your real name Elaine. I don't always see your name at the end of your posts so I've been calling you by your screen name. You can, if you want, go into your PP profile and create a signiture that includes your name and any other info you want. You can also link to your personal webpage or other. Your sigature automatically gets stamped onto all your posts. Not everyone does it but it's a good way for everyone to link a screen name with an actual name, and a good way for forgetful people like me to remember :) On to assignment 8 hu?

[sorted]

:)I will go and figure that out now in my Profile and thanks again for all the help and knowledge that you have passed :D

Sorted ( haha no Elaine:) )