Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

jheiliger · **Greg Gorman's B&W Conversion -** 03-15-2005, 01:42 PM

Hey All,

I ran across this while looking around this morning and thought some of you might be interested. This is from Greg Gorman's website, and details his B&W conversion method. Greg is a fabulous B&W portrait artist and has a studio in Beverly Hills, CA. He is one of the guys that I try to emulate when i am trying to grow in the art.

http://www.gormanphotography.com/bw_conversion.pdf

The coolest thing about this method of B&W is the amount of control you have. I created an action for it in about 3 mins.

Joe

Sheldon · 03-15-2005, 02:37 PM

This is GREAT....thanks for sharing this with us Joe. I'll have to give it a try tonight.

LoungeLizard · 03-15-2005, 06:45 PM

Oh, if I could work with Halle, I'd learn a few more tricks! Be still, my beating heart!

By the way, thanks for the pointer.

Abel · 03-15-2005, 08:58 PM

ugh i got lost on step 3...

:(

Bill Huber · 03-15-2005, 09:43 PM

This is where I get lost.
I think it looks really good and I want to learn it...

I am not sure about Command/Control, were is it ?

Command/Control Click on the Gray Channel (to load the
selection)

Steelsun · 03-15-2005, 10:39 PM

They mean to hold down your command key (on macs) or ctrl key (on PC0 when you click on the gray channel

Bill Huber · 03-15-2005, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steelsun

They mean to hold down your command key (on macs) or ctrl key (on PC0 when you click on the gray channel

Thanks, it should have known that but will I just could not fine it....

Thanks again.

LoungeLizard · 03-16-2005, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Huber

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steelsun

They mean to hold down your command key (on macs) or ctrl key (on PC0 when you click on the gray channel

Thanks, it should have known that but will I just could not fine it....

Thanks again.

It's right next the the "any key"! :lol:

saroy · 03-16-2005, 09:53 AM

<begin Homer Simpson>
"To start press any key ... hmmm where's the any key?"

:lol:

Hogleg 44 · 03-16-2005, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saroy

hmmm where's the any key?"

:lol:

I wonder!...Could anykey be somehow related to our own MyKey?

LoungeLizard · 03-16-2005, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hogleg 44

I wonder!...Could anykey be somehow related to our own MyKey?

I think MyKey is a special (very special?) instance of AnyKey!

Bill Huber · 03-16-2005, 11:18 AM

I think they are sisters, I mean brothers....... :lol: :lol: :roll:

gpgyo · 03-16-2005, 08:14 PM

I thought this technique sounded familiar! Greg Gorman discusses this method in the "Secrets of the Photoshop Masters" DVD discussed here a couple of weeks ago. If you didn't order the DVD you have one of the three techniques for free.

Have fun,
Greg

RHoldenSr · 11-03-2005, 11:18 AM

Joe thanks for the tip! I saw this in another thread and I made an action for it also. I added in the Curves and Levels as outlined it the steps so if you do not want to adjust them just click ok. In addition I did not flatten the layers so the options are still available at the end.

I'm going to work on adding a prompt for the color selection in step 9.

If anyone is interested send me a PM and I will forward you a copy of the action for testing

I created it in Photoshop CS2 and I have not tested it in the CS version yet.

Here are a couple I tested it on:

jheiliger · 11-03-2005, 11:38 AM

Glad to contribute something to this forum.

Yeah... I also have a levels adjustment at the end of mine that allows you to tweak the contrast/density.

The other thing you can do by not flattening in the last step, just like you said, is you can adjust the density and TINT the image if you would like with the "solid color" layer. For instance, you could choose a brown if you wanted a good sepia. It's a lot of fun to play with...

I just love the ammount of control you have with this method...

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Greg Gorman's B&W Conversion