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Black and White in Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop Lightroom: Create stunning monochromatic images in Photoshop CS3, Photoshop Lightroom, and beyond
 
 
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Black and White in Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop Lightroom: Create stunning monochromatic images in Photoshop CS3, Photoshop Lightroom, and beyond [Paperback]

Leslie Alsheimer (Author)
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)


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Book Description

November 5, 2007
Black and white photography has come a long way in the digital world. Feeling overwhelmed by the endless conversion options in (and around) Photoshop, Lightroom and beyond? If so, you are not alone, and this is definitely the book for you!

In this thoroughly up-to-date book that covers all of the new features of Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom, you'll learn how to use methods within an application or raw converter, scripts, plug-ins, and more. Leslie Alsheimer and Bryan O'Neil Hughes show you everything you need to know to uncover the secrets to successful black and white conversion and printmaking. Let the stunning images (presented in both color and black and white) show you just what is possible when you master these powerful tools.

Bryan O'Neil Hughes is a Product Manager for the Photoshop team, and a Product Evangelist for the Photoshop Lightroom Team. Working for Adobe since 1999, Bryan has helped test, develop, drive and demonstrate Adobe's digital imaging applications. Beyond Adobe, Bryan is a published photographer, editor and author.

Leslie Alsheimer is a freelance photographer, and photo educator based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. With the Santa Fe Digital Darkroom, Leslie travels around the country teaching photography, Photoshop and digital imaging workshops, as well as working with private clients as a creative imaging consultant, instructor, and trainer. She has worked extensively with many of the foremost digital image makers in the US. She is an instructor with the American Photo/Nikon Mentor Series and a member of the Adobe Beta Testing Team. Leslie is also the Director of Community Photography Outreach. Find out more about Leslie at: www.santafedigitaldarkroom.com/

What the readers are saying:

"I have a bunch of Photoshop and Lightroom books but yours is overwhelmingly the very best. Congratulations!"
-Leo Skogstroem
Pyttis, Finland

"I learned more about photoshop in the three days I spent studying your book than I did in the 5 years playing around with it on my own. Your coverage of Color Management solved many issues I'd been having in trying to get the printed image to look like what I was seeing on my monitor. What I learned from you is that I was doing just about everything wrong with regards to capture and destructive editing. I have now completely changed both my pre- and post production work flow habits with amazing results. As a writer and small-publisher, I give you many kudos on creating a book that is by all accounts a real home run."
-Rick Miller


"I just wanted to write and say this is one of the best books I have ever read! I got it today and have spent all night reading it (it's about 1 am now) and I'm almost half way through it. Everything makes so much more sense now. I just wanted to tell you great job! It has gotten me more excited about photography in six hours than otherwise in the last six years!

I really like your style and would like to "relearn" photography with your way of explaining. Thank you so much for writing this book. It's the first time I've been impressed enough with a product to write the maker and thank them."
-Zachary Miklich
Nashville, TN

"Long story short this is probably the best book that anyone in the digital world should put their hand to, it is far from being only about BW."
-Patrick Lavoie
photo.net patron

"I am halfway through your new book on B&W in CS 3 and LR and I want to compliment you on a clear and concise treatise on CS3 and LR and your integrated workflow. Again, congratulations on an excellent book!"
-Jeff Peters

"I am enjoying your new book "Black and White". It is rare to find so many wonderful images in a 'How To' book."
-Robert Sachs

"I wish that I can tell you how I appreciate your contribution to making the digital darkroom something that I have fell in love with. Up to now I have used various books and sources: bits here and bits there. I have actually build up quite a library.

No one particular reference book addressed the B+W worker with some basic understanding of Photoshop. You have produced something that fills this gap, and which is written and illustrated in a remarkable manner.

I hail from the chemical darkroom, and as such have never really enjoyed correcting images on the computer. Photoshop, which is my program of choice, is quite intimidating, and the haphazard way in which I learned my skills from various sources, reflected in the inconsistent results that I was producing. Well, now all have changed. At least - something good is happening. I hope that you make a killing with your book - you deserve to!

Keep abreast of the distant 'also-runners' by releasing updates as the technology changes."
-Andre du Plessis
(South African, living in London)

"Black And White In Photoshop CS3 And Lightroom explains in clear and easy to understand steps what it takes to generate quality black and white images using Photoshop and/or Lightroom. It is really geared for the intermediate to advanced user who is looking to understand both workflow and color management techniques.

There are a number of thing that I like about Black And White In Photoshop CS3 And Lightroom. First, I like the fact that it takes you down a number of paths on creating black and white images. It doesn't just say this is the best way and so that is all you learn. Second, I like the step-by-step approach to guide you through what you need to do to get results like
this.

