How to get these b/w looks?

[Rinaldi]

http://www.iamrinaldi.com/helpplease.html

My images are not similar or even close to the ones I refer to, but I really love the b/w and the analog feel. I think they are polaroids looking at the borders, but I can create that in IL.

Can you help me with some advice so I can at least move in the right direction?
Thanks

[amica999]

Hi Rinaldi, there is a 15-day free trial available:

http://www.niksoftware.com/silverefexpro/usa/entry.php

[Tony W]

All the images you want to mimic exhibit a much more contrasty lighting than the images you have therefore you are not likely to get an exact match. Not sure if I agree they are polaroids.

Anyway if you have not already tried this it may help to get you started - my attachment done in Photoshop but should be repeatable in other applications.

1. Curves layer still in colour to brighten image up and increase contrast
2. Channel mixer set to monochrome. Play with the RGB sliders to taste.

I know that the result is not a match for the images you posted but could be a starting point for a further play with a new curves layer.

[sehmuzb]

Here is my conversion. Image was pretty tiny to clean up the veins on her leg. But you should get the idea on what is possible.

[kav]

Here's a two minute version. If I was doing something like this for a client it would look totally different, but still the closest out of any :P

[Tony W]

Originally Posted by kav

Here's a two minute version. If I was doing something like this for a client it would look totally different, but still the closest out of any :P

Nothing like supreme confidence

Where is the help the OP requested to move in the right direction?

[kav]

Blarg I would but I'm already bored. I should use reference art more often. I can't seem to hold the look of things like black and white film in my head very well.

[Rinaldi]

Hey thanks guys. Yeah I already started trying stuff, I put a curve layer to brighten things up a bit, then run a copy through Silver Efex, and a couple of other layers to blend in. Made the border in IL.