What colors look best in B&W

[Wes]

I know it sounds like a stupid question.... however, I've been hired to do some family portraits within the next few weeks. They will want mostly color photos, but they will also want some converted to B&W. What colors will look best when converted to B&W? Does the question even make sense?

[epoh]

I think the important thing is the shade, not so much the color. Once it's converted to black and white, all the colors of the same shade are going to look like the same color. So the primary blue green and red all look like the same flat grey. Just make sure they wear contrasting colors and you should be okay. You can also play with the color channels when you convert to b&w to increase the contrast and depth of the photo.

[venchka]

I have no idea how the photographer did this, but he certainly has the perfect technique.





Link to RFF and you can inquire.

RFF B&W Conversions

Good luck!

[Photog mom]

For the pics, it's looks like it was converted to sepia then to blk/wht...just my opinion :) .

[ShutteredEye]

Originally Posted by xmenporsche

I know it sounds like a stupid question.... however, I've been hired to do some family portraits within the next few weeks. They will want mostly color photos, but they will also want some converted to B&W. What colors will look best when converted to B&W? Does the question even make sense?

Google search for Wally's B&W Conversion.

He uses a color filter technique where you adjust the saturation and hue slider until the balance between all the shades suits your taste.

[ShutteredEye]

BTW, Venchka, the pictures you posted were taken with Reala B&W film. That's why it looks like the perfect conversion... ;)

[KeepsakeGirl]

Wayne,

That looks like Sepia D, which is sepia but desaturated w/ just enough tint to keep it from being BW. I have an action i created for it if you'd like. Send me your email and i'll shoot your way :)

[huxley]

this tone is also known as a platinum tone you can download an action (along with others at http://www.epaperpress.com/psphoto/index.html all you have to do is make a b/w conversion and apply these in photoshop. I like using my channel mixer to create my b/w and then use the action. good luck and enjoy.

SHUTTEREDEYE do you know where i could get my hands on some of that film? i did a search for it on bh and only got the color negative print. no b/w listed. i would LOVE to use this tone, as you can see my avatar is similar in color. i am in love with this tone and use it often. i had no idea it was a film. i just thought it was done in the lab/darkroom process.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by ShutteredEye

BTW, Venchka, the pictures you posted were taken with Reala B&W film. That's why it looks like the perfect conversion... ;)

The only Reala Fuji mentions on their web page is Superia Reala 100 color negative film.

Here's an uncoverted photo by the same person, probably from the same roll of film.

More scanning done yesterday. Here are some more 85/2 (kids on the fire engine) photos. All with ND4 filter, wide open on Reala.

[ShutteredEye]

Hmmm my mistake. You are quite possibly correct. I don't use Fuji B&W, so I just assumed, and there you have it.

Huxley, have you tried Ilford's B&W films? I LOVE them. Favorite film by far.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by ShutteredEye

Hmmm my mistake. You are quite possibly correct. I don't use Fuji B&W, so I just assumed, and there you have it.

Huxley, have you tried Ilford's B&W films? I LOVE them. Favorite film by far.

No worries. I was hoping you were right. If I can learn how to do conversions like the ones I showed here from Reala, I might just shoot that when I have enough light. then you get color & B&W from the same roll. Reala produces really nice images.

[johnastovall]

Get the current issue of Digital PhotoPro and read John Paul Capoigrono's article on B&W in digital and why one should start with a color capture.

Good Stuff!