Black & White and Sepia Tone conversion quality

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BlueOwl

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Hello,

I've lately been working on online applications to convert
pictures to black & white / sepia tone.

I'd like to ask for feedback on how you like
the quality / the outcome of the conversion.
I know this also depends on personal taste since there aren't
strict rules for such conversions but it's the individual feedback
I think is most interesting.

An info up-front: the apps need the Microsoft Silverlight browser plug-in.
(A browser plug-in similar to Flash)

The black & white converter is here:
http://www.workwithcolor.com/to-black-and-white-picture-converter-01.htm

Samples:
http://www.workwithcolor.com/test/black-and-white-test-01.htm


The sepia tone converter is here:
http://www.workwithcolor.com/to-sepia-tone-picture-converter-01.htm

Samples:
http://www.workwithcolor.com/test/sepia-tone-test-01.htm


It might take a few seconds until the applications are loaded...
 
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I like black and white to be dark, with deep tones accentuated by highlights. I do also like the slivery effects of some old films, which can generlaly be repliacted on digital with a red filter, these sort ofimages are wonderfully smooth in appearance and have good even tones.

I no longer shoot in colour.

The website didnt want to work for me so I can't tell what it would be like.
 
Hello Alan,

thank you for your reply. It did say on the website you need
the silverlight plug-in, right? I just ask to make sure there's
no unexpected error...

Maybe I sould post conversion examples in here. I'm not sure
though what colored photos would serve as a good example?
 
Yes I was unable to view it properly either, it's asking me to install silverlight.
 
Hello swanseamale47,

what a pitty. I really should post conversion examples in here for
your evaluation. Can you recommend pictures which would serve as
a good example/sample?


@all: I can recommend installing silverlight since it adds to
your web experience and it's gaining more and more popularity
BUT I can also very well understand if you don't want to do that.
 
Ok honest opinion, the B+W I quite like, the conversions look pretty good... but (theres always a but isn't there) would it take me away from Nik silver efex... no.
I don't know what options your software has for altering the tonal range but the sheer convenience of being able to do it all in photoshop coupled with the ajustments I have in silver effects makes it a non starter for me.
Now for those who don't have the likes of photoshop or the over priced silver efex it might be a welcome addition to their processing.

The sepia, sorry but I don't like the colour, IMHO it's too orange for my taste, heres what I'd call sepia toned.
Just my opinion, I'm sure others will disagree with me.
Wayne

5528606065_dee9436257_z.jpg
 
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Just had a thought, does it have to be online based? Silver efex is quite expensive, I'm sure theres a market for a cheaper plug-in version for photoshop, although how difficult that is to make is beyond me.
 
Thanks for your feedback Wayne :-)

I made another set of samples with adjusted parameters:
http://www.workwithcolor.com/test/sepia-tone-test-02.htm


I probably could make a desktop/photoshop plug-in version.
But how many people would be interested?? The online converters
are mainly for poeple who (temporarily) don't have access to an
advanced image editing program..
 
BlueOwl said:
Thanks for your feedback Wayne :-)

I made another set of samples with adjusted parameters:
http://www.workwithcolor.com/test/sepia-tone-test-02.htm


I probably could make a desktop/photoshop plug-in version.
But how many people would be interested?? The online converters
are mainly for poeple who (temporarily) don't have access to an
advanced image editing program..
Click to expand...

To my eye that looks a much better sepia, is there ajustment for tones in your software?.
It's hard to say how popular it would be as a plug-in, Nik's silver efex sells for around the £180-£200 mark (and seems popular if pricey) but is also well featured, depending on what features yours has and the price you sell it you could make good money.
Was your site going to charge for the service or how would it work? I ask because theres already free online editing (very similar to the full photoshop) and that might be a competor so to speak.
Wayne

PS I love the red barn pic.
 
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Glad you like this conversion better. I will put this version online
then.

I haven't programmed a tone adjustment. I think it would be
possible but didn't think anyone would care.

I didn't plan to charge any money for the online applications. I
could probably put a donate button somewhere if it's going to be
popular and people asking for more features...
 
Another thing some people like with black and white is grain, again I don't know if you plan to have that option or how difficult it is to design in, but it might be worth considering if it's do-able.
Wayne
 
I think grain is not too difficult to implement. Thanks! I would be exited
about highlight and shadow adjustment. I will see...

My girlfriend asked me to implement the two effects along with
resizing and cropping functionality. I think I have to make that first :-)
 
Would a resizing option be easier at the save stage? you know an option to save full size or resize for web type thing when you save the changes to the image. Just a thought.
Wayne
 
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