Fixing dull colour images. How B&W editing tools like Silver Efex Pro can work with colour images

[@scottwolfeil3647]

Thanks Keith! Really have learned a lot from these video’s.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks!

[@robinjones6999]

Hi Keith, as an enthusiastic amateur, Ive just found your YT site and WOW, you are a breath of fresh air! Im considering buying a new printer, since my Canon produced streaky rubbish so hopefully you informative reviews will help.Anyway - love your content.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - if you need more detail, it's usually in the main [written] reviews...

[@davidsuess7623]

Keith, love your videos on printing - but the concept of using a SEP BW layer as a luminosity mask for color images is brilliant. I am now going back to see if I can improve on past images using this technique. Thanks !!!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks! I do have to go back every so often to remind myself how all the Photoshop layer blending modes work - I use them just infrequently enough that I'll forget some details...

[@Lagalulu.]

Thanks a lot for this video! It's really helpful.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks!

[@ddsdss256]

Thanks for yet another useful insight. I actually think the "neutral" B&W version looks great in SEP3 (also my go-to for B&W), but I also like subtle colors (such as in your original) and often maintain those rather than completely desaturating. A number of my prints that are very close to the color of the original scene appear to be desaturated or even toned B&W and I like that look. I never thought to use SFP to control certain parameters and merge the result with the color image. I'll have to try that to see if it offers more control than other options I have (including other Nik plug-ins) but I'll have to do it in PaintShop Pro as I don't "rent" Adobe products (and I use Windows). DxO Film Pack also offers some interesting options (including very convincing grain--as do many Nik plug-ins) and myriad adjustment possibilities. You mention using a custom profile for paper "similar to Epson Premium Luster" (which I assume is the same as Epson Ultra Premium Luster--"Ultra" is probably US marketing hype). Do you use Epson's profile for that paper or a custom one (and if so, why)? I find it works quite well for many prints, but I only have it up to A2 (17 x 22). Avian calling cards can ruin prints of any size and such things can be easy to miss. Regarding printing for yourself or others, I do the former. If others like them, so much the better, but it's my vision I'm trying to present!

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - there's a lot of ways of approaching an image like this. This is more usually a technique I've used for architectural shots in less than optimal weather ;-) This one is unusual in that the colours matched my mood for the scene - normally B&W would likely be my choice. The paper here is a 260gsm lustre paper [no ultra for me here in the UK] - from a collection I reviewed a few years ago (in the P7000 review) - I'm using a custom profile of mine. I merely note that it does not have epson written on the back, but other than that the Epson profile is likely to work well ;-) ;-)

[@thegroove2000]

Hi this is an interesting method.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - there are other ways of achieving this, but the layer blending and masking is one of the things I like about Photoshop

[@Slave-Of-Christ]

Nice! But I've gotta say, I don't know how you missed that seagull! Lol.

[@KeithCooper]

It happens :-) - concentrating on the process for the video not the detail in the print. Interestingly, when I went back to the original print file, I had cleaned things up - I just replicated the basic process to show here. I usually prefer to leave such errors in the videos anyway ;-)

[@Slave-Of-Christ]

@@KeithCooper Well, I was giving you a complement of sorts anyway. I know how _I_ would miss it, just not how _YOU_ would miss it. I miss it all the time!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks!

[@green1mantle]

Is there any way of retouching the seagull out?

[@KeithCooper]

The aptly named spot healing brush helps - but I just glare at them...

[@thomaseriksson6256]

Thank you. I think I seen this on an other channel but I need the information. I have the old Google variant.

[@KeithCooper]

Glad I could help - I've been using this for some of my architectural images for years. Sometimes I just don't get the chance to wait for ideal weather, and it's been of great help on occasions. To my mind, the old Nik plugins still work just fine if your software can support them ;-) The 'improvements' in the latest versions are of mixed utility...

[@Ozhtube]

Hi Keith, what do you recommend for a good printer or options in a budget of $300 to $1,000 (250 Pound to 800 Pound) or around these prices? Looking for a printer that print (13in x 18in) on matte paper. Pictures are heavily filtered with the dominant colors of black shades for the outlines and shadows, and white shades reflection of white car. I do car photography of white cars and considering to sell the pictures. I appreciate any feedback

[@KeithCooper]

Couldn't say - I specifically never give recommendations ;-) Both P700 and PRO-300 do well on matte paper. ET-8550 does on some papers, but it needs suitable profiling - that's the key to good results for such images See the detailed [written] reviews of the three for more

[@Ozhtube]

@@KeithCooper okay! thank you Keith!