Post by Andrei Doubrovski on Oct 16, 2015 8:27:16 GMT
As we know, "Enhance > Convert to Black and White" is the default BW conversion command in PSE. It includes 6 handy presets that can be fine-tuned as needed.
Actually, the tool is quite good.
However, there are two important restrictions:
1. We can't apply this correction as adjustment layer.
2. We can't save custom BW presets.
If you have achieved a great BW effect of your own, inability to reuse it may be pretty annoying.
The funny fact is that, under the hood, this tool is just a skin for old good "Channel Mixer".
So, with a little help of Elements+, all the restrictions can be bypassed as follows:
1. Go to "Enhance > Convert to Black and White", choose a preset and adjust the settings as needed.
For example, on the screenshot below, I start with "Infrared Effect" and modify it.
2. If you don't use Shortcuts+ run this script now.
3. Press [Alt+Shift+Ctrl+M] keyboard keys (on a Mac: [Alt+Shift+Cmd+M]).
This opens "Channel Mixer" dialog with the last used settings.
By a strange coincidence, these settings exactly reproduce the result of using "Convert to Black and White" tool.
(in our example, the customized "Infrared" effect)
Click "gear" button and save a new preset (screenshot).
For example, under the name "My Infrared".
4. Now, to reuse the BW effect, just run E+ Channel Mixer command and load the saved preset (screenshot).
As result, we have the same BW conversion applied as an adjustment layer.
Actually, the tool is quite good.
However, there are two important restrictions:
1. We can't apply this correction as adjustment layer.
2. We can't save custom BW presets.
If you have achieved a great BW effect of your own, inability to reuse it may be pretty annoying.
The funny fact is that, under the hood, this tool is just a skin for old good "Channel Mixer".
So, with a little help of Elements+, all the restrictions can be bypassed as follows:
1. Go to "Enhance > Convert to Black and White", choose a preset and adjust the settings as needed.
For example, on the screenshot below, I start with "Infrared Effect" and modify it.
2. If you don't use Shortcuts+ run this script now.
3. Press [Alt+Shift+Ctrl+M] keyboard keys (on a Mac: [Alt+Shift+Cmd+M]).
This opens "Channel Mixer" dialog with the last used settings.
By a strange coincidence, these settings exactly reproduce the result of using "Convert to Black and White" tool.
(in our example, the customized "Infrared" effect)
Click "gear" button and save a new preset (screenshot).
For example, under the name "My Infrared".
4. Now, to reuse the BW effect, just run E+ Channel Mixer command and load the saved preset (screenshot).
As result, we have the same BW conversion applied as an adjustment layer.
