Amplify Blacks and Whites in black&white photos?

[mantra]

Hi

i was playing with the trial version of nik silver efex 2

generally i'm contrary to install plugins because in short with photoshop you can do almost every thing that a plugin can offer

but about nik silver efex 2 great plugin (but with a nasty copy protection , i uninstalled it , and the copy protection is still running in my system)
i liked some feature
http://www.niksoftware.com/silverefe.../features.html

1) is Amplify Blacks and Whites

how can i have the same results in photoshop ?
i use a color selective layer (absolute or relative) before converting the image b/w with another laywer
curve or level but honestly they don't obtain the same results
other feature like soft contrasts could not emulate in photoshop




about
Structure and Fine Structure , i think high pass , desaturated ,overlay masks and opaticy should do the trick

by the way , i would love really to know how Amplify Blacks and Whites in photoshop without use nik efex silver 2

is there a skill to Amplify Blacks and Whites ?

thanks
cheers

[frankecu77]

You can get the same results with Photoshop Lightroom

[ShadowLight]

from the example....

set black point (and white if needed): in that example - levels [55-1-255]
contrast: something like... S-curve -> 1st point [210,210] / 2nd point [232,224]

or am I missing something?

[mantra]

Originally Posted by frankecu77

You can get the same results with Photoshop Lightroom

where?
thanks

Originally Posted by ShadowLight

from the example....

set black point (and white if needed): in that example - levels [55-1-255]
contrast: something like... S-curve -> 1st point [210,210] / 2nd point [232,224]

or am I missing something?

i guess , did you use efex silver efex 2?
about the blacks and whites it give a different result

[andrewrodney]

Originally Posted by frankecu77

You can get the same results with Photoshop Lightroom

Yup, here is a GREAT free video tutorial on using LR as well as some of the older (I’d say less useful) techniques in Photoshop including conversion to Lab for L star (we can do better <g>):

http://mulita.com/blog/?p=1244

[ShadowLight]

Originally Posted by mantra

where?
thanks



i guess , did you use efex silver efex 2?
about the blacks and whites it give a different result

with those settings I gave you, you will get just about the same result image as the one they have shown in the example.

But if you post example what you are after it will help as I don't use nik's plugins and can't tell you more than getting a similar result in the example image:
http://www.niksoftware.com/silverefe..._amp_bw_bg.jpg

[mantra]

Originally Posted by andrewrodney

Yup, here is a GREAT free video tutorial on using LR as well as some of the older (I’d say less useful) techniques in Photoshop including conversion to Lab for L star (we can do better <g>):

http://mulita.com/blog/?p=1244

yes but it's not even close to what the nik efex could do

but thanks!

[ShadowLight]

Originally Posted by mantra

yes but it's not even close to what the nik efex could do

but thanks!

I'm sorry but so far this "effect" does not look to do more than setting black/white points and adding an s-curve (as I showed you).

... that is not some "marketing strategy" to make it look more than it is...
is it?

[creativeretouch]

you can check out this site which is comparing different B&W conversions:

http://www.blackandwhitedigital.com/...t/compare.html

Edit:

and this video is interesting too:

http://photoshopnews.com/wp-content/...3/color-bw.mov

[andrewrodney]

Originally Posted by ShadowLight

... that is not some "marketing strategy" to make it look more than it is...
is it?

Sure seems to be working. Of course, some folks just want a push button effect.

[John Wheeler]

Originally Posted by andrewrodney

Yup, here is a GREAT free video tutorial on using LR as well as some of the older (I’d say less useful) techniques in Photoshop including conversion to Lab for L star (we can do better <g>):
http://mulita.com/blog/?p=1244

Thanks Andrew for sharing the video link. A basic yet very well done intro to conversion to B&W in Photoshop and ACR/LR. I bookmarked it to share wtih others.

Hi Mantra
I do not have that Nik package so cannot directly help. I agree with ShadowLight if you posted a before and after of what the Amplify Blacks and Whites provides (different than just the B&W conversions) then that would allow more forum members to give you suggestions.

From the description from Nik, it sounds like these controls are doing a localized contrast boost with independent controls for Black and White. Nik also mentions not wiping out the shadows and highlights in the process. This almost sounds like the clarity control in LR/ACR which I believe is focused on the midtones. Localized contrast increase can also be done in Photoshop. Not sure about the specifics of the Nik effects without an example so will leave it at that.

An alternative if you consider the Nik package to have substantial value above what you see achieved in Photoshop is to just purchase the plugin. There is quite a bit that can be done just with Photoshop/ACR yet its a myth IMHO that Photoshop can do it all without scripting or plug-ins. I too have very few plug-ins due to Photoshop's inherent capabilities yet as an example I would not want to try to duplicate all the capabilities of Filter Forge in Photoshop. Maybe I will have to try the trial version of nik silver efex 2 to see for myself