B & W Conversions with Nik's Silver Efex Pro

by Ken Hubbard

Ever since I dismantled my traditional dark room, I have been searching high and low for the best way to convert my digital color images to Black & White. Up until recently I found using the channel mixer in Photoshop did a nice job, but then, Nik Software released Silver Efex Pro. Silver Efex allows you to do everything from a basic B&W conversion to choosing from about 18 different "classic" B&W film types. Within the program it will also allow you to control the amount of grain, texture details, sepia toning, edge burning as well as many other effects that really enhance your images.

OK, so the conversions look good on my screen, but how do they hold up to printing? The answer is GREAT! I have printed them all sizes from 5 x 7 to 24 x 36 with no visible breakage or banding. They have been printed on all paper types as well, from Epson Premium Luster to Hahnemuhle fine art papers printing perfectly on all.

The original image of El Capitan and the Three Brothers from the banks of the Merced River was shot with Tamron's SP AF10-24mm super wide angle lens. Being so wide this lens helped me capture this unique perspective of the park.

The first B&W version is a basic Silver Efex Pro black and white conversion with a small amount of correction using the Structure and contrast Sliders.

The second B&W version is using the Kodak Plus X 125 film filter, which you can control grain, sensitivity and Tonal curve.

The third and final image is a basic B&W conversion with some burnt edges and sepia toning filters added.