B/W photos

[Jerrudy]

Hi, I would like to print some photos in black and white. What would you suggest to get the best prints? Should I change color photos to b/w with a photoshop program?

 

Or should I just switch my camera color mode to b/w and take the photos? What about sepia? I have a Sony alpha 300, I know I have a B/W mode, but I can't seem to find a sepia mode.

 

Rudy

[pierces]

Hi, I would like to print some photos in black and white. What would you suggest to get the best prints? Should I change color photos to b/w with a photoshop program?

 

Or should I just switch my camera color mode to b/w and take the photos? What about sepia? I have a Sony alpha 300, I know I have a B/W mode, but I can't seem to find a sepia mode.

 

Rudy

 

Shoot in color and convert afterwards. If you shoot in B&W on the camera you lose the choice of color or B&W since the file is saved as B&W and the color data is gone forever (unless you shoot RAW and that is a whole other can of worms). Converting afterwards also allows you greater control over contrast and tone.

 

Free programs like Picasa from Google have editing functions that will convert images to B&W or sepia. BTW, there is no Sepia setting on the A300.

 

Picasa can be found here: http://picasa.google.com/

 

It is also a great organizer for your photos. I wrote an article on installing and setting it up for one of the classes we had on this forum: http://www.pptphoto.com/ArticlePages/class1.htm

 

Have fun with the B&W. I has a look that doesn't ever go out of style!

 

Dave