B&W Conversion Action I promised...

[S-Man]

Here's a simple B&W Conversion Action that I promised over in the "Wedding" forum.
This is a photo I did with it.

I hope it works. Just unzip it into:
Program Files/Adobe/Photoshop CS2/Presets/Photoshop Actions:
It should work.
These are the steps of the action:
1. Duplicate layer
2. Change layer to 'overlay mode'
3. Select 'filter-other-high pass'
4. Move slider to about 6 or 7 to sharpen up the image
5. Stamp layer (ctrl+shift+alt+e on PC)
6. Select 'layer-new adjustment layer-gradient map'
7. Click the gradient bar, and a window will pop up
8. I had to click the B&W gradient selector, others do not have to for some reason
9. Adjust sliders on bottom to give the blacks more depth and the whites more pop (play with the sliders and see what you like) hit ok
10. Click 'layer-new fill layer-solid color' and select a sepia tone
11. on that new fill layer, make it into a 'color mode' layer
12. Take opacity down to 12-15 just to knock off the gray and give it a little golden tone
13. Make new layer; select ellipse marquee tool; make a circle near perimeter of image
14. Go to 'select-inverse selection' then go to 'edit-fill-black-ok'
15. Go to 'select-de-select' hit gaussian blur max setting twice
16. Take opacity down to a level you're happy with
17. Flatten layers and save image. I ran some noise ninja on mine then an USM.

If you want to adjust the intensity of the blacks and whites and midtones, click on the pallet layer, on the "B&W Toning" Layer, and click the little black and white circle in the left column, then adjust 'till your hearts content.
I hope you enjoy.

P.S. If a mod feels the need to move this to the dated "actions and more" thread where none of the links work, feel free. I just promised some people In another thread that I would post it here.

[kula23]

Very nice and cool info!