I think that if you want to become a master of Black and White photography then Black And White In Photoshop CS3 And Lightroom is highly recommended reading."
-T. Michael Testi
Published January 25, 2008
Part of The Enlightened Image

. Learn from step-by-step tutorials and work through each conversion with clear, easy-to-follow instructions illustrated by a multitude of images and screengrabs
. Maximize image quality in capture and output with professional tips and tricks for speeding up your workflow
. Save time and learn professional techniques to creatively and technically improve your black and white photography and printmaking

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Leslie Alsheimer is an internationally published and award winning photographer, author, and photo-educator based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is the Founder and Director of the Santa Fe Digital Darkroom Photography Workshops & Tours, and an instructor with the Nikon Mentor Series, American Photo and Eddie Adams Workshops. Her documentary essays were recently awarded and published in National Geographic Traveler and PDN magazine's "World in Focus” competition and received two Honorable Mention LUCIE Awards at the 2008 International Photography Awards. Leslie can be found on the web at: lesliealsheimer.com and santafedigitaldarkroom.com


Product Details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Focal Press; 1 edition (November 5, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 024052084X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0240520841
  • Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I picked this up off of Amazon because I wanted some literature on B&W relating to CS3. After having gone through it I have to say I'm very disappointed in my purchase. I have about a dozen or so other books I've gone through in the last year and this is probably the worst. But the sad thing is, there are actually very few books out there on B&W so maybe that's why other reviewers gave it such high marks?? Save your money...she doesn't offer anything more than you can get from free ipod downloads on the subject..or various other free sources out there. Also, only about 1/3 of the book actually covers B&W topic!! The first 91 pages is basically 'fluff'..as well as the last 100 pages. Basically a big push on why you should be using Lightroom (gee...there's another $200 that probably isn't necessary)...how to best setup for quality printing...color management, etc. The same crap that we see in book after book. I know why I should be using Adobe RGB (1998) instead of sRGB...I don't need to pay another $40 for a book that devotes an entire chapter on color management..or why I should be taking my photos in RAW format instead of low quality jpeg's... Pages 91 to about 139 actually cover B&W topic. Before and after this she squeezes in topics like (1) printing (2)editing in photoshop (3)quality capture RAW (4) Lightroom crap (5) Color management. Her coverage of these topics is OK...certainly not the best I've read on them...but my point is, I wasn't expecting it in the book. Anyways, if you want to throw your $ away..buy it...I'd pass on it though..
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm keen to further explore B&W in the digital world and thought this looked the ideal book (even though I use Photoshop Elements 6 instead of Photoshop CS3). Much of the material is thorough and well written, but some key areas I found to be lacking.

While many books cover workflow, colour management etc, this book repeats these topics and covers them well. Unfortunately the B&W component is a lacking, especially in Lightroom. A substantial part of the first 80 pages is devoted to Lightroom, yet the B&W conversion process is descibed in only one page. I was hoping to get more out of this conversion process and tips of a more artistic nature to ensure the best possible image is carried across to Photoshop. Instead it basically suggests "click greyscale conversion" and open Photoshop. The art of the B&W conversion is what makes/breaks an image and I would have thought that Lightroom would be more appropiate than the channel mixer in Photoshop. With "channels" for each colour I would have liked to seen examples and how these were achieved in Lightroom

Although I have not yet fully covered the photoshop part of the book, what I have read is thorough and well written.

I found it difficult to rate this book - it is very good in many ways, but unfortunately did not fill the gap in which I was looking for.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Black and White in Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop Lightroom is more than just a book on photo editing, it is a book that details an entire workflow from start to finish, outlining how every decision affects the end quality of a black and white photo.

Here's a brief walkthrough of the book:

Ch 1. Color management

Chapter 1 Explores the necessity of having a color managed workspace, even for black and white photography. The author gives the six basic components of color management in the workflow phase: camera capture, workspace environment, monitor calibration, software working space, printer profiles, and evaluation.

Ch 2. Workflow Phase 1: Highest Quality Capture

In this chapter the author gives suggestions on file formats, such as jpeg, RAW, TIFF and DNG, as well as ideas on properly capturing a digital image, both through a camera and through a scanner if you are scanning film.

Ch 3. Workflow Phase 2: Black and White in Lightroom

Chapter 3 gives a basic lightroom workflow as well as an introductory course on using the different modules. This is probably useful for someone learning lightroom, but unfortunately there are only about 4 pages devoted to black and white conversion, and the instruction is fairly basic.

