Finally got around to upgrading to Adobe Photoshop CS3. Discovered a really great new adjustment layer called Black and White. Applying the default settings to a color RGB files get you 90% of the way to a richly toned B+W image. Use the sliders to get the last 10%. The red slider lightens or darkens human skin and faces. Lighten the green slider to brighten foliage. If you’re using the image for commercial print purposes, you can flatten and convert your file to grayscale and still maintain good tonality.

I was in my Photography class yesterday and we were talking about filters for your cameras. Thinkin about it and all; are the sliders in Photoshop and what not like filters? Do they do that same thing a filter would do if you placed it on your camera or are they only similar but not alike. Just curious...

 AK

Good question AK.

Don't technically know the answer. You can apply traditional photo filters using Photoshop like warming filters or cooling filters. The option for this is under the Image menu Adjustments/Photo Filters. The disadvantage of using this feature is that you can't undo it once it's done. I prefer to work with adjustment layers leaving the original image intact because as time goes on I learn better methods in Photoshop, or they come out with new features in a new version that I can then take advantage of.

Molly 

I always create a new adjustment layer when applying the B&W adjustment.  This way you can go back at any point and readjust.  The sliders in the CS3 B&W adjustment do act very similar to the way filters would have acted if you had shot B&W film.   If you select the Red filter option, it will darken blue skies etc. 

One plus to shooting in color and converting to B&W in CS3 is that after applying the filter you can make additional adjustments.  For instance, if there were pink Rhododendrons in your shot you could separately adjust the red and/or magenta slider to accentuate this color within the image.   

The other filters (warming etc) do come close to mimicking the effect of that filter if it had been on the camera when shooting.  My preference is to apply the filters in Photoshop and not use them on-camera.  The only filters I consistently use on-camera are a polarizer and graduated neutral density.  

Hope this helps.