Each RGB channel (Red,Green,Blue) offers a B&W interpretation that can be used to adjust the color.

1. Create layers from all RGB channels Just copy the individual channels, reselect the RGB composite in the channels palette, and paste them into the same document. Rename the new layers as Red, Green and Blue. Remember to turn off the visibility of the pasted layers before selecting and copying the other channels or you won't copy the true colors.
2. Luminosity layer Explore adding a fourth Lightness layer by duplicating the image and converting to Lab color. Its different tonal structure might be useful. Paste it just above the background layer, below the rest of the RGB layers.
3. Layer masks Create a layer mask for all the layers above the background layer. Adjust the mask by painting in black or white.
4. Opacity tinkering Play with the opacity of the layer as a whole, and also with the density of the mask (the latter is a local change in opacity).
5. Final touches Finally, experiment with a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer as the top layer and the colorize setting.

Subjects with a variety of saturated colors offer greater possibilities.

Action file for CS2/CS3

Double-click this action file to load it into your Action palette. Open an RGB file, and then click the Play button to set up the B&W conversion automatically.

via:Photoshop CS2 B&W conversion. Other methods

Labels: photography, photoshop

A technique to apply localize curve adjustments:

1. Create a curve adjustment layer.
2. Select the alpha channel (all white, as it affects all the image) and fill it in black, hidding the effect of our changes.
3. Paint with a big soft brush over the parts we want to adjust in the alpha channel.

Labels: photography, photoshop

Removing or softening skin flaws with the clone tool

1. Select the clone tool with a small brush, lighten mode, ~12% opacity and 100% flow rate.
2. Alt click on a part of skin with the appropriate color.
3. Soften the blemish with click and hold.
4. Change mode to darken the light area.

Removing highlights and reflections (like nose edge) uses the same method with the darken mode. Applying a Gaussian blur afterwards will remove imperfections.

Softening and blending skin with a Gaussian blur

1. Copy the image to two new layers.Hide the top layer and select the middle layer.
2. Change blend mode from normal to darken in the Layer's pallete.
3. From the menu choose filter->Blur->Gaussian Blur with a 35 pixels blur.
4. Hide middle layer and chose top layer.
5. Change blend mode from darken to lighten, and apply a 50 pixels blur.
6. Click on the middle layer and change its opacity to 30%.
7. Hide background layer and create a new layer, dragging it to the top of the stack.
8. Hold ALT key, click hold on Layers, releasing the click over 'Merge visible', creating a flatten version in the new layer.
9. Make background layer visible and hide the two middle layers.
10. Select the top l ayer and lower its opacity to 37%, adjusting this value to your taste.
11. To remove the Gaussian blur from the non skin areas (eyes, mouth, etc), click on the layer mask icon on the layer palette.
12. With the foreground color black, select a small soft edged brush and paint over everything except the skin.
13. Do Layers->Flatten image, and maybe retouch the Brightness/Contrast.
14. Finally, use the spot sharpener over eyes, mouth and everything else you want sharpened, but don't over sharpen as its very artificial.

These are quick notes from the useful tutorial

Labels: photoshop