Johny Åkerlund’s B&W Package V2.0 - manual

I’ve tried to set this action up for you to have as much flexibility as possible and not just leave you with a finished picture that you can’t adjust to your liking.

These are the actions in V2.0

1. B&W + Tint Tones - Converts your color picture to black and white, now also with a special lighning effect layer and 9 tint tones.

2. B&W only - As above but without the tint tones, is faster if you don't need the tinting.

3. Tint Tones only - Run it on your allready black and white picture to set it up with those 9 different tint tones.

4. Filmgrain - Sets you up with two filmgrain like layers that you can use separatlely or together, Fine grain and Coarse grain.

Instructions how they are intended to be used below

Load the action file.

In the action palette up to the right you have a little black triangle, that will open a submenu and there you'll find Load Actions.. then point to the action file and click OK and you're good to go.

Another way is to start Photoshop and from your explorer window simply drag the action and release it in Potoshop.

After you've run the "B&W+Tint tones" action.

You should have your layers palette looking like this.

To adjust the B&W settings.

Open the B&W settings layer set.

1. The Color Filter adjustment works like a color filter mixer, just doubleclick the Color Filter adjustment layer and pull the Hue slider and see what gives your picture the best look.
You can also do that on each separate color instead of just the master, just flip the top pulldown menu which now says Master and choose another color.
Mostly it's enough with the master Hue to do the changes needed.. if any at all.

2. If you allready had a contrasty and dark picture and need less contrast, simply uncheck the little eye on the Contrast + and check it for Contrast -

3. If your picture still is dull and flat and needs a little extra contrast and brightness adjustments just double click the Extra Contrast/Lighning and adjust to your liking.

4. The B&W layer is best left as it is, if you aren't use to work with the channel mixer.

To adjust and change the Tint Tones.

Open the Tint Tones layer set

To adjust the amout of tinting you simply ajust the opacity of that tint tone layer.

To change to another tint tone simply uncheck the little eye for the active tint tone and check the one you like, than adjust the opacity if you think it's needed.

Run it on a picture and it sets you up with two filmgrain like layers.

The two layers are Fine grain and Coarse grain, they can be used separately or together to get different effects.
Change the opacity of the two grain layers to blend in the amount of grain you want in yuor picture.
This ofcourse doesn't do well on all pictures but if applyed on a sepia toned picture it can be very nice.

Play with the adjustment layers to learn how to bring the best out of your picture.
Remember that all pictures are different and need its own approach, so some looks better with the Contrast + layer of and Contrast - on and in the Extra contrast/Lighning maybe increase the Brightness and contrast slider and so on.
After a while you'll get a good feel for it.

Have fun!!

I've put a lot of hours into this one so please post comments good or
bad in my forum or mail me so i know what to improve in the next version.
Samples are also appreciated if they are posted in my forum.

Best regards

Johny Akerlund

johny@jakerlund.net • www.jakerlund.net