What is the best way to print black and white digital photographs to get the most impact?

Question

I've love black and white photography. However, you never seem to get the same impact from a black and white image that is printed from a digital image using an inkjet printer as you would if you developed the image from traditional black and white film. Does anyone know any good tricks in photoshop or when using an inkjet printer to great great, striking, dramatic digital prints?

Answer 1

First you do have to get the file looking good in PS, I would suggest modifying the Channel Mixer levels (checking off the Monochromatic box and doing something like 30,70,10 as a good starting point)



Then the printer also makes a huge difference. Some printers use different levels of black and grey ink and that will make a good black and white print. Look at some of the high end epson printers for a good black and white printer. Also some photo labs can print on a true black and white photo paper, check out this lab for great quality TRUE B&W prints:



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Answer 2

What the first person said is correct. It will be worth your while to invest in a scanner (you can get decent ones for less than a good camera.) The scanner's advantage is the entire scanner "looks" at the drawing and the software for scanning will let you crop out what you don't need before you do the full scan (any halfway decent scanner will include software that allows you to preview the scan and make some adjustments)/ With a camera, you have to have a decent lens, learn how the settings work, get your lighting right, account for possible aberrations in the lens and so on. A good camera for what you want is probably going to run at least in the $500 to $700 range. And regarding camcorder, NO do NOT use them for photography, whatever the ads may tell you. In general they are not going to give you a decent still photo. If you want to do photography beyond the scanning work, yes, get a camera, but give full consideration to what you intend to do. Also, there are alternatives: there are places that will do scanning for you. If you are only going to have this done periodically, it might be worth having professional scans made, or even "office quality" at a place like Kinkos or one of the office supply stores that do print services as well. Good luck!

Answer 3

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You can be like the masses of humanity and buy a camera you can afford that has auto this and that for worry free picture taking. And learn through trial and error how to use something like aperture or shutter priority auto modes or even attempt to use the thing on full manual mode.

You seem to know already there is some thinking to using a camera and to take pictures. A good place to start is by reading the owners manual that comes with a camera. Read the information and look at the illustrations with part names and look at the real camera. Handle the camera and take pictures. Let me rephrase that. Take pictures to learn how to use the camera and maybe even to keep some. Don't start with important stuff you cannot photograph over again such as birthdays, a toddlers first steps. That puts picture taking out of the learning phase and puts the pressure and emphasis to taking pictures for real and to keep.

These first pictures are for you to learn how to use your camera. And you have learned how to use your camera when you can take pictures with it and can teach others how to use it. Honest. You can also go to a college in your area and take a beginning photography course. There you will be taught the basics even a pro must learn and do in their work. Camera handling and use, taking exposures with film and/or digital cameras, and maybe even some photo assignments to get some real time learning. In this learning do not take serious pictures you must keep as that detracts from the learning aspect of the class. Do so only if you have mastered the use of your camera before class is over.

It's like growing up in a way. And I am happy you know there is a way to learn how to use a camera and take pictures. It's like learning how to drive I suppose. Someone can teach you or you can get taught at a driving school. Both will get you a drivers liscense. One though will really teach you the fundamentals you can use for the rest of your driving career.

Answer 4

Check out PhotoShop Elements 5.0 or try to duplicate this yourself. They have a conversion to B&W feature that lets you preserve a small amount of the color. When you print a B&W picture, the paper ALWAYS added some little subtle hint of color from its formulation. If you keep just the tiniest bit of color in your print, it will "pop" a bit more than a true black and white, which is what you get when you use nothing but black ink to print.



If you desaturate about 95-98%, you will have what essentially LOOKS like a B&W print, but the tiny hint of color will help. P.E. 5.0 has a feature that does this for you automatically, allowing you to input some control yourself.

Answer 5

Niall,



ALWAYS, but ALWAYS start with a strong image. You will not get impact if the image is rubbish.

Photoshop can then enhance your image greatly, but you will need to play with it.

NEVER accept the auto levels as it will be a compromise. Make sure your range of black and white is also broad by selecting the darkest dark and the lightest light with the dropper tool.

Adjust the levels until you have got to where you like it and perhaps use a mask to run a filter over certain portions - like burning in in a darkroom.

Best of luck.

Answer 6

One of the biggest factors, as mentioned above, is your choice of printer. Epson is, hands down, the best for photo printing. Any of their higher end Stylus Photo series(800 and above) are excellent for black and white, due to the use of different black inks.(Light black, dark black, photo black, matte black.) Another major factor is the paper you use. Try getting sample packs from some of the high end paper manufacturers such as Luminos, Brilliant, Arches, and my favorite, Legion. See what you like best as far as glossy, matte, textured. To me, paper is the biggest factor in digital printing. Also, try some of the specialty ink makers, such as Sundance. Make sure you have the correct profiles set for the paper you are using, and make sure your monitor and printer are calibrated.

Check out http://www.bwguys.com/ for some great info on digital B+W.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

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To get started, all you need is a camera, whether it be the latest digital camera or a traditional film-based apparatus!



Read about what is ISO, aperture and exposure. Discover different types of lenses and flash techniques. Explore portrait photography, black and white photography, HDR photography, wedding photography and more.

Answer 9

It all has to do with framing the picture and getting the lighting good. If you want fine grain pictures, Ilford has a ISO 50 that is phenomenal.



If you have photoshop, or other programs that are similar, get a set of "plug ins" and play

Answer 10

You can get very dramatic results with PhotoShop. Just experiment with Levels, Contrast, and the UnSharp Filter.