Mono conversion questions

I use Channel Mixer, enabling the three channels (RGB) to be adjusted to taste.

Before I do that I go to the Layers/Channels palette to look at how the RGB channels look as they are, just in case one of them is close enough already. If one is, select it and go to Mode>Greyscale. It will ask if you want to discard the other channels and the answer would be Yes.

If you want to, you can also convert to CMYK and look at those four channels to see if one does the trick.

These techniques are also useful in photo restoration as one of the channels might remove a lot of defects, reducing the amount of work needed.

Simply black & white filter layer in photoshop, sorry that it ain't anything special

Quickest B&W conversion in Photoshop:

1. Add new adjustment layer - Hue & Saturation. Sat = -100
2. Change layer blend mode to "Color"

Just switching the blend mode gives a more realistic conversion.

Then:
3. Add new adjustment layer - Selective Color
3a. Select "Whites" and adjust the black content to taste
3b. Select "Blacks" and adjust the black content to taste
3c. (Rarely) Select "Grays" and adjust the black content.


Matt