CS4 converting to black and white

Crazyhorse

Crazyhorse

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Hi

What is the correct process please?

I currently 'convert to black and white' flatten, save as jpeg and take to the printers then all my black and white prints have a magenta tinge. :'(

What am I doing wrong?

I haven't got a calibrated monitor as I have just bought a new computer and screen.

Thanks ;)

Lisa
 
Thanks Christine

I've had them printed from Photobox, Morrison and Asda and they've all got a magenta tinge. I took a couple of images to a 'proper' printer place before Christmas and she said my b&w images all had a magenta tinge which she could see straight away on her calibrated screen. She said if I wanted any prints from them, to take them in as colour and they'd convert them to black and white. That's great, but they're a bit of a trek away to drive to and they don't do an online service. :(

So I wondered if I am doing something wrong in processing.


Lisa
 
Hi. I use photoshop cs4 extended. I am not adding any tinges, just do the usual, curves adjustment if needed, skin smooth, sharpen. Then
flatten and save as jpeg.

Lisa
 
It's possibly not you. The B&W images are being printed on colour paper. It may be this that's giving the Magenta tinge. Also the viewing conditions may have an effect on the image. Does it look to have a tinge when you view it outside in daylight.

I was involved with some large format professional printing equipment several years ago, and printing B&W often put a slight colour bias to the print. It was always in the Green/Magenta axis .The way round this was to print the B&W images straight after the machines had been calibrated, as even a very small shift could afcect the final result, as the eye is very sensitive to colour in neutrals ( B&W ) so any small deviation become obvious
 
There are many ways to convert to B&W, but it is still an RGB image, just with the colour information taken out. A colour printer may interpret the B&W tones incorrectly depending on the printer and how well it's calibrated. You get the best B&W from a printer with a range of different black inks. Most shops don't have that option. :shrug:

That said, you could try converting your final edit to a Greyscale image as a final step before saving and see if that has any effect on the prints.

You need to flatten the image first, Layer > Flatten Image, and then go to Image > Mode > Greyscale.

I don't know how or if a print machine in a shop will/can handle a Greyscale file, but you will at least know that you are giving them a file with no colour information in. ;)
 
Do anything you want to it but unless it is printed in B&W it will always have a colour cast usually blue or a sepia type tone
 
You say that you 'covert to B&W'. I take it this is just a process in CS4. I always add two layers and the top one is desaturated. You will need to calibrate your monitor also as you may have an issue that isn't showing on your screen.

Try Silver Efex, by far the best B&W convertor.
 
it matter not that your screen is not calibrated for a mono image, its only when you are working with colour it matters.
If you convert to mono, then there is NO colour in the image.
The printers are at fault here, if they know what they are doing then all should be well, but if left to be auto corrected then this is where the colour might come in. You need a printer that will print the file as is and not to correct it.
 
Chaz Photos said:
it matter not that your screen is not calibrated for a mono image, its only when you are working with colour it matters.
Click to expand...

Maybe in the case of this colour cast problem calibration doesn't make a difference, but even if you only shoot B&W you should still be calibrated for screen brightness.

I think in this case that they were using a colour printer rather that a printer with a good couple or more of black inks, or only black inks.
 
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