Ch 4. Black and White in Photoshop

This is the meat and potatoes of the book where you will learn about the various black and white conversion methods within photoshop. The methods covered in the book are greyscale mode change, desaturate, the channel mixer, and photoshop's black and white conversion feature.

The book has examples of each feature in action, and shows how each of the color channels can have an effect on the final result of the photo.

Ch 5. Image Editing in Photoshop

The photoshop editing chapter outlines some basic editing techniques photoshop. There are some useful tips in this chapter, but probably nothing you wouldn't learn in another basic photoshop book.

Ch 6. Printing

The last chapter covers printing methods (duh!). Various ideas are covered, including what type of paper and ink to use as well as more color management tips. There is also a section on sharpening your photos for output.

Recommendation:

First, if you only use Adobe Lightroom, I would definitely not recommend this book. Lightroom is used here only as an organizational tool.

When I first picked up this book I thought it was great, but I was also just getting started in photography, so I didn't have a workflow down yet. Since purchasing I have found other books (and blogs) that have more detailed workflow ideas for me to use.

Once I turned back to this book for what it was intended for, black and white in photoshop, I began to realize its limitations. The photoshop conversion methods listed, as well as how photoshop editing techniques can improve a B&W photo, are great. Unfortunately the useful section for me is only about 100 pages long.

I don't want to criticize this book. The author had to make a choice to either write solely on black and white in photoshop or include an entire workflow for someone looking to do black and white from scratch. They chose the later, and I don't think it's a bad choice per se. But I have a feeling most photographers are like me and have numerous books on workflow, color management, photoshop editing, and proper capture with a camera. I would have liked to see a lot more discussion on the various methods of conversion, with a lot more example photos included to show how the adjustments work.

So, the decision comes down to whether you want to spend your money on a workflow book that includes a few (very) good tips on black and white. It will take more experimentation to become truly skilled at recognizing when to use each technique.

I don't regret the purchase, but I can't say I would recommend it to someone else either.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
It could have been a contenda'
There is a desperate need for an in depth look at digital BW conversion and how to apply the zone system for better BW images.

This book is not. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Frank Dobbs
Less than 50 pages on B&W processing, you have to be kidding me?
What editor worked with this book and allowed it to be titled as such? Less than 50 pages of this book are devoted to actual B&W conversion! Read more
Published on November 6, 2008 by D. Jenson
Extremely Technical
I'm sure this book is actually really really good, however for me it was way too complicated and uninspiring. Read more
Published on September 29, 2008 by Douzy
Identity Crisis
This book is OK but not great as it seems to suffer from an identity crisis with regard to its intended audience. Read more
Published on September 9, 2008 by Confused
Very useful, capable and comprehensive
Congratulations to Alsheimer to this Job. There is a pratical, easy going language to vast public even to basic amateurs. Read more
Published on July 14, 2008 by Marcelo F. Tavora
Black & White in Photoshop & Photoshop Lightroom
The book is exceptional in its clarity of concepts. I have read many other color management books or sections in photoshop books, and this is so cogent. It totally clicks. Read more
Published on July 14, 2008 by Marcia Poole
Good help for average photoshop users
This book is a good help for processing photographs in Adobe Photoshop, with specific guidelines for black and white images. Read more
Published on April 19, 2008 by J. Paula
What a discovery!
I wanted to learn to make better B&W prints and to do so with Photoshop CS3. When I searched for available books to provide guidance I was pleased to find that Leslie Alsheimer... Read more
Published on April 10, 2008 by Byron Annis
Good Purchase
I recommend this book for everybody who want to learn and to apply thers knowledege over B & W photography.
Published on April 9, 2008 by Miguel A. Santos Gonzalez
THE Book on Digital Black & White
Not only one of the best books I've read on the subject, but one of the best books I've read period! Everything is explained is such a why you can't help but understand it. Read more
Published on March 10, 2008 by Amazon Lover
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
image menu, white balance, fill light, photoshop color management policies, adjustment layer icon, color working spaces, shadow information, camera histogram, color management system, clipped highlights, camera raw, rendering intent, new adjustment layer, key wording, layers palette, traditional darkroom, chemical darkroom, adjustment layers, printmaking process, spectral relationships, tone curve, digital darkroom, ink sets, channels palette, white conversion
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Adobe Camera Raw, Select Menu, Smart Sharpen, Import Photos, Edit Menu, Channel Mixer, Kodak T-max, Color Settings, Print Settings, Hue Saturation, File Menu, Adobe Photoshop, Color Range, Ilford Delta, Unsharp Mask, Color Balance Adjustment Layer, White Point, Render Standard-Sized Previews, Color Levels, Exposure Evaluation Tools, Soft Light, Real Grain, High Pass, Color Match, Lab Color
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
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