Whether landscape, portrait or act – black and white photographs are often more dramatic, structures and forms are more prominent. With the built-in black and white function of the camera, photographers are often rather bad advice. It is much better with image processing programs that require extensive knowledge about the different tools. Easier and faster with specialized plug-ins. ColorFoto has looked at three popular representatives.
Topaz B & W Effects 1.1
The plug-ins are designed as effect filters for Photoshop, but they also work with image processing programs from other providers. That works with modern plug-ins synonymous with so-called smart objects. Advantage: The layer converted into a Smart object is retained when the filter is applied. In addition, the filter settings can be changed later.
Nik Silver Efex Pro 2
Photoshop: How to work with smart objects
OpticVerve Labs VirtualPhotographer 1.5.6
In addition to high-quality templates, the functionality of a black-and-white plug-in includes a complete set of tools for adjusting sound and color values. Effects such as tones, the addition of a vignette or film grain should also be possible directly in the plug-in - as is the insertion of a frame. Selective adjustments with brush or control point are also essential for advanced processing.
Overall Conclusion
The black and white plug-in from Topaz costs 60 US dollars. The software is available for Mac and Windows and works alongside Photoshop with Lightroom or Aperture. The surface is in dark gray tones. At first glance, you can not look for templates - they hide in the paled palette on the left side. To the right of the thumbnail, Topaz places the tool palette. Fortunately, the manufacturer has divided the countless templates into categories, and you can also define your own favorites.
If the user has defined a suitable template, then the extensive but well-structured tool palette continues. Under "Conversion", Topaz places all black-and-white conversion tools, such as color filters, gradation curves, and tone controls. The "Creative Effects" category includes, among other things, a blur and a considerable painting effect. Even selective corrections are possible under "Local Adjustments" with a brush tool. The final touches of creativity are missing the pictures with a vignette, film grain, a frame or a tint.
Guide: Properly free with Adobe Photoshop CS6
Individual configurations optionally store the plug-in as a new template, and users can take snapshots during work to quickly return to a previous state when they try to try. The software does not create a new layer - the image plane should be converted into a Smart object before plug-in.
Conclusion: In B & W Effects, Topaz combines good functionality and a clear interface - at an affordable price of just 60 US dollars. Kauftipp price / performance.
Silver Efex by Plugin Specialist Nik is probably the best-known black-and-white converter and enjoys great popularity - despite the price of 200 euros. The software runs on Windows and Mac and also supports 64-bit Photoshop. Silver Efex also integrates with Lightroom and Aperture.
When GPU acceleration was enabled, Silver Efex on the test system with AMD graphics card overlaid very bright image areas with yellow color, very dark areas with blue. Disabling the GPU acceleration in the settings has fixed the problem. On a laptop with an Nvidia graphics card, however, the error did not occur.
On the modern interface of the plug-in, Nik places the templates divided into four categories. Instead of a list, the manufacturer displays previews of the effect. The tool palette is located on the right edge. In addition to the standard tools for SW conversion, Silver Efex also controls the selective adjustment with control points. Individual color areas, such as a flower, can be excluded from the black-and-white conversion. Different film filters add grain and the typical look to the image.
In addition to a histogram, the software displays a ten-step zone overview (from black to white). If one moves with the mouse over a zone, Silver Efex indicates corresponding areas in the preview hatched. Using the checkpoints, specific areas can be targeted into other zones, avoiding over- and under-exposure.
Silver Efex automatically transfers the output to a new layer with a mask so that loss-free changes are still possible. Even more flexible are users, of course, if the original level has already been converted into a Smart object.
Conclusion: Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 is very popular among photographers. All necessary tools for black-and-white conversion are summarized by the manufacturer in a simple interface. In addition, the control points offer extensive possibilities for local adaptation. Test winner!
The best plug-in of the test field comes from OptikVerve Labs - it's free. However, it only runs on Windows machines and not on 64-bit versions of Photoshop. In addition to black-and-white templates, the software also provides a series of color effects.
The surface is plain and slightly gray with the light gray. On the left, the manufacturer places templates and settings in map rulers. In the "Main" tab, users select the desired template and set the overall brightness. The second tab provides settings for film grain. Effects and color filters are finally found in the third tab. Vignette or frame are missing, even selective editing is not integrated. Here, users themselves have to create a new layer and a layer mask in order to perform local edits. SmartPhotographer does not work with smart objects, it also requires images with 8-bit color depth.
Conclusion: VirtualPhotographer brings some good templates, which can be adapted to their own requirements. With the paid competitors it can not keep up with the functional range.
Spectacular black-and-white conversions with only a few previous knowledge can be done with no plug-in as simple as with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2. Thanks to good templates including preview images, the choice is quickly made. In addition, the plugin with the largest range of functions scores for fine tuning.
Hobby photographers can also access the plug-in Topaz B & W Effects, which also scores with good templates and great functionality - but costs only a fraction. Users do not even have to opt for selective corrections - even if they are significantly more sophisticated at Nik.
The free plug-in VirtualPhotographer from OptikVerve Labs is worth a look for its templates alone. The software can not, however, compete with other subjects in the range of functions. It also runs only under Windows.
Download: Table
No comments:
Post a Comment