Here's how I do it sometimes. You can make your own action from this method:
If you need something clarified, let me know.
This tutorial assumes you have a good working knowledge of photoshop as I say in some places things like - make a new adjustment layer. It's assuming a certain level of knowledge, so just ask questions if you don't get it.
Someone had asked me how I did a B&W conversion of an image I posted in the People forum. I posted this there, but thought I would post it here for everyone to see.
The process for this is...rather involved. I don't recall where I learned it from. Some webpage somewhere and I saved the info in some notes for myself. I made an action to implement it. I'll see if I can work through that for you.
First, do whatever processing you need to do to get the image how you like it.
Next create a new adjustment layer. Pick Gradiant Map.
Now you should see a nice B&W negative. Click the pull down arrow at the right and select a black-to-white gradient.
The image will now be a quick B&W, but there is a lot more you can do to enhance the image and get the tones just right.
Double click on the gradient in the Gradient map dialog. That should open the Gradient Editor dialog.
In this box, along the underside of the gradient, click in the middle to add a point. A point will be added, and then you need to go to the color swatch listed below and double click it to change the color to a middle-grey. I use RGB: 129, 129, 129.
Now, you can move the grey slider underneath around to adjust the image. To make the image lighter, move it left. To make it darker, move it right. It's subjective. I think I chose about 45% or something like that.
Hit okay and then okay again. There you will have a simple B&W conversion.
You can add a little toning to this as well. If you want to do that, then make a new adjustment layer. Click on solid color. It will blank out your image, but that will be fixed later.
Choose the color you want to use to tone the image. You can use a brownish color to add a sepia type tint to the image..experiment and play around with various colors.
I'll just pick an RGB value of 120, 80, 55 for now and go with that. Hit okay after you pick your color.
Right click on the color fill adjustment layer and click blending options.
At the top, change blend mode to multiply, and adjust the opacity down at least to 50% or so. Experiement and find something you like.
It will be easier to adjust the opacity after the next step.
Go down to the bottom of the dialog and it should say Blend If: Grey and have a drop down box. All you need to worry about is the grey.
Now. There are two slider bars each with two arrows underneath. The top one you don't need to touch.
On the bottom one (Underlying Layer), hold down the alt key and move the left portion of the right, white colored slider to the left. Holding alt will split the slider in two and allow you to select a range. If you don't hold alt, and just move the slider left, you will not like the results.
Move the left portion of the white slider all the way to 0 (the 255 number will turn into two numbers). It should read 0 0/255.
Move the right portion of the slider to the left to adjust the effect. Again, here is where you play around a bit and find what you like. I ended up setting mine to about 0 0/156.
There you go. That's all, it's kind of complex so I just made an action that did the same basic thing. If I get really picky about an image (such as a landscape) I will do it manually.
I hope you can all understand that.
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