Converting clean clean white portraits into black and white using bridge and Photoshop.
In our imaging class mark showed us the best way to convert our raw clean white portrait files into black and white without loosing as many details and data. I tried this out and although it took a while to go through all the steps and stages I feel it did help a lot and was worth it as before all I was doing was decreasing the saturation and vibrancy levels on bridge (oops) so I will definitely be using this process more often. This is how I done it.
Camera Raw (Bridge) > Optimise (Bottom of screen) > Preferences > 16 Bit > Open> Photoshop > Create a new background copy layer.
Make this into a ‘Smart Object’ (Layer, Smart Object)
Then go to Filter, Then Camera Raw Filter, This will open up camera raw where you select convert to grey scale and can adjust the levels until you are happy with how the photo looks (Can double click to make any further changes)
Then go to adjustment layers and select curves. Using the pipette icon with the white bottom, click the darkest part of the white background in your image, this will fix the background for you and make it all completely white.
Using the brush tool using a white as the colour, paint over your background to the points you feel it needs it just to make sure its all white - ensure the hardness is at 0 and you have a lower opacity.
Now for the dodging/burning, to do this make a blank new layer, then go to Edit, Fill and set it at 50% grey with the mode on normal. Remember to highlight the eyes to make them brighter and better.
Once you have done all this you are done! Do any last minute tweaks/adjustments before saving.
