Shooting color film and converting to B&W

[Alex MacPherson]

I didn't know where to post this, but I thought someone in this forum might know.

Has anyone shot a gig with color film and converted it to b&w in photoshop?

The reason I ask is because I have only 220 backs for my RZ and they don't
have 220 B&W film anymore (aside from kodak 360..which is too fast for my
stuff.)

[UlfKrentz]

I didn't know where to post this, but I thought someone in this forum might know.

Has anyone shot a gig with color film and converted it to b&w in photoshop?

The reason I ask is because I have only 220 backs for my RZ and they don't
have 220 B&W film anymore (aside from kodak 360..which is too fast for my
stuff.)

I am sure you won´t like the b&w results scanned from color film. I suppose it will be better to use color film for slides instead. But you won´t have that exposure range like in b&w film.
How about getting some 120backs? They are very cheap, since lot of photographers don´t use them anymore. Or coming back to the forum title - rent a digital back ;-)

Cheers

Ulf

[amsp]

Can't say I ever shot a job like that, but I do have some absolutely beautiful B&W photos shot on color slides and converted in photoshop. Just make sure you scan them in color and do the conversion in PS.

[marcel b]

hi,

I never did, because, when I wanted b&w, I just used the type of film and developer, that I wanted for a certain look. like ulf said, have a look on ebay and get some 120 backs, you can get them for € 70,- or less, especially the older non pro IIs. or rent them for the job, b&w film is a lot cheaper, than colour negative or slides. and if 320 ASA is ok for you, TriX should still be available in 220.

best regards,
marcel

[Imaginara]

well i actually have done that and you can get away with it, but just like when shooting digital to b&w you will have to do some serious tweaking in PS to get the tonal ranges you want and ofcourse that may affect the quality of the image.

Best is ofcourse to shoot on B&W film directly but if you cant get any, it is doable.

[Brady]

The reason I ask is because I have only 220 backs for my RZ and they don't
have 220 B&W film anymore (aside from kodak 360..which is too fast for my
stuff.)

Kodak still makes TXP320 in 220.  I shoot it all the time.  You can do color and convert but doesn't look quite as seductive, especially the grain structure and some of the tonal transitions.

[TMARK]

Hey,

TXP is fine, use an ND filter to bring the film speed down to 200 or 100.  

Or pick up some 120 backs from KEH.com.  Cheap and cheerful.

[Josef Isayo]

Hey,

TXP is fine, use an ND filter to bring the film speed down to 200 or 100.  

Or pick up some 120 backs from KEH.com.  Cheap and cheerful.

I shoot Fuji 400H in 220 and convert it to B&W with Photoshop plug-ins from Alien Skin and Nik.
The results are as good as any B&W film.

[oscar falero]

Hi,

Like Josef....I've shot 400NC rated at 320 and converted to B&W using Alien Skin exposure HP5 setting with grain turned off. Works great!  don't sharpen your scan, but apply sharpening at your last stage prior to print.

[SecondFocus]

I agree; I would buy some 120 backs from KEH. And don't be afraid to buy their "bargain" rated gear. I have many times and everything was almost like new.

[rogan]

I agree; I would buy some 120 backs from KEH. And don't be afraid to buy their "bargain" rated gear. I have many times and everything was almost like new.

Actually, color neg converts to BW very well and has a similar tonal range and grain. Chrome looks terrible and flat. Takes a LOT of work and has zero latitude.

[Alex MacPherson]

Hey,

TXP is fine, use an ND filter to bring the film speed down to 200 or 100.  

Or pick up some 120 backs from KEH.com.  Cheap and cheerful.

I found a 77mm ND x4 filter in my gear box. I picked up some 320TXP. I will give
that a spin for my shoot!

The color conversion sounds like a headache...

[wolfnowl]

Before I bought a digital camera I took my Kodachrome slides down to a camera store and had them scanned into Kodak's (now defunct) colour digital images.  Several of those I've converted to B&W.  After all, there's no basic difference between a scanned film image and an image from a digital camera - both are now digital images.

Mike.