Shooting B&W digitial for Color Prints

[Denton]

One of the techniques some painters use is to view their developing works or a scene to be painted through a heavy red filter. This helps removes the color and reduces it to pure tonal values. The point being that many (not all) attractive paintings must respect the interplay of value contrast, despite being in color. A good B&W rendition would be helping this often unrecognized aspect of a good color painting.

What if one set the monitor to B&W, not for the final result to be B&W, but to address this tonal component when the print is selected for color printing? Is this another aspect of fine art that can help select better color tonal contrast?
Denton

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Why not try it for yourself? It shouldn't take long to decide if it's a help or hindrance...

And let us know what you make of it as I'm sure a lot of people will be interested.

Regards, David

 

[JoeV]

I've done this for years with my digitals, it's a very useful technique.

Also, for processing raw files in post, I first like to desaturate the image to monochrome, then adjust levels and curves to attain a pleasing monochrome palette, then I turn the color back on and do the finishing touches with levels and white balance.

~Joe