A black-and-white conversion

No two photos are the same, and no two monochrome conversions are the same. But I follow a similar path each time.

Like every starry-eyed Dad, I think daughter is the cutest thing in the world 🙂 This shot is nice in colour, but a bit bland and flat … I’d like to make a nice black-and-white out of it.

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For the best mono conversion possible, it helps to have a nice colour image. So I use Levels to improve the contrast.

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I convert it using my action here). It’s nice and clean, but still needs work, of course.

bw03.jpg

Using Levels, I first add some overall contrast …

bw04.jpg

… then some further adjustments in selected areas.

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I use Curves to add a little more sparkle to her eyes.

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Almost there! Time to add a vignette for emphasis.

bw07.jpg

Then some sharpening to finish it off.